Volume 3 - 1975/76 - NEWSCOT

Preamble

Compared with other years, this group of weekly publications seems rather anodyne.  Indeed in Issue 18 someone writes that there have not been many ‘grumbles’ this year.  Peggy Souter continues her indefatigable quest to involve staff members in the Arts – plays, recitals etc

(1)   Welcomes both for Stephen Clark-McMullen  (Student Counsellor) and Eddie Parker  (Accommodation Officer) plus 25 other new staff.  John Sneezum explained the Insurance Group activity.  No subscriptions are required unless a member of staff goes on reduced pay and then the rate is 5p per week.   Bob Watmough asked if staff would be permitted to wear swimwear in teaching rooms where the temperature regularly exceeds 75 degrees.

(2)  Dennis Rutley asked for an explanation for the extra week’s vacation after Christmas.  The Print Room requested less URGENT and ASAP jobs. 

(3)  Bob Watmough made his third contribution (last week’s was about blackberry picking).  This time it was about cutting down on waste – ‘starve the wastepaper basket’.  Dick Swann wrote about the SCR Newspapers and Magazines.  Information about various groups was included – Modern Arts Society, Art Appreciation, Victorian Society, Life Drawing Class, Basic Art and Design Class, Guitar Classes, Mountbatten Singers.

(4)  Sylvia and Linda gave details of the Christmas Ball and the sale of Christmas Cards (to subsidize the Ball).  Barbara Bishop gave information about Language classes.

(5)  Lee Vaux asked staff to display car parking stickers.  Geoff Orme complained of the SCR crossword addicts who removed their daily efforts thus ruining articles that were written on the other side.

(6)  Sylvia and Linda complained that the sale of Christmas cards was very poor.  A Research Seminar was advertised.  The Sergeants at the car park barrier reminded staff they were there for the benefit of trucks etc and not to raise the barrier for staff who were too lazy to reach out with their plastic keys.

(7)  Peggy Souter looked for others who might want to go to Salisbury Playhouse with her part-time group and gave details of Dramatech’s next production, plus a couple of upcoming lunchtime recitals.

(8)  Ken Everett commented on the growing number of false alarms at the college which resulted in evacuations.  Sylvia and Linda continued their plea for the sale of Christmas cards – ‘Come on, you tight-fisted lot’.

(9)  Dennis Rutley postulated on the leveling of the campus by a bomb attack and asked what changes/improvements could be made to the building should the authorities offer to re-build.   Sister Janice Hemmings gave details of the forthcoming Resuscitation Course.   Joe Howarth reported on the first Research Seminar and advertised the second.   The Social Science and Educational Research Section were anxious to know if any other staff member had interests in this direction.  If so, contact the committee members – Barbara Bishop, Brian Bowen, Bill Hogben, Maurice Cope.

(10)  Peggy Souter would like a big room in any reconstructed edifice.  Staff were invited to provide a crossword clue the answer to which was ‘Academic Board’.

(11)  Neil Toye wanted ample staffroom accommodation and a building design that made the use of teaching aids easy instead of virtually impossible.  Crossword clues;  ‘Read a bad comic for these minutes’ – Joe Howarth.  Bob Corlett announced reduced library hours because of staff shortages.

(12)  Crossword clue:  ‘College body fed up with its job, we hear’ – John Sneezum.  Jeff Hawksley gave details of the next Research Association seminar.

(13)  Crossword clue:  ‘A wooden panal on which to pin our educational suggestions’ – Vincent Nelson.   Mr. Buckley hoped Heads of Departments and Lecturers will encourage students to attend the carol service.

(14)  The winner of the crossword competition (Issue 10) was John Blizzard with ‘Bad, mad, C. I. A. core reformed to make what sounds like an intellectual plank.’  John Sneezum appealed for a one-off insurance contribution for Connie Bamford. Sylvia Bealey and Linda Barton made a final plea for the purchase of tickets for the College Ball otherwise ‘our accounts will be IN THE RED’.   Bob Corlett reported that the Open University would no longer lodge their course units in the Library.

(15) Dramatech, through Peggy Souter, announced a whole series of events to take place early in the new year.

(16)  Francis Andrews, Lab. Technician in the Department of Applied Science, won second place in a national competition for Applied Ideas run by the journal ‘Electronic Engineering’.  Ian Tromans announced the opening of the cricket nets practice sessions.  The Research Association reminded everyone of their next event.  Peggy Souter gave details of the next visit to Salisbury Playhouse to see ‘Cowardy Custard’  plus also some forthcoming college recitals.

(17)   This issue was basically a rewrite of the previous issue but late because of a printing device failure.

(18)  A comment, anonymous, that there haven’t been many grumbles in Newscot for some time now.  Is it because we are too busy, grateful for employment, the futility of complaining, that officialdom is winning, or is it the calm before the storm?

(19)  Barbara Bishop wrote about the new link with the Dunkerque Institut de Technologie and a forthcoming week’s visit of ten French students.  Jonathan Britt commented on some members of staff being vociferously rude to other members rather than using official channels of complaint.  Barbara Bishop advertised a research seminar on the use of visual aids in teaching.

(20)  Peggy Souter advertised the lunchtime recital that had been reviewed in ‘The Times’.  She also gave details of the staff visit to Chichester to see ‘Twelfth Night’.

(21)  Of 3200 or so applicants for the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship, John Blizzard was one of the 106 recipients.  It would take him to Japan for six weeks.   Charles Painter reminded staff of the necessity of reporting their absence through sickness to the Head of Department.  Dennis Rutley congratulated Dramatech for their production which had been seen by his three children.

(22)  Frank Mahon appealed for another set of chess for the SCR.

(23)  Robin Shell drew attention to the resources available in the College Careers Office.  Peggy Souter listed a litany of forthcoming events.  Bryan Dowding reported the removal of the 1130 computer to be replaced by a bigger and better MOD machine.

(24)  The SCR Committee proposed a darts league based on departmental or section basis.  Seminars were arranged for those likely to use the new computer.  The staff of Room 013 suggested that some white lines in the back car park might be an aid to good neighbourly car parking.   Room 013 staff were John Austin, T. Baker, D. Hewett, W. Jukes, G. Rule, G. Thick, B. Watts, F. Wright.  They also complained about the timing of the extra week vacation coming, as it did, at the end of the long vacation.

(25) Stan Parker  gave six reasons why the additional week had been placed where it was citing consultation at each level.   The arrival of a large van bearing the word CONCORDE was reported.  Thankfully, according to staff, it only contained the new computer.

(26)  The staff’s rugby victory (23 -9) over the students was reported.  Norman Davies was anxious for the return of the ‘pinched’ Popular Garden from the SCR.

(27)  Peggy Souter  asked if any staff would like to contribute to ‘an entertainment’ at the Social Centre for the Blind.  Dennis Rutley wrote asking for car parkers to follow the rules imposed.

(28)  John Bloodworth advertised arrangements for staff tennis.   Ron Ward warned of thieves in the college having recently lost his wallet.   C. Carter gave details of a seminar about teaching methods that would be led by  Bill Macey, Margaret Bevis, John Sneezum and Margaret Ross.

(29)   Doug Peacock and Tom Campbell wrote of two members of the Marine Engineering Staff who are presently seriously ill in hospital – J. Clark and D. Humphrey.   Peggy Souter advertised a talk about the Wessex Educational Television Consortium.

(30)  The main item was the reporting of several staff cricket matches.  Mentioned in dispatches were;   D, Booth (fielding), D. Clark (bowling),  N. Davies (batting), I. Tromans (batting),  B. Dowding (batting, wicket-keeping).  Peggy Souter canvassed for interest in a visit to the Watermill Theatre, Newbury.

(31)  A comparative chart for the various methods of college photocopying was produced.  Peggy Souter gave details of a video workshop.  Maggie Ross asked if any staff would like to be put on a computer mailing list for latest developments etc.  Staff should contact their department computer representatives, viz;  K. Blatchford, J. Bloodworth, K. Church, D. Heffer, D. Hembury, M. Ross, R. Ward.

(32)  More cricket matches were reported – 1 win and 2 draws.  Bryan Dowding reported that computer terminals were now available for staff.   A notice board had been installed in the SCR.   A SCR Cheese and Wine event at Townhill Park House was advertised.

(33)  R. A. Lawrence set a puzzle for the staff.  A plea for car drivers to slow down whilst on campus was made.

(34)  A farewell presentation to Wendy Millns was announced.  The most recent three drawn cricket matches were reported.  Norman Davies waxed lyrical about the venue of the SCR Cheese and Wine event, in particular over the venue of Townhill Park House.   Peggy Souter mentioned the next Chichester Theatre visit.  Dennis Rutley thanked Jane Harrison for her typing and Clive Wellstead pointing out that the issues were only delayed by the various bomb scares.

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