9 Comments
User's avatar
Paul Sullivan's avatar

Lovely little history of the university, Harry. I was there in ‘80-‘83, ostensibly to study a BA in English language and literature, but pretty much did those things you mentioned in your article - underachievement and liver abuse! I only got my academic act together many years later, but I loved Newcastle and have happy memories. The English department had some towering figures, including Barbara Strang, Robert Woof and Ernst Honigman - giants in linguistics and literary criticism.

Jacqueline Saville's avatar

Interesting, thanks. My first degree was from Newcastle - I went 30 years ago this autumn and had a great time (and ended up with a Geordie, who I've since lured to Yorkshire). Leeds University, where I've worked for many years, has a similar local industrial origin - 19th century medical college merged with the science college focused on the local textile industry. Unlike Newcastle though, Leeds campus is slightly separated from the city centre and sadly doesn't feel quite as integrated with the city. It doesn't have as nice a set of buildings as Newcastle either, but don't tell my colleagues I said that ;-)

Harry Watson's avatar

It will be our secret Jacqueline 😉

Maureen Susannah's avatar

I enjoyed reading this, Harry, especially as I’ve met quite a few people over the years who studied at the university, but I knew very little about it. I love the idea of it being such an important part of the city.

Harry Watson's avatar

Yes, it seems a great place to study, but it's still for the best that I didn't get in!

Maureen Susannah's avatar

I think you would have done well in anything that you were given the opportunity to do, Harry. Your love of history and art would certainly have kept you happy in academia. Maybe, on the science side, though, you had a more satisfying and interesting life in the career path that became yours.

Harry Watson's avatar

In another life Maureen I would have chosen the Arts stream in Grammar School and not science and who knows I may well now be up there with the likes of Simon Schama and Andrew Graham-Dixon... 😉

Maureen Susannah's avatar

Exactly! Another life, different opportunities.

Ivar Gabot's avatar

Harry Watson

Over Thirty Years I applied to Newcastle University for Finance Posts- Never Replied - Never acknowledged what took a Considerable Amount of Time & Effort to complete Applications.

Chartered Management Accountant - Best in the World at What I Do

Big Sister Rejected for Medical School at Newcastle as Father was a Shipyard Plater & they considered she wouldn't Fit It - Accepted for Cambridge & Passed FRCS but being a Woman wasn't offered Surgeon's Posts - Became Oncologist.

Cousin Sudied Biochemistry at Newcastle & PhD in Biochemistry - ( Top Scientist for Government at PD ) Professor at University now Retired

Colleague I worked with had worked at Newcastle Uni & said you are better off not working there as the Professors aren't very nice to work with & quite arrogant towards " Inferior Finance Staff ". Her father was an Architect & she was quite Bright if Rather Offensive on MH Issues towards myself. Ironically got an Acountant's Job at NE MH Charity !!! Had to Laugh.

My Main Customers in " The Best Charity Shop in the World " are Newcastle Students ( After One O'Clock when they Crawl Out of Bed ) - Haven't A Scooby on Life before they existed . I always watched Films & read about Before my Time & listened to All Music .

Educate the Young - My Mission in Life !!! Im Not a Teacher.

MH Discrimination is RIFE !!! The Empress

For Reference I OWN ALL BEUKS I QUOTE

Few Beuks from MY Cleadon ( Reference ) Library :-

University of Durham College of Medicine , Newcastle upon Tyne Calendar for the years 1915-1916

University of Durham, Newcastle

-

NGH 1870-1966 The History of Newcastle General Hospital

George Hurrell assisted by George P Harlan

-

The Royal Castle of Newcastle-upon-Tyne - A Guide to the Black Gate and Black Gate Museum

W Bulmer MA

-

Water to Tyneside - A history of Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company

RW Rennison

-

The Burglar's Dog - Alternative Guide to Drinking in Newcastle

Mark Jones

-

100 Years of the RVI - 1906 - 2006 - An affectionate history of the Royal Victoria Infirmary , a much loved hospital serving Newcastle and the North East of England for the past century

Edited by John Walton & Miles Irving - The Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust

-

Tynesider - Some recollections and thoughts of Sir Arthue Munro Sutherland Bart , KBE - president of the Shipping Federation and President of the Newcastle and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce - After a Lifetime in Tyneside Shipping , Commercial and Civic Affairs

As told to and written by Leonard Johnstone - Published by Northumberland Press Limited , Gatshead on Tyne - 1st Edition 1947

-

The Records of the Company of Shipwrights of Newcastle Upon Tyne 1622 - 1967 Volume I

Edited by DJ Rowe (Printed for the Society by Northumberland Press Limited Gateshead ) ( 1970 )

( Doesn't include Best Looking Punk in Sunderland / Shipwright's Daughter - Father Not Featured )

-

" The Empress that doth Opprezz " Ninety Song Songbook available on Request ( For Artists & Poets ) on Excel - Index Jump to Song - Jump back to Index - Set to Print by Song

-

Other ( Fellow ) Poet's Thoughts :-

-

The Empress that doth Opprezz

Song No. LXXXI

-

SLINKED-IN / Free Speech - Impeach

-

SLINKED-IN - Rattlesnake Jake

SLINKED-IN - Honour Forsake

SLINKED-IN - Free Speech

SLINKED-IN - Honour Impeach

-

SLINKED-IN - Bastard Childer

SLINKED-IN - Harpy & ( Himmler ) Hitler

SLINKED-IN - Suppress Dissent

SLINKED-IN - Sad Lament

-

Lyrics by © Cog Weale

© BardofCleadon@Gmail.com

-

Other ( Fellow ) Poet's Thoughts :-

-

Le Poete / Irish T'inker

-

Rodin's Thinker

Irish T'inker

Represent Intellect

Le Poete - Respect !

-

Lyrics by © HughofDurham@Gmail.com

© BardofCleadon@Gmail.com

-

Ivar Gabot

Chartered Management Accountant

Lowest Paid Qualified Accountant for The Empress for over Twenty Years

( & THE BEST )

Philosopher Pauper and a Poet

Chilled Skilled Wordsmith

One Hundred and Sixty-Seven Songs since Lockdown

One Hundred and Ninety-Three in Total

Cleadon Library - Not a Business but a Mission to Educate the World One Book at a Time