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First year students c1953

This photograph shows the first year class attending the National Diploma course in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at Brighton Technical College circa 1953.

I would be hard pressed to name any of them but I was the nerdy looking one in the ‘V’ sweater and glasses…I just can’t believe I looked like that…how embarrassing!

If you recognise yourself, or anyone else, please leave a comment below.

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First year class attending the National Diploma course in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
From the private collection of Barrie Searle

Comments about this page

  • Well, at least you didn’t have a bow-tie, Barrie!

    By Stefan Bremner-Morris (08/04/2011)
  • I knew I had something missing Stefan… I should have borrowed one from the chap in the front row left.

    By Barrie Searle (02/05/2011)
  • Hi Barrie, great pic! I work at City College in Brighton (formerly Brighton Tech) and was wondering if you mind me using your picture in an online history of the college that I am putting together? If that was ok, would you possibly be able to email me at nl@ccb.ac.uk – many thanks.

    By Nic Ledger (26/03/2012)
  • Sirs, I used to do a course in Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Sept 1959 to July 1962 at the then Brighton Technical College and would like to know if you have pictures of the team at that time and where I could find one. Thanks

    By N.Sivarajah (18/01/2014)
  • Hello everybody. The guy 2nd front row seated looks like me. I have a picture of the graduating EE class of 1957 which I could send to anyone who sends me an e mail at paulttq@yahoo.com  Sorry I was so late in picking up.

    By Paul Tie Ten Quee (19/01/2015)
  • Hi there, I recently came across my Dad’s Reports whilst he was at the Preston Technical Institute in Coombe Road, Brighton. I think that maybe my Dad is the 3rd one along the back row? His name was Michael Wright? Head of the Mechanical Engineering Dept was a Mr R V Palmer?

    By Wendy Slaughter (15/02/2015)
  • I took HND in this period. The head of dep’t was Arthur Till, don’t recognise the Palmer name at all? Nice to see the photo though.

    By Richard Hampton (30/07/2016)
  • I switched from the HNC to the BTC Diploma course somehow but I can only recognise a few people in this picture. I am 81 years old now so I guess many of these people have passed on but for any who are interested I have another picture taken about that time and I will send. I spent June 2016 in Brighton and could find no one who cared or was able to make any connections. However I did spend a lot of time on the beach and in the Laines. My mobile no in Canada is 01 613 791 8817 –  text me or leave a short message. TTFN, love to all. Paul TTQ

    By Paul Tie Ten Quee (02/01/2017)
  • I studied OND at the BTC from 1977-1979 and proceeded to the University of Leicester for my BEng, graduating in 1982. I recall our Lecturer Mr. Burns had a great laugh teasing us Malaysian students! I visited Brighton’s “memory lanes” back in 1995 but only managed to look for my landlord at Hs No. 35, Ditchling Road, BN1 4QL. Unfortunately, they no longer stayed there (moved to Italy, I supposed).

    By mike samuel (27/09/2021)
  • I used to teach A-Level Psychology at Brighton College of Technology while persuing a PhD in Computational Linguistics at The University of Sussex.

    By Oliver Mink (formerly Werner Schneiderer (15/02/2022)
  • I attended Preston Technical Institute from 1958 and then moved to Brighton Technical College and finally the newly opened Brighton College of Technology . I gained a college diploma in Power Engineering. I attended classes at many satellite locations including classes at Coombs road.
    Unfortunately I have no photos of my class mates.

    By Kenneth Broomfield (24/04/2022)
  • I studied Mechanical Engineering, London University external degree from Brighton Technical College from 1960 to 1963. Mr Till was Head of Mech Eng Dept. Mr Harry Smith aka Harry Heat was Thermodynamics lecturer. Mr. Tom Smith aka Tensile Tom was Strength of Materials lecturer. Mr. Turner was lecturer for Mechanics of Machines. Mr. Garlic was Head of Electrical Engineering department and Mr. Peak Head of Civil Engineering department. We had excellent and caring lecturer’s. I would appreciate receiving photos of students and staff during that era.

    By Ong yoke fei (03/05/2022)

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