"The College in the 1960s was known as Llandrillo Technical College and was quite a prestigious tech for various courses, especially catering.
I did commerce, which was a two-year course and included typing, speedwriting, shorthand, English, commerce, geography, public speaking, book-keeping, accounts and maths. Other courses included hairdressing, domestic science, secretarial, pre-nursing and hotel management and trades like car mechanics, joinery, etc.
During that time, the North Sea gas conversion was taking place and there were a lot of gas workers attending the college on day release. Students travelled from all over to attend Llandrillo Technical College, from as far as Chirk, Oswestry, and Shrewsbury and all over North Wales. Students lodged locally, as there was no hostel accommodation until about 1972 and then in the 1980s the hostel was turned into offices for lecturers - there is also a crèche there now.
The college was a lot smaller then, and a lot more personalised. We had a very good social life, and used to have rag weeks and rag balls etc. I remember one year we walked 25 miles from Bangor to Llandrillo to raise money during rag week.
On a Friday night Penrhyn Old Hall, Penrhyn Bay, was the place to be for discos and on a Saturday night it was the Dixieland on the Pier in Colwyn Bay. There was also Paynes and Winter Gardens in Llandudno.
Popular local pubs included the Galleon Bar which no longer exists as it was part of the Rhos Abbey Hotel in Rhos on Sea and the hotel was demolished two years ago. There was also the Cayley Arms on the Rhos prom and the Ship Inn, just up the road from the college which has very fond memories for me as it was where I lived at the time. My parents ran it for 15 years from 1960 to 1975. So the tech was practically on the doorstep for me, as was my social life! Dad had to keep a careful watch on under-age drinking!
The years at the college were enjoyable and carefree times and they were also hippy times. Apart from hippy dress, people wore hot pants, Ben Sherman shirts, bell bottom trousers, long herringbone skirts, snakeskin boots and coats, platform heels, and listened to music such as Spirit in the Sky and Mungo Jerry's In the Summer Time on a warm summer's day, whiling away lunchtimes sat outside in the college grounds. Oh happy days!
The principal of the college then was Mr Griffiths, and some of the lecturers on the commerce course were Mr Pritchard, Mrs White, Mr Sharrock and Mr Bowyer and Mrs Vickery, both of whom we know have now sadly passed away.
We're arranging a reunion of ex-students who were there between 1968 and 1972. Numbers are growing steadily, including one who will be over from Australia. The date has been set for 24 September and we're trying to reach as many people as we can.
Some of the students on the commerce/secretarial courses at that time and whom we are trying to locate are Dewi Jones, Nigel Hughes, David Hughes, Sue Worthington, Hilary Brain, Avril Royle, Carol Foster, and Linda Roberts. Also Sharon Wood, who now lives in Fort Lauderdale. We would also like to know where Jackie is - she was Rag Queen in 1970-71
I also remember a lot of us girls hanging out of the window each week to look for Henry, who I think did car mechanics. He was a good-looker and very popular at the time!
I was told in later years by Mrs White, who used to teach speedwriting shorthand, that our class was the worst in the college! Ours was certainly a class full of pranks. We nearly got expelled for going out for a boozy lunchtime and during one class the wastepaper bin was set on fire, whilst everyone was singing Skippy, the Bush Kangaroo. We were young, high spirited and free.
Over the years the college has grown and grown, and is now in line with a university campus. There are a lot of academic courses now - I have just completed a degree in management and business - so I am still studying there! Parts of the main block are still the same, which stirs up a lot of happy memories."
your comments
Frank Butler
I was at Llandrillo from 1978 to 1980 doing business studies. My mum, Joan Butler, was a lecturer covering first aid, nursing etc. I have two claims to fame: 1) crashing my mum's car into the main gate after being in the Ship at lunchtime and 2) being found in a wardrobe in the girls halls. Happy days. I was also a barman at The Galleon at the time.
Tue Jan 27 10:27:14 2009
Joanna Jarvis,ne Chadburn.
I attended Llandrillo Technical College in the late 70s. The Ship was still a popular venue at that time, no doubt it still is. I was doing City and Guilds in the Catering dept, at the time. Fond memories.
Wed May 14 10:52:03 2008
Linda Jones
Lin Chape - hi, sorry for the late reply! Andy Chape has a country hotel and restaurant in Llangefni, Anglesey, called Nant yr Odyn.
Do you have any stories about the Ship, which was frequently used by the students? My mum and dad were the licensees and we lived there from 1960 to 1975. My dad was called Clarry and he was quite popular with the customers.
Mon Mar 31 10:05:37 2008
lin chape
Noticed reference to Andy Chape - trying to find out if we are related. My dad was Allan James Chape
Fri Aug 10 09:30:52 2007
Lyn Withers from Surrey
I was known as Lynda Forrest during the time I was at Llandrillo Technical College on 2 year commercial course 1963 - 1965. The first year being in the old college and the second in the newly built college. It was a great time and I remember Prince Philip arriving by helicopter to officially open the College. Unfortunately, a few of the students had gone to the nearby pub at lunch time and had to be 'hidden away' until he left!
Does anyone remember one of the lecturers, Mr Jones, who used to eat his sarnies in one of the classrooms and would leave it smelling of very strong garlic? He left to go to Swaziland as a missionary. A few names from those days were Davina Crawford, who I know emigrated with her family to Australia and didn't complete the two year course. Jill Gadd who came from Llandudno, David (Tutti), Martin, Maureen Roberts. I remember Mr Pritchard who we all had a crush on. Mr Harrop who taught us shorthand, typing and accounts. Would love to hear from anyone who knew me during that time.
Mon Jul 9 09:45:19 2007
DAVE REES JONES
I attended Colwyn Bay tech in approx 1963 in the engineering section which was based in Barbery Hill Colwyn Bay, now Ysgol Bodalaw. I'm now working there as a relief caretaker, after working as an engineering electrician for 43 years for Hotpoint. I am trying to find info/photos of that period for the headmaster of said school. I also remember that the hairdressing section was based by the now driving test department in Rhos, not far from Llandrillo Tech [council buildings] - this was the highlight for most of the lads in the engineering section as they met on occasions the girls who were in the hairdressing department. Anyone with any photos? Please get in touch!
Wed Jan 31 12:44:50 2007
Linda Jones, Llandudno
Lynda - many thanks again for your comments on the reunion evening.
Michael - there were a few from catering who were at the reunion, who probably would have been there around your time - Viv Lloyd, Marilyn Gilligan, Myfanwy Bowen, Andy Chape, Anna Roberts (Kasperek), to name a few. There were one or two people from Hotel Management/Catering that we found but who couldn't attend - Peter Gamble, Gwilym Davies, Peter Levan. Do they ring any bells? I remember Mr Russell and Mr Bates. Mr Bates is still living in the vicinity of the college, I understand, having retired now.
Fri Jan 26 10:40:12 2007
michael egerton from germany
hi, i was at llandrillo from 66 to 68 in class I2 doing the hci intermediate and from 69 to 70 for the hci final membership; i remember that mr. russell was head of department, mr may in the kitchen and sadly mr mellor died who took kitchen theory and practical, mr orr for restaurant; mr bates in reception and front office studies and mr towers in larder; i only remember karen lapington and derek bowsfield from the clarence hotel in llandudno who was in my class but since that time have had no contact with anyone
Mon Jan 8 09:49:10 2007
Lynda from Colwyn Bay
I attended the reunion at the Fynach. Lots of old faces. Looking forward to a tour. I had a friend with me, Viv who was over here on holiday from the Gold Coast, Australia. She's gone back now, but with happy memories. Thanks to Linda for arranging the evening.
Sun Oct 16 00:58:07 2005
Linda Jones, Llandudno
The 1968-1872 reunion evening was held on Saturday 24th September, and was enjoyed by all. Sixty five former students and lecturers who attended, and there was a lot of laughter and fun during the evening. Everyone thoughout it would be nice to follow it on by another event in a couple of years or so, and hopefully by then the number of former students will have been built upon.
A tour of the College is being arranged for those who have expressed an interest, enabling them to see how the College is now compared to the days of the late sixties, early seventies.
Sun Sep 25 16:50:44 2005
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