Enfield Reunion - July 2005

The Spirit of Enfield Lives

The 14th Annual Reunion of retired staff from the Enfield Campus took place in July 2005. The closure of the campus is once again being mooted, and this brought forth a slightly larger group than normal with over 40 attending. Lively discussions took place in a convivial and collegiate atmosphere; not least on the origins of Middlesex University, through the influence of Enfield Technical College and the part it played in the development of the Polytechnics.

Earlier in the year a brief report in the University's Newsletter reported the death of Alan Hale, who set-up and led the Business Studies Course at Enfield from 1963 to 1973. Alan and his wife Di were regulars at our reunions, and, although his academic career largely continued elsewhere, his heart was in this period at Enfield. He was part of a groundswell of ideas, which, because of the newly established Council for National Academic Awards, facilitated the birth of higher education in the FE sector, leading to the widening of access to mature and many so-called unqualified entrants.

The 'midwives' to these developments at Enfield College were George Brosan (former Middlesex CC Education Officer) and Eric Robinson (pictured at the Reunion along with the bearded Bill Craze who was head of the Maths for Business Course). The 1960's swung with the Beatles and other pop groups, but in education it swung too. Student revolt was in the air as newly qualified graduates from LSE joined the Enfield staff and sought to be part of the opening-up of access to higher education. Eric Robinson says of George Brosan "He was able, courageous, impetuous, audacious, fearless and imaginative. He was not deferential to his seniors and did not expect deference from his juniors. His vital insights were; the need for new attitudes and practices in higher education, breaking out of the traditions of technical colleges and universities; the value and potential of the initiatives of young people; and the huge opportunity for innovation and expansion across the whole field of higher education".

Brosan was at Enfield from 1962 to 1970 when newly designed first degree courses set precedents in British Higher Education. These achievements were seminal to Tony Crosland's (then Education Secretary in Harold Wilson's government) 'Woolwich Speech' in 1966, in which he outlined the development of the Polytechnics as the prime vehicle to facilitate the expansion of higher education.

As you would expect, not all of our reunion conversation revolved around educational developments. A good deal of chatter was concerned with more personal things and reminiscence. But shared experiences do provide the background against which the spirit of the time lives on. Many attending have since said 2005 was one of the best reunions. Long may the spirit of Enfield live!

Gerry Mealor, Former Staff
Head of Trade Union & Industrial Relations Courses