Volume 16 - 1988/89 - SINEWS

PREAMBLE

Having decided to view a later version of the newsletters, instead of going through them in order, I selected Volume 16 quite randomly (honestly).  You can imagine my surprise when reading quickly through the edition to get a ‘feel’ for the issues, I came across the heading in the final issue RUMSEY FOR ENGLAND!  This led to a dilemma.  Should I include it or not?  Unsurprisingly for such a shrinking violet as myself, I eschewed the possibility of reporting on my 100 runs for the staff cricket team………………….

I hope you find the précis below an interesting memory of a bygone age.

(1)  Peter Gardener thanked those who voted for him to be on the Board of Governors.

(2)  Dennis Rutley wrote about the ‘overtime’ ban and the attitude of the staff of the Department of Financial and Legal Studies towards the officers at Winchester and the Principal.  He feared for the future of the courses ‘unless certain people don’t pocket their pride and admit they are mistaken’.

(3)  The AGM of the Senior Common Room was announced including a motion that the SCR Association be wound up.  Ann Tupper wrote about her impending departure.

(4)  Malcolm Mattick wrote to thank the 39 lecturers (out of 60) who voted for him in the Governors Election.  John Everson asked if anyone was interested in the recordings of McCormack, Scipa and Solomon.

(5) Ann Davies wrote that the resignation of the Principal has raised doubts in many minds about the inevitability of our transformation into PCFC next year.  She called for the Unions to have a meeting to discuss the matter in the light of the Director of Portsmouth Polytechnic estimating our survival in PCFC at two years. 

(6)  Clive Welsteed warned staff who failed to display a current Car Park Permit that they would be turned away – ‘The Sergeant may be your best friend, but he will still not let you in’.  Richard Swann reported on the Senior Common Room  AGM -  22 present and a vote of 18 – 0 rejecting the proposal to wind up the Association.  Officers elected:  Chairman – Charles Crutchley,  Treasurer – Gordon Thick,  Secretary – Richard Swann.

(7)  Stephen Woods and Graham Cosh asked for contributions to the Fourth Annual Staff Exhibition of Photographs.  Alan Lawrence wrote about the recent fire drill and the actions that should be taken (eg. ‘The usual action on finding a fire in the building is to keep it alight until the Fire-Prevention Officer arrives.’).  The College Chaplain – Revd. Andrew Rossiter announced the first College Communion Service to be held in the Visitors Dining Room.  Richard Swann bemoaned the fact that the Executive used SIN to communicate to the staff, but not with us.  Why does the Executive no longer use SINEWS?

(8)  Bob Howlett reported that the Reprographics section would be operating with only half the staff whilst he and Steve Sibley are in hospital.

(9)  Geoff Orme reported that the Engineering Council was conducting a campaign to get more engineers elected as college governors.  Richard Swann announced that percolated coffee would now be served in the SCR, priced 25p.  John Stanley wrote about his impending departure.  Edgar Shaw recorded the MPhil degree awarded to Mr. M. Lavender.

(10) This issue was concerned with the Conditions of Service sought to be put on colleges.  In Southampton Institute an attempt to impose FE conditions was made by the institute management which failed due to the spontaneous withdrawal of goodwill, mainly in the Department of Financial and Legal Studies.  Bob Collier was to give a talk about his experience teaching in an American College.

(11)  The Communion Service was moved to the Committee Room in the Arts Block.  The Fitness Firm announced a Christmas Party whilst Ian Tromans and Colin Spence appealed for more staff members for the weekly three-a-side football session.

(12)  John Stanley thanked the staff for his parting gift.  Shirley announced her new post as Receptionist/Telephonist

(13)  Richard Swann asked if there was a replacement for John Stanley as Head of Administration?  Equally, was there a replacement for Alan Matthews as Institute Safety Officer?

(14)  Donald Currie announced the impending retirement of Ken Cook, Head of Management Studies.  Alan Barham wrote as a ‘dyed in the wool, unrepentant smoker’ about the way a vociferous minority of non-smokers want to try and impose their views on society at large.  Bob Hailes reported that he had assumed the Safety Officer role until a new appointment is made.

(15)  A new year.  Mike Ballard was congratulated on his award of MSc in Information Systems.  Bob Hailes reported on the installation of a new fire alarm system, using warblers.  Ken Cook thanked staff for his retirement present.

(16)  Marian Snow thanked everyone for her farewell gift and wished the Institute to flourish.

(17)  A letter was received from Mrs Joan Johnston thanking the staff for the donation in memory of her husband, Johnny which was forwarded to the General Hospital Heart Fund.

(18)  Alan Millett wrote about Frank Jameson’s impending retirement.  Sandra Pumphry wrote that after much debate she had decided to opt for Spanish sunshine instead of life within PCFC and announce a farewell ‘do’ at Townhill Park House.

(19) An anonymous source wrote that he (?) felt he had difficulty in accepting that ‘the management’ had declared that communication with the staff in these times of change would be given a high priority.  However, he now realised that he ought to suspend his disbelief.  He had just read about the appointment of a new Principal, including some biographical details.  Also, in the same article, the Chairman of the Board of Governors and the retiring Principal had made very positive comments about the future of the college.  ‘‘The management’ is to be congratulated on living up to its promise to communicate with one of the most informative pieces I ever had the pleasure of reading since I joined the staff.’   ‘Only one very small criticism is offered, and I must admit that probably I am being oversensitive, but couldn’t we have been told in advance that the new Institute medium for the dissemination of information is called the SOUTHERN EVENING ECHO?’

(20)  Bob Watmough gave details of Jeff Ember’s retirement gathering.  Derek Prout wrote about a proposed Golf Society

(21)  Alan Barham wrote to the Health and Safety Committee proposing that the SCR be turned into a Staff Bar/Smoking Room giving six advantages.  Nearly £460 had been raised as a result of activities for Comic Relief.  The Sports section offered a Body Shop MOT as well as advertising its Summer Term Sports Activities and timetable.

(22)  Richard Swann said he saw no advantage in changing the present format of the SCR.  Colin Beaven advertised language courses for staff.

(23)  Jim Rumsey reported on the staff soccer team’s tour to Cornwall.  Careful fore –planning ensured a 10 -1 victory in the first game and a  4- 1 win on the following morning  (Brian Loader scoring twice).  As an unwanted bonus the team also had a 15 minute ‘touch rugby’ match against some of the Bude Rugby club which ended in a tie.   Ian Tromans issued the staff cricket fixture list.

(24) Chris Evans noted that some items of internal mail for Clifford House had gone astray recently because they were inadequately addressed and in one case not addressed at all.  Dennis Rutley reported that he had received a written invitation to a lecture on the Data Protection Act some 30 minutes after the lecture had begun.  The letter had taken 15 days from its date to reach him from the Administration.

(25) Chris Evans thanked everyone for ‘seeing me off the premises’ in such style.  Dennis Rutley as editor of SINEWS outlined the future of the publication in tandem with a termly Institute magazine aimed ‘at the world outside the Institute’.  A small Working Party under the chairmanship of Brian Cotton has been formed.  Don Currie will edit the external magazine, Richard Swann will act as advisor and Bob Howlett is in charge of presentation.

(26)  Richard Swann wrote a lengthy article about the challenges ahead under the new structure.  It was announced that the Sports Hall would be closed for sporting activities during the examination period.

(27)  David Leyland wrote how interesting it is to work at an institution such as ours with people who are interesting, diverse in their backgrounds, attitudes and aspirations.  Diversity is difficult to manage, creating its own conflicts and a conscious effort must be made to dispel myths and prejudices that abound between academic disciplines and occupations.  Clive Welsteed reported on the work about to start on the new classroom block.  Sandra Pumphry wrote from Spain thanking the staff who contributes to her send-off.  John Habberley, Mervyn Rollinson and Jeff Fanning were in training for the London to Brighton Bike Ride.  Mollie Manns thanked everyone for her cards and messages sent to her in hospital.  New staff were welcomed;

Keith Bailey, Ruth Bennett, Tracey Brewer, Celia Deadman, Diane Foley, Sandra Gent, Barry Jaggard, Sheila Line, C. M. Matthews, Dr R Noroozi, Martin O’Boyle, Peter Ruddle, Jo-Ann Stockwell, Jane Turner, Julie Weatherall, Susan White.

The secondment to the Institute of Peter Wybrow to advise on the setting up of a co-ordinated marketing unit was announced.  John Harris-Burland introduced the new Institute logo.

(28)  The Fitness Firm announced the Big Summer Barbeque.  Clive Welsteed wrote about the future difficulties of car parking during the MANTEC 89 Exhibition organised by the Department of Engineering and naval Architecture.

(29)  Details of  the Farewell for Bill Morton and Mervyn Cowie of the Department of Construction were given.  Mike Barnard reported on the British Colleges Cricket Cup Final which saw the Institute’s team defeat that of Ripon and York

(30)  Brian Bennett reported the decision made at the last Governor’s meeting to place copies of the Agenda, Minutes and Supporting Papers of Governor’s Committee in the Library.  Terry Murphy brought up-to-date news on the PCFC Sector Industrial Action.  Clive Welsteed asked to be made aware of any complaints about the ARA catering.

(31)  Bob Watmough reported on the tree planted to commemorate Genevieve Barrett.  Reg Ruel wrote that the first Honours degree to be validated by CNAA at SIHE was with no conditions of approval  (BA (Hons) Business Studies).  Congratulations were accorded to the course leader M. Bennett and the course team and administrative staff.

Derek Richards summarised variable results of the Staff Cricket matches.  Dennis Rutley concluded this year’s editions of SINEWS by saying ‘the last year was certainly the most stressful I have ever experienced – but I’m still hopeful.’

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