‘Bricks and mortar do not make a College – only people. A happy and effective College is one where there is mutual trust, understanding and goodwill. Fine words, you may say but let us work together to make it so.’
- Principal Jack Fuller, 1972.
As with most of the College’s history the 1960 to 1989 period was one of significant change with the end of this period providing a bridge between the analogue world and digital world of the future. Internal changes at the College comprised of new leadership and education initiatives, whereas external changes were often new education reforms and changes in local government.
In August 1959 Mr Percy Astins, C.B.E., Chairman of the Board of Governors, signed a petition to the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England, to grant and assign ‘such armorial bearings as may be proper to be borne and used by the [College]’. The petition was granted and the College was presented with a coat of arms in time to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Official Opening. The coat of arms, which can be seen at the front of this book, was partnered with a descriptive text:
‘The shield is divided into eight pieces by lines in the form of a cross and a saltire, these are alternatively silver and red, the colours chosen for the College. Overall is an open book in its natural colours, the binding black with gold clasps. On each of the two pages at which the book is open is a black cog-wheel, these are “in fesse,” that is side by side. The book and cog-wheels symbolise the arts and sciences respectively. The local authority, who maintain the College are symbolised in the crest, half a golden stag with black antlers holds a silver Seax with gold pommel and hilt…. Lastly, a cog-wheel, as in the arms is repeated on the crest, so as to avoid any possible confusion with other crests of stags holding swords…. The motto, painted beneath the arms on a scroll in the Letters Patent is “Ductus Per Scientiam” - Leadership through Knowledge.’[1]
In 1963 long-standing Chairman Mr Percy Astins, C.B.E., passed away. Principal Lowery noted that ‘it was largely through the efforts of Mr Astins...that this college came into being….His contributions to education, culture and human affairs in Essex cannot be overestimated.’[2] Later that year, after 26 years of leadership, Dr Harry Lowery retired leading to a succession of new principals.
Dr Lowery was succeeded by Norman Lindop (later Sir Norman Lindop), an educationalist with a background in chemistry. Prior to joining the College Sir Norman was Head of Department for Chemistry at Kingston College of Technology, and after leaving the College in 1966 he was Director of Hatfield Polytechnic, which later became the University of Hertfordshire.[3]
The principals that followed Sir Norman were John O’Neil from 1966-1970, George Cordrey (formerly Vice-Principal) from 1970-1972 and Jack Fuller who joined in 1972 and remained in post until 1991, making him the second-longest serving principal at the College.[4]
During the 1960s the College attracted many international students and would continue to do so. In 2023 former staff member of the College, Brenda Keer, shared stories about her time during the 1960s when she was Supervisor of the Typing Pool and Secretary to the Chief Admin Officer Bill Godfrey.
Brenda’s association with the College began long before she started working there. She fondly remembered:
‘As a child my house backed onto the College grounds. In those days the car park didn’t exist and it was just a grass mound. We used to go onto the grounds during the winter and slide down in the snow.’
Brenda originally worked in the City before coming to work at the College. She said the College ’was like a family; everyone knew everyone.’ She met her husband at the College, an international student from Iraq who, after leaving the College, went on to a career in electrical engineering.
Brenda recalled the times when the number of international students was increasing, many of whom were from Iraq:
‘A funny story is that my husband knew how to speak Arabic but kept quiet about that fact. The other international students didn’t know. Then after a year they found out and realised he had been listening to their conversations all along.’
In 1963 the London Government Act was passed, resulting in the establishment of larger local government districts. It was through this Act that in 1965 the London Borough of Waltham Forest was formed from the merging of the municipal boroughs of Leyton, Walthamstow and Chingford. The College, now under the umbrella of the new borough, changed its name from South-West Essex Technical College and School of Art to Waltham Forest Technical College and School of Art. At this time the College taught a large range of qualifications from O-Levels through to degree and post-graduate research.[4]
During the 1960s there was a growing movement in government to provide greater distinction between further and higher education. Harold Wilson’s Labour Party achieved victory in both the 1964 and 1966 general elections. Shortly after the 1966 election the government published a White Paper titled, ‘A Plan for Polytechnics and Other Colleges’, which would limit the College’s ability to run higher education courses:
‘After full consultation with the Regional Advisory Councils and local education authorities the Secretary of State will designate a limited number of Polytechnics as the main centres for the future development of full-time higher education within the Further Education system….The object will be to reduce substantially the number of colleges engaged in full-time higher education’.[5]
The appendix of the White Paper mentions the College and says, ‘Discussions between the authorities concerned with a view to the establishment of a new higher education institution in [the South-East Essex] area have been proceeding for some time.’
The discussions eventually led to the formation of the North East London Polytechnic in September 1970 which took control of all higher education courses from the College. This was an unpopular decision as the College had offered degrees in physics and chemistry with great success and was also partnered with the University of London.[4]
Jack Fuller took over the Principalship of the College in 1972; he had previously occupied the role of Vice-Principal at Swindon College. He was born in Hornsey and was educated at Tottenham Grammar School (closed in 1988) and the London School of Economics. He served in the Royal Navy at the end of World War 2 where he trained in the United States of America as a Fleet Air Arm pilot.
Mr Fuller’s foreword in the 1972-1973 prospectus reads:
‘I am joining Waltham Forest Technical College at a time when great changes are taking place in society, in our way of life. The pace of change in technical knowledge and in human relations demands of us all the greatest need to keep up-to-date – and where possible ahead in our thinking. The College can only prosper and advance in a spirit of friendly co-operation, and I believe it is my responsibility to make it a happy place to work in….Bricks and mortar do not make a College – only people. A happy and effective College is one where there is mutual trust, understanding and goodwill. Fine words, you may say but let us work together to make it so.’[6]
Although Mr Fuller was to be the Principal of Waltham Forest Technical College, the letter detailing his interview read:
‘Interviews will take place at North East London Polytechnic, where the College has some rooms.’
This message highlights the state of the College at the time. Morale was at a significant low and the Polytechnic controlled a majority of the building with the Waltham Forest Technical College making use of huts and external annexes. Even the library had been taken over by the Polytechnic with a smaller room on the second floor being designated as a library for the College. The Waltham Forest Technical College didn’t even have its own telephone line, instead relying on the Polytechnic’s switchboard.[4]
The College suffered during this time. A large portion of its provision had been stripped away and it now had to share the Forest Road building with another institution. The Department of Education and Science had intended for the Polytechnic to move to the sites at Barking (the South-East Essex Technical College) and West Ham, but it wasn’t until 1982 that this was finally realised.
Despite the College lacking space and only running courses across five departments it was a prosperous time for enrolments. This may have been aided by the opening of the London Underground Victoria Line in 1968, which, after 1971, extended from Walthamstow in the north to Brixton in the south, opening the College up to a new section of London. The 1973-1974 prospectus cover highlights this by depicting the map of the London Underground and circling the College’s location at the end of the Victoria Line.
In October 1977 the College opened The Mallinson Room (now The Mallinson Restaurant), a training facility for hospitality & culinary arts students. The restaurant was named after Sir Stuart Mallinson and continues to operate as a restaurant and multi-purpose facility today. Sir Stuart had a long and close connection with the College and would often provide support to both students and staff. He attended the opening of the restaurant and would often dine there bringing various guests such as Squadron Leader Sir Douglas Bader (Royal Air Force flying ace during the Second World War).
The White House, Woodford Green was Sir Stuart and Lady Mallinson’s home. On the estate Sir Stuart started an arboretum with many trees being planted by distinguished figures. The first tree was planted by Field Marshall Viscount Montgomery, with further trees being planted by many others including Margaret Thatcher; Judge Warren Berger, Chief of the US Supreme Court; and Colonel Frank Borman, Captain of the Apollo 8 (the first mission to fly around the moon). The house is now owned by Haven House Children’s Hospice.[4][7]
During the 1970s the College had plans to expand its facilities but spending cuts in 1979 meant the council put these on indefinite hold. Instead, the Art & Design Department was moved to the Old Town Hall on Orford Road. A total of £189,000 was spent to restore the building so it could be used, but it was later vacated in the 1986 academic year because the roof posed a danger.[4]
After the Polytechnic left the Forest Road building in 1982 a grant of £105,000 was provided for building work to upgrade the buildings facilities. The College now found itself with over two hundred extra rooms to fill. This provided an opportunity to move provision from the old annex on Hoe Street (formerly the Commercial School for Girls) back to the College, and the Construction Department returned from its base at Chingford.[4]
During the 1970s one of the first Access to Higher Education courses was run at the College in partnership with Middlesex Polytechnic for students wanting to study a degree in Youth and Community Social Work. Shortly after, the College partnered with the North East London Polytechnic and expanded its Access course provision to include education, computing, health, construction, cultural studies, business & law and social science. The College continues to offer Access courses to this day helping many adult learners reach their university and career goals.
In 1986 the College embarked on another education initiative and applied to be a Gateway Centre of ‘The Open College of the Air’, a service set up under the Manpower Services Commission to mimic the Open University’s TV courses, this time for further education. The initiative was designed to allow working adults, disabled members of the community or mothers at home an easier way to study, either at home or in the workplace, without the requirement to regularly visit a college. The courses were broadcast via TV and radio and were accessible to everyone, although a fee was required for extra resources and the final qualification. The College’s bid was accepted and in September 1987 the first student enrolled.
Speaking in the House of Lords, Lord Young outlined the proposals for the College of the Air:
‘We now propose the creation of an open college, the College of the Air. Our aim would be to enlist the full contribution of radio and television to support and deliver open learning courses in all areas of vocational competence. It should be able to attract sponsorship consistent with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1981 and to establish good relations with the educational interests and broadcasting authorities….I hope that the College of the Air will start broadcasting no later than September 1987. This is an ambitious project and I anticipate that its range of courses could, within the first five years, provide up to 1 million students with the opportunities to progress towards vocational and technical qualifications.’[8]
The Open College of the Air didn’t meet the student numbers expected in the years that it was in operation. Although survey data suggests that the Open College ‘may have attracted up to 20,000 brand-new students onto further education courses as a direct result of enquiries stimulated by Open College marketing,’[9] the college couldn’t self-finance and closed in 1991. However, its legacy continues to this day in the form of the National Open College Network with a variety of OCN branded awarding organisations, and the Open College of the Arts, which was acquired by the Open University in 2022.
Separate to teaching and learning, the College also had a fully developed exchange programme with other colleges across the world. Some of the institutions students visited were in France, Germany, Belgium, USA and Egypt. Aside from these exchange programmes, students went on trips to Paris fashion shows, the vineyards of Champagne, hotels in Italy and to the Soviet Union.
The College also established its own field centre in 1975 at Eyott’s Farm in South Woodham. The centre was known by some staff members as ‘Mother Goose’s Home for Naughty Girls and Boys’,[4] although many students passed through its doors to complete aspects of courses such as surveying and biology. It was also a location where students could attend weekend revision sessions free from distraction and was designed to introduce students to a rural environment. A paragraph in the Eyott’s Farm information book speaks of the accommodation available:
‘The farm itself can house approximately 25 students, although a few more can be accommodated in a barn, small caravan and tents (weather permitting).’[10]
In 1986 the lease granted by Essex County Council expired and the farm was surrounded by an expanding town.
In 1988 students and staff celebrated the 50th anniversary of the College’s opening. There was an exhibition presented in the main hall between 4th and 6th October and members of the College Amateur Operatic Society and Forest Philharmonic Orchestra performed. There was also a small booklet researched and written by Deputy Librarian Judy Seaborne which gave a quick overview of the College’s history since its opening in 1938 – the booklet was a great guide and resource towards the research conducted for the Creating Futures exhibition.
Throughout Principal Fuller’s time at the College, his words from the 1972-1973 prospectus, ‘The pace of change in technical knowledge’, were a steady truth, and with the introduction of the first digital computers the College was advancing rapidly towards a very different future to what those in 1938 could have imagined when the College first opened.
References
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J. P. Brook-Little, “The Armorial Bearings of the South-West Essex Technical College and School of Art,” The Walthamstow Press Ltd., Circa 1960.
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H. Lowery, “South-West Essex Technical College and School of Art Annual Report Session 1961-62,” The Guardian Press, London, 1963.
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Sir Norman Lindop, Interviewee, Sir Norman Lindop - Director of Hatfield Polytechnic. [Interview]. 02 June 2014.
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Waltham Forest College, Fiftieth Anniversary Waltham Forest College, London, 1988.
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Anthony Crosland, “A Plan for Polytechnics and other Colleges - Higher Education in the Further Education System,” London, 1966.
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J. B. Fuller, “Foreword,” in Waltham Forest Technical College Prospectus 1972-73, London, Waltham Forest Technical College, 1972, p. 5.
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C. Hardy, “HISTORY: Rich history of hospice’s grounds revealed,” Newsquest Media Group Ltd, 08 July 2011. [Online]. Available: https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/9129690.history-rich-history-of-hospices-grounds-revealed/. [Accessed 21 August 2023].
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Hansard, “HL Deb 18 July 1986 vol 478 cc1094-100,” 18 July 1986. [Online]. Available: https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1986/jul/18/college-of-the-air. [Accessed 22 August 2023].
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S. Innes, “The Open College: six months on,” Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, vol. 3, no. 3, p. 34, 1988.
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Waltham Forest College, Residential Centre: Eyott’s Farm, London.
