Medway College of Technology

[peterchall]

QUOTE:"May bring back some memories":

Strewth Newmanfan! Thanks for that. Brings back more memories than you can imagine

Picture was taken on the day the College was opened.

QUOTE from my first post: “After the ceremony the Duke toured the college. I had an engine running on the test-bed in the Motor Vehicle Workshop, and as the Duke was walking round the engine stalled and he said “I bet it won’t start again”. I pressed the starter and away it went, and that’s how I won a bet with the Duke of Edinburgh!”

The said test bed is under the window on the right, next to the door. He never did pay up   The two blokes in white coats are George Goodyer, on the right, and me on the left.

The car belonged to the Head of Department put there for the occasion. The College (nor George or I) couldn’t afford anything like that

[afsrochester]

The demolition teams have moved into the City Way site. They've been at Horsted since before Christmas removing the asbestos from the buildings.

[peterchall]

More thoughts about the picture.

In left corner, through the window, was the ‘diesel’ shop, with tools and test gear for diesel engine fuel pumps and injectors. Immediately next to the door was an ignition system tester, next to the engine test bed. The ‘poles’ hanging next to the crane were low-voltage inspection lamps that clipped to pairs of wires running the length of the workshop.

We were right up to date regarding tools and equipment, but relied on the local trade to supply us with vehicles and parts. But when I was at Gravesend College later we partly repaid the debt by passing our old vehicles to the Fire Brigade for them to practice accident recovery.

From the radiator badge the vehicle in the foreground was a Morris-Commercial and, from the look of the tyres, the one at the back was ex-army.

There was an arrangement whereby we would work on members of staffs cars, provided it was understood that the work would be done by students and the owner would provide materials. There was a similar arrangement in the Catering Department at Gravesend; an excellent cooked lunch was available to the public, cooked and served by students for only the cost of the food. The local motor trade objected to any suggestion that we should provide a similar public service – not surprisingly, I suppose.

Just for interest and talking of Morris-Commercial, the MC 10cwt van had the accelerator in the centre and the brake pedal on the right, yet it didn’t seem to cause a problem when driving one.

I wonder who the students in the photo were, and whether they or their relatives might see this post.

[aitch]

Brings back memories for me of the workshops and test beds from the early '70's it looked much the same when I was there but we didn't have a lad hanging out the back door for a smoke!!!!

we waited until lunchtime:)

[peterchall]

There must be a witty answer to that, it's just that I can't think of it at the moment.

[aitch]

behind the tutors backs - springs to mind!!!!

[AlanH]

Oh dear, I was banned from attending my weekly day release there because of bad behaviour and being the cause of "much unrest"! Going there was a requirement for all apprentices at the time and I could have been sacked for not going, but Blaw Knox kept me on purely on my ability and the hope I may make something of myself one day!
Some chance of that now I'm retired.
Alan.

[peterchall]

Alan,
Nowadays there would have been all sorts of appeal procedures and it would probably have ended up being the lecturer's fault for letting you cause the unrest

Brings back memories for me of the workshops and test beds from the early '70's it looked much the same when I was there but we didn't have a lad hanging out the back door for a smoke!!!!
we waited until lunchtime:)

One of the advantages of being on the college staff was the common pool of professional knowledge and advice. We used to say, “This would be a good job if it wasn’t for students taking up our time”

Seriously, it was quite gratifying if ever an ex-student, now an adult, later came up to me in the street or supermarket and said, “Hello Mr C. how are you?” Then the first thought through my mind was often, “I wish I could remember who you are”