Those who were kind enough to take in interest in the interview with my Dad recently might be interested in some archive materials associated with his time at the university in the early 1950s...
Dad has recently moved into a nursing home, and we have cleared his house ahead to sell it on. He, and we his family, were particularly pleased to be able to pass a large collection of books about Maths to Prof Biagio Lucini and his colleagues on the Bay Campus. Many of the books were stamped with the University’s crest and had been awarded to my Dad as prizes. I imagine that my grandmother would have saved these other clippings and documents, as he isn’t one for a fuss. But they give a fascinating glimpse into life at Swansea almost 70 years ago…
The University was part of the old “University of Wales” back then, and my Dad’s undergraduate degree ceremony was held at The Brangwyn Hall. No Bay Campus back then of course !
First Class Honours – he set the bar pretty high for his children and grandchildren !
Most other things seemed to have changed, but the way that the ceremonious were conducted doesn’t seem to have changed much.
Plenty of smiling faces in the Class of 54, but a few worried ones too !
Cricket has played a big part in his life and my life. I’m pretty chuffed that he captained the University during what appears to be a purple patch in their history.
My grandmother must have clipped these very carefully. Dad is frequently mentioned, and in the one at the bottom in the centre, he is described as “one of the most promising young players in Welsh cricket today”. One of others mentioned in that short piece is Alan Rees, who went on to play 216 matches for Glamorgan. He also won 3 caps for Wales at Rugby in 1962. Dad was expected “to make the grade” as a cricketer and I’m sure he probably could have, but he chose to become an academic. The rest, as they say, is history.
