I attended MNC Greenhithe from 1977 to 1979 in MRT (MRGC).
After successfully obtaining TEC in 1979 in the same group as Andy Bates / Trevor Groves / James Druce / Mark Fay etc I then went to Plymouth Polytechnic to study HND in Electonic Engineering.
Rather than becoming a Radio Officer I started work in Private Mobile radio and am now the Marketing Manager at Maxon Europe Ltd, based in Hertfordshire. I am married (2nd time round) with one son from 1st marriage, live in South Bedfordshire.
It was a sad loss to see initially the scrapping of TS Worcester ( I used to be involved in the AV club with Derek Kay at the college and we did a video of the Worcester when it was scrapped - Is this archived?), and the eventual closure and subsequent demolition of the college.
Its good to see that there is a web site dedicated to its memory and the fine training that was achieved there.
I think I have some pictures of TS Worcester which I will forward if required.
Ron Touw - Was in same group as me and I kept in touch for quite a while since MNC, was even his Best Man when he got married. Ron worked at Met Police TSG then moved to Home Office Monitoring station at Baldock (not sure if you can publish this??) [RA is not classified, I have this from the Director - Ed.] He used to live in Luton but moved to somwhere in North Bedfordshire and I lost touch. Last count - married to Trish with 1 son.
Tony Myers - same group, left in 1979 and went to Trent Polytech to study Degree. No idea where he is now.
Grant Cartledge - Same group, left in 1979 and went to Brighton Poly to study Degree. Met up a few times since but no idea where he is now. His parents used to live in Littlehampton so he could probably still be around there.
Pierre Featherbe - (Year above or in MRGC), left in 1979? - Knew Pierre as we both came from Folkestone. Met up with Pierre again when I worked at Dymar Electronics in Watford and the company was taken over by Burndept based in Erith. We worled together for a while in Manchester on a project for the Gtr Manchester Police. I know Pierre then moved to another PMR company but lost touch.
Mark Fay - Dont know what Mark is doing these days. All I can say is that he had the most wicked Hi-Fi in the whole of Kent when at MNC. Made it himself and had speakers the size of wardrobes. Pink Floyd at full volume could be heard in Southend. Top Dude. Used to live in Crowborough / or at least his girlfriend did - cant remember.
Myself / Ron Touw / Steve Faulkner: Set up the MNC Amateur Radio club. Additionally, Ron and I developed an Intercom system that we could use all around the college by "simply connecting one wire to the nearest central heating radiator, and the other to the earth of a mains plug" ...........Sad I know but it kept us amused.
Best Regards
John French
Marketing Manager
Maxon Europe Ltd
Tel: + 44 (0) 1442 267777
Mobile: + 44 (0) 7802 426279
www.maxon.co.uk
Email via MRGC1980