[Presently a tutor for Open University and freelance writer]
Dear MN College,
Most glad indeed to come across your site on the Web. My name is Jeff Williams - I taught Marine Radio at the College 1977 to 80. Also I lived in residence - and have many good memories ...
I just looked through your staff listing - very good of you to maintain the records. Frank Mayoh in fact taught me marine radio many years earlier (late 60s) when the department was at Norwood - and Barry O'Sullivan I knew well ...
I remember Brian Dickenson (we lived next door) and, particularly, Tony Vaughn - we knew the family well - his daughter used to baby sit. I see he "still" lives in the village - if you're in contact do pass on my regards - he might remember Jeff and Sue with two baby daughters ...
In the radio dept two or three taught me back at Norwood - Ziggy, Phil Smith, Erny Gibson - also Roger Taylor I see is contactable. However, I wonder what happened to Bob Douglas (you don't list him) - he was deputy head Radio Dept when I was there - most tragically his wife died in a car crash. Also Mike Dawson - he left my second year ...
Very glad to make contact - and would be pleased to send you my details if you'd like to to fit me in. I see also you have list of the students - look forward to going through the list later ...
Many thanks - glad to make contact. In fact I noticed in a newsgroup that "Mark Croucher" arranged a reunion in Greenhithe back in March 1997 - would that be you ? I still have a pewter mug from group 1B in 79 - it was presented by "Mark" - I recall he was local ...
Best wishes
Jeff Williams
jeffjubilee@btinternet.com
Greetings to all past MNC staff and students …
I was delighted to come across the MN Website about two months back (August 2001) and I must say many thanks indeed to Paul Bird for his considerable efforts to set up and maintain the site …
I taught first year marine radio at the College 77 - 80 - at that time I had just left P & O after several excellent years on cruise liners. I thought then that being a Radio Officer was a really great career and was very pleased indeed to be teaching the subject. I can only say now how sad that the profession of R/O came to an end. None-the-less reading ex student profiles its good to see how many interesting fields people ended up in …
As for my three years teaching I can only hope I didn’t put students off learning for the rest of their lives. But seeing from the lists that many finished the courses I couldn’t have done too much damage. So far I have been pleased to get in touch with Shaun Murphy - living in beautiful South Island, New Zealand - and also Bob Douglas who taught me himself back in 67 - 69 in Norwood. I also remember Mike Lawson (helped me a lot my first year teaching), Phil Smith (likewise), Tony Vaughan (Duty Officer) and family, and many students - Mark Durban and group (thanks for the pewter mug, still on my mantelpiece), and Chris and Nigel “You’re getting podgy Mr Williams” - thanks for that guys - I have been working on it since !!
In fact after leaving the College I joined a Dive Support Vessel - Witch Queen - and trained as a DP (Dynamic Positioning) Operator - basically running the computerised engine/thruster systems that keep a vessel on station during diving operations. Most interesting work - and this led on to the North Sea and semi-submersible drilling rigs. In a way obviously a harsh environment, but excellent conditions on board the rigs (including saunas) and the work very interesting and challenging indeed (all the latest technology). In fact I spent five years on msv Tharos in the Piper field - I left the year before the platform was lost in a horrific fire (1986).
I have never found work as interesting ashore and ended up late eighties whilst a single parent (through divorce) taking a degree in Philosophy and English at Soton University. It was a great experience - I read a lot of brilliant books - and got very involved in writing and such themes as Philosophy of Mind! All very stimulating and exciting stuff - and, believe it or not, does connect with marine electronics - for instance Logic - (gets everywhere) !
As for the present time I continue my studies and I am a part-time tutor with the OU. Otherwise much of my time is spent maintaining my urban cottage (Poole Dorset), gardening, and trying to understand the minds of my (three) daughters which still often baffle me - King Lear might have thought he had a hard time - I could swop a few stories …
However, back to MN College days, I would be very glad to hear from any ex-radio first year students 77 through to 80 (particularly anyone who might have joined P & O). In fact, for radio students, you might be interested to know that the original department was in Norwood South London. Frank Mayoh together with Mr Danielson wrote one of the original text books - Marine Radio. Also the original department included Bob Douglas, Phil Smith, Erny Gibson, and Mr Zbreski.
Finally I must say I am sorry that the profession of R/O came to an end. Most will know that GMDSS (late nineties) put an end to the job - in fact Portishead closed 31st December 1999. In its day I think being an R/O was a great job and, indeed, quite a unique job. A great way to travel the world - all but your own boss in your own office - and getting paid. So I am grateful to the lecturers who taught me (at Norwood), and I am glad to see many students from the seventies/eighties since the demise of the R/O (and MN) have found good and interesting alternative careers …
Best wishes to all …
Jeff Williams
jeffjubilee@btinternet.com
First info from Shaun Murphy