| Description | Track 1 [01:15:19] [Session one: 28 February 2017] Winkie Williamson [WW] born in 1951 in Manchester, came to Wales 1969 to attend Cardiff University. WW attended Worsley Wardley Grammar School and expresses her opinion on grammar schools. WW discusses choosing Cardiff University, studying English, French and Philosophy. WW discusses choosing French as degree subject and comments on learning Spanish. Graduated with a 2:2. WW comments on involvement in ‘wave’ of 1960s, politics in Cardiff, reference to Terry Hawks and Kate Belsey. WW discusses family political interests. WW comments on Cardiff as ‘hot’ politically, reference to Springboks Rugby Tour and demonstration in Swansea. WW annotates a story about the demonstration. [00:09:08] WW describes teaching in the University of Nante, France after graduation. [00:11:012] WW describes how she came to Swansea, reference to Colin Pressdee. WW discusses working in Swansea over the summer after graduation before going to France, reference to working at Dirty Dora’s nightclub. WW discusses becoming involved with Swansea University 1976, comments on involvement with the Women’s Movement, reference to National Abortion Campaign. WW discusses World University Service, 1977, concerning teaching English to Chilean refugees. WW mentions Swansea’s Centre for Development Studies [CDS], reference to Morris Brodie (sp) and the Colonial Society. WW describes Swansea as a hotbed of debate, reference to Marcus Palacios (sp) Ray Bromley and Chilean refugees at Swansea as students. [00:22:00] WW discusses setting up a Summer School to teach English 1977 and then becoming employed by the University as a Language Support Tutor in the Language Laboratory. WW discusses the political experiences of the refugees and men more reluctant to learn English then women. WW mentions a positive community reaction to the refugees. WW comments on difficulties of teaching. WW comments on wider reaction to the Chilean refugees and government involvement, reference to Judith Hart and Edward Heath. [00:33:28] WW discusses demonstrations at Swansea, reference to Grunwick, Miner’s Strike, Women’s Liberation in London, National Abortion Campaign. [00:34:14] WW discusses studying 3 times at Cardiff, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s in education 10 years later, and MBA at business school. WW comments on coming back to Swansea after studies, describes the community feel, no distinction between the town and university then unlike now. [00:36:45] WW describes the support on campus, with reference to Keir Hardie common room and student and staff relationship. [00:41:00] WW discusses working with the Vietnamese refugees and their relationship with the Chilean refugees. WW discusses wanting more skills in the language school and request for funding to gain an MBA, reference to Jim Milton and Orion Meghan (sp) and expresses opinion on management. [00:45:03] WW discusses social scene at Swansea, concerning political meetings, cultural events and music groups, reference to The Clash and Ivor Davies. WW comments on managing Dirty Dora’s and booking live bands, reference to Mike Rees(sp) and The Who. WW comments on friends and social connections from Swansea. WW discusses political views, her position on a short term contract and atmosphere at the time. [00:59:57] WW discusses travelling between 1992-1997 working for CDS, reference to Action Aid and Save the Children in Gambia and Northern India. WW discusses working for Swansea University in the Middle East for 6 years. WW discusses resigning around 2002 but still an associate and closing the department. WW discusses importance of common room and equality. [01:08:12] WW discusses returning to Swansea and view on the contemporary state of higher education, positives concerning equality to attend university, opening nursing colleges but negatives regarding lack of student support, increase in fees, need to fill jobs rather than desire to learn, reference to Jose Cifuentes. WW discusses lack of community spirit. |