A mechanical engineering graduate who completed his studies just over 50 years ago is looking to connect with fellow alumni.
Mike Thompson was among a group of students sponsored by the British Gas Council who completed their HND qualifications at Bournemouth College of Technology in 1970. Plans to hold a 50th anniversary reunion in 2020 had to be put on hold due to the pandemic, but Mike is hopeful that his former classmates might still be able to get together to mark the milestone.
Mike, who now lives in Germany, said: “I recall having the most wonderful time as a student in Bournemouth. We began by sharing rooms in a local hotel before moving into a flat in our second and third year. We all passed the exams, which of course was our doing, but we had so many really great academics who were very much tuned into their subjects and had the fantastic ability to transfer their knowledge to us. It was a great time; learning, swimming under the Bournemouth pier at midnight, sailing in Poole Harbour, going to Bridge afternoons with older people, eating at the Indian restaurant and going to language school parties.”
It was at one of the language school parties, in 1969, that Mike met his now wife, who was visiting from Germany. The couple settled back in Germany where Mike built a career working first in supply chain logistics and later for IBM in Germany and Europe. He is now a self-employed management consultant.
As part of his trip down memory lane, Mike found the students’ union Rag Mag from 1969, where he is featured as the “high-pressure salesperson”. He said: “We even climbed the Landsdowne Clock Tower as a Rag stunt and all got reprimanded by Mr R. Baily, the Principal at the time. He had to do it, but did it with a smile. We got great publicity for the Rag and made a little more money. Those were the days and I would very much like to remember them with my friends again.”
The list of graduate names, taken from the HND pass list 1969-70, are:
- M.L.Alford - Mike
- P.D.Curtis - Peter
- G.M.Denham - Geoff
- G.Every - Graham
- R.C.Glover
- P.Goodhand - Paul
- M.D.Goodwin - Michael
- R.J.House - Bob
- T.Roberts - Trevor
- S.P.Sanderson - Steve
- N.C.Stead - Nick
- M.C.M.Thompson - Mike
- D.A.Trimby - Dave
- C.R.Worboys - Clive
If you are among these alumni and would like to be put in touch with Mike, please send an email with your contact details to [email protected].
