Comments on: Runnymede Memorial: Part 1 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/ How do people use products, systems and environments? How can designers influence interaction? How can we design for sustainable behaviour? Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:05:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Bart http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-272723 Bart Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:18:06 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-272723 I've been staying at Runnymede for six months as an exchange student. It was a great place with great nature and atmosphere. Totally not comparable with Uxbridge. Here are some impressions: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bartclaeys/sets/72157602622573617/ I’ve been staying at Runnymede for six months as an exchange student. It was a great place with great nature and atmosphere. Totally not comparable with Uxbridge. Here are some impressions:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bartclaeys/sets/72157602622573617/

]]> By: Clare Stimpson(nee Duggan 73yr) http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-263353 Clare Stimpson(nee Duggan 73yr) Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:14:03 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-263353 My three years at 'Ditch' were some of the best of my life. I lived in President hall on the 'fabulous fifties' corridor with a view over to Heathrow and Windsor, with Jemp, Annie, Teresa, Jude and Issy as neighbours.I fell in love with the place the minute I saw it and whenever life became too much, a walk in the wonderful grounds full of listed trees and georgeous rhododendron bushes soon put the world to rights.We loved the pranks,the parties, the bird cage discos down in the bar, the chats and coffee sessions in each other's rooms and I even have fond memories of my three teaching practices and preparing my 'vis aids' all through the night.I am very sad to think of this beautiful place beig taken over to house the rich and it's a real pity that students will never grace (or disgrace) its corridors again.I just hope that Oracle don't knock down President and College Halls - that really would be a sin! Goodbye Shoreditch - you taught me loads and formed three happy years of my life. Best wishes to all in 72 and 73Yr My three years at ‘Ditch’ were some of the best of my life. I lived in President hall on the ‘fabulous fifties’ corridor with a view over to Heathrow and Windsor, with Jemp, Annie, Teresa, Jude and Issy as neighbours.I fell in love with the place the minute I saw it and whenever life became too much, a walk in the wonderful grounds full of listed trees and georgeous rhododendron bushes soon put the world to rights.We loved the pranks,the parties, the bird cage discos down in the bar, the chats and coffee sessions in each other’s rooms and I even have fond memories of my three teaching practices and preparing my ‘vis aids’ all through the night.I am very sad to think of this beautiful place beig taken over to house the rich and it’s a real pity that students will never grace (or disgrace) its corridors again.I just hope that Oracle don’t knock down President and College Halls - that really would be a sin!
Goodbye Shoreditch - you taught me loads and formed three happy years of my life.
Best wishes to all in 72 and 73Yr

]]> By: Dave Pittom 62-65 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-183213 Dave Pittom 62-65 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:25:48 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-183213 All good things must end, but just think how many GOOD things will be remembered."DITCH" lead me to a wonderfull life hence life style,from which I hope many young lives were influenced. Best Wishes to all of 1965 All good things must end, but just think how many GOOD things will be remembered."DITCH" lead me to a wonderfull life hence life style,from which I hope many young lives were influenced.
Best Wishes to all of 1965

]]> By: Adam Bernstein http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-173067 Adam Bernstein Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:20:04 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-173067 There are times when I hate progress and this is one of them. Although Uxbridge based I lived at Runnymede from '86 to '88 and thoroughly enjoyed myself. The memories are legion; Andre the South African security guard, Chessy Walk, the magic mushrooms, sledging on car bonnets, dozing in the library, Reed 400 Jungle Parties... It took me a year to come back to earth after graduation. It was a privilege to live on such a beautiful site with such close proximity to the Barley Mow and the Great Park. Rest in Peace Runnymede There are times when I hate progress and this is one of them. Although Uxbridge based I lived at Runnymede from ‘86 to ‘88 and thoroughly enjoyed myself. The memories are legion; Andre the South African security guard, Chessy Walk, the magic mushrooms, sledging on car bonnets, dozing in the library, Reed 400 Jungle Parties… It took me a year to come back to earth after graduation.

It was a privilege to live on such a beautiful site with such close proximity to the Barley Mow and the Great Park.

Rest in Peace Runnymede

]]> By: Andy Miller 86 Year http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-171635 Andy Miller 86 Year Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:26:51 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-171635 I have fond memories of my time at "Shoreditch Campus" Some course orientated most revolving around the Student Union Bar, Rowan (Womens!!) Hall and of course the Barley Mow on Englefield Green. We worked hard and played hard, getting up to all kinds of hijinx from restarting the old clock in the main building late one night, to locking security out of his office in the old lodge! Good old days and sorely missed. Now working in the Aerospace industry my time at Uni really did stand me in good stead. Anyone reading this who remembers me and wants to get in touch can do so via friends reunited website. Absolutely appalled to see the site has been sold to Oracle, we all thought it would go on ad infinitum.... I have fond memories of my time at “Shoreditch Campus” Some course orientated most revolving around the Student Union Bar, Rowan (Womens!!) Hall and of course the Barley Mow on Englefield Green.

We worked hard and played hard, getting up to all kinds of hijinx from restarting the old clock in the main building late one night, to locking security out of his office in the old lodge! Good old days and sorely missed.

Now working in the Aerospace industry my time at Uni really did stand me in good stead.

Anyone reading this who remembers me and wants to get in touch can do so via friends reunited website.

Absolutely appalled to see the site has been sold to Oracle, we all thought it would go on ad infinitum….

]]> By: Kevin Pitt http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-167245 Kevin Pitt Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:38:22 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-167245 Just happened on this site as I was trying to show my staff where I got my Degree. So sad to learn the Runnymede site has been sold. I have to say I think you are spot on with your description of what it was like being a student at Runnymede. It brought it all back. Some fantastic stuff was produced there in quite difficult circumstances. The all nighters, and stress leading up to the cut-off time. I graduated in 1995 (Ind Des) and it is nice to see you where still using the toilets as spray booths. I suspect the university was still valiantly issuing notices about it right up to the end. I used to think how lucky I was to have ended up in such a nice place. I think for me the Uxbridge Campus would have been a bit of a nightmare. I will always be grateful for the opportunity the University gave me. I came there as a mature student and was not really a full part of the main student stream as I was about 12 years older than the rest of them. It was always a struggle for me but they got me through. I am now doing very well with my own company. As for the delapidated parts of the Campus, that will be where we lived I take it. I always liked the rather grunge nature of the halls of residence. I hope I am not being too 'old' in saying anything better would have been by and large wasted. It did the job and like most things it was as nice as you made it. Even the nicest kitchen looks bad with a weeks worth of washing-up lying about. I helped clear out the 1960's furniture in the summer breaks in 1993-95, and when the students returned and did their thing on the new furniture, it did not look any better. I thought the old style chest of drawers were much more practical, and rescued two units and still have them now as a reminder of my time there. I have often thought about going back one day to have a look around, walk around the grounds again, and then down to the river, rekindle memories. Looks like unless I am prepared to splash out on an 'exclusive apartment in a sumptuous setting' that is not going to happen. And that is the sad thing about it, thousands of people from all types of backgrounds for 3-4 years of their lives had a chance to live in an environment they may never experience again, and now it is to be restricted to a privilidged few, oh hum. Kevin Pitt BSC(Hons) Ind Des 1995 Just happened on this site as I was trying to show my staff where I got my Degree. So sad to learn the Runnymede site has been sold.

I have to say I think you are spot on with your description of what it was like being a student at Runnymede. It brought it all back. Some fantastic stuff was produced there in quite difficult circumstances. The all nighters, and stress leading up to the cut-off time. I graduated in 1995 (Ind Des) and it is nice to see you where still using the toilets as spray booths. I suspect the university was still valiantly issuing notices about it right up to the end. I used to think how lucky I was to have ended up in such a nice place. I think for me the Uxbridge Campus would have been a bit of a nightmare.

I will always be grateful for the opportunity the University gave me. I came there as a mature student and was not really a full part of the main student stream as I was about 12 years older than the rest of them. It was always a struggle for me but they got me through. I am now doing very well with my own company.

As for the delapidated parts of the Campus, that will be where we lived I take it. I always liked the rather grunge nature of the halls of residence. I hope I am not being too ‘old’ in saying anything better would have been by and large wasted. It did the job and like most things it was as nice as you made it. Even the nicest kitchen looks bad with a weeks worth of washing-up lying about. I helped clear out the 1960’s furniture in the summer breaks in 1993-95, and when the students returned and did their thing on the new furniture, it did not look any better. I thought the old style chest of drawers were much more practical, and rescued two units and still have them now as a reminder of my time there.

I have often thought about going back one day to have a look around, walk around the grounds again, and then down to the river, rekindle memories. Looks like unless I am prepared to splash out on an ‘exclusive apartment in a sumptuous setting’ that is not going to happen. And that is the sad thing about it, thousands of people from all types of backgrounds for 3-4 years of their lives had a chance to live in an environment they may never experience again, and now it is to be restricted to a privilidged few, oh hum.

Kevin Pitt BSC(Hons) Ind Des 1995

]]> By: Tom Watson http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-104067 Tom Watson Wed, 10 Oct 2007 01:49:16 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-104067 I was a tutor at Shoreditch/Runnymede from 1972 until I moved to the Uxbridge Campus in 1997 in order to take on the running of the Education Liaison Center. However, as a member of the Department of Education and Design I retained a personal office on the Runnymede Campus (in President Hall) right up until the handover to Oracle on the 28 September 2007. So my association with the campus has been continuous for the past 35 years and I'm very sad to see the end of an era stretching back to the days of the Royal Indian Engineering (and Forestry) College. I would have liked the HEFC to have come up with the money to enable RHC to have purchased the site. But realistically there was no way they were going to be able to match Oracle's bid. £47M is a lot of money and it was the need for that to capitalise developments at Uxbridge that was the main driving force behind the Brunel Senate and Council's decision to divest themselves of the campus. Despite the fact that the Chairman of the HEFC had told Brunel,following a visit some years ago, that it was a gem of a site which they should hold on to ! I was a tutor at Shoreditch/Runnymede from 1972 until I moved to the Uxbridge Campus in 1997 in order to take on the running of the Education Liaison Center. However, as a member of the Department of Education and Design I retained a personal office on the Runnymede Campus (in President Hall) right up until the handover to Oracle on the 28 September 2007. So my association with the campus has been continuous for the past 35 years and I’m very sad to see the end of an era stretching back to the days of the Royal Indian Engineering (and Forestry) College. I would have liked the HEFC to have come up with the money to enable RHC to have purchased the site. But realistically there was no way they were going to be able to match Oracle’s bid. £47M is a lot of money and it was the need for that to capitalise developments at Uxbridge that was the main driving force behind the Brunel Senate and Council’s decision to divest themselves of the campus. Despite the fact that the Chairman of the HEFC had told Brunel,following a visit some years ago, that it was a gem of a site which they should hold on to !

]]> By: Naveed Mohammed http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-90634 Naveed Mohammed Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:59:33 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-90634 I was based at Runnymede in my 1st and final year. 1999-2003 Being one of the displaced (Uxbridge based course) made it even more the sweeter coming back to the Monastery. A charming place to live, difficult to get to and from, insular, the hill climb to and from semi civilisation and good for just wandering around intoxicated. I'll remember the fair on the golf course, rabbits, ground floor Bradley, musty library. eccentric design students, the timetabled coaches and the at times quieter than quiet. There's more but I've reached my nostalgic quotient. It's a shame the way it'll probably go but I'm glad I was there when I was. I was based at Runnymede in my 1st and final year. 1999-2003

Being one of the displaced (Uxbridge based course) made it even more the sweeter coming back to the Monastery. A charming place to live, difficult to get to and from, insular, the hill climb to and from semi civilisation and good for just wandering around intoxicated.

I’ll remember the fair on the golf course, rabbits, ground floor Bradley, musty library. eccentric design students, the timetabled coaches and the at times quieter than quiet. There’s more but I’ve reached my nostalgic quotient.

It’s a shame the way it’ll probably go but I’m glad I was there when I was.

]]> By: Melissa Roberts (nee Lehmann `73 year) http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-89778 Melissa Roberts (nee Lehmann `73 year) Sat, 01 Sep 2007 14:48:33 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-89778 Yes, another blunder for posterity. Money ruling heads rather than heart. I can remember it as a wildlife haven with many grass snakes and other creatures (apart from us students). It`s a very sad day as it was a magical place , so near London yet so relatively peaceful. What an absolute catastrophe for `the future`. Former student at Shoreditch from 1970 to 1973. Former English teacher at Magna Carta School, Egham 1973 to 1975 Yes, another blunder for posterity. Money ruling heads rather than heart. I can remember it as a wildlife haven with many grass snakes and other creatures (apart from us students). It`s a very sad day as it was a magical place , so near London yet so relatively peaceful.
What an absolute catastrophe for `the future`.
Former student at Shoreditch from 1970 to 1973.
Former English teacher at Magna Carta School, Egham 1973 to 1975

]]> By: Red http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-78358 Red Thu, 12 Jul 2007 10:39:35 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2007/05/29/runnymede-memorial-part-1/#comment-78358 Runnymede was unecessarily sold by Brunel University, it was still paying for itself with Conferencing, accommodation rented by Royal Holloway and rent from incubator companies. So much has been squeezed onto the Uxbridge Campus, how long will it be before they have to buy land to grow into, having lost such a beautiful area as Runnymede. The trouble with Universities is they are run by academics, they needed someone with entrepreneurial skills that would have made it viable with minor alterations. Instead the planning permission will go through and a lot of houses will make a lot of money for Oracle rather than for Brunel. Runnymede was unecessarily sold by Brunel University, it was still paying for itself with Conferencing, accommodation rented by Royal Holloway and rent from incubator companies. So much has been squeezed onto the Uxbridge Campus, how long will it be before they have to buy land to grow into, having lost such a beautiful area as Runnymede. The trouble with Universities is they are run by academics, they needed someone with entrepreneurial skills that would have made it viable with minor alterations. Instead the planning permission will go through and a lot of houses will make a lot of money for Oracle rather than for Brunel.

]]>