Coventry Technical College

I heard yesterday that the hoardings in front of the Technical College had come down, so I ventured to the site this morning - new photos of the redeveloped building have been added to this gallery which also includes older images Coventry Technical College No doubt many, like me, have memories of the building as a college - nearly 50 years ago I had to attend to try and achieve my required number of GCE Ordinary level passes

Happy memories of secretarial classes in this grand olde building 60 years ago. Still can't touch-type!!

If I had gone to secondary school three years earlier than I did, I would have gone to the Technical School which, I believe, was housed mainly in the huts at the rear of the main building. By the time I did go, the school had moved out to Broad Lane and been incorporated in the Woodlands School. Many of the senior staff, including my House Master, Ernie Ellis and the Headmaster, Fred (Knocker) West were from the old Technical School, as were all the prefects. I used to catch the bus with many of the Technical School pupils while I was travelling from Earlsdon to Coundon Primary School via Service 9 to the Technical College, followed by Service 5 from the Gas Works to Westhill Road.

I used to have 'day-release' from the GEC to attend secretarial classes at the Technical College nearly 60 years ago.

Tricia, do you remember Mr Hemmings? He taught shorthand and typing at Herberts, Edgwick.

I attended the Technical College from 1987-89 on a City & Guilds Hairdressing Course. A compulsory part of this was wig making! I`ve still got hair pieces I had to make, we bought real hair by the ounce. I must take some photos of it all. I didn`t continue my hairdressing career as I decided it was too poorly paid, I would have had to complete a further 3 years at a salon to become properly qualified. Instead I got a job in a supermarket which was more lucrative. I was quite surprised to see the Premier Inn sign but am tempted to see how they`ve modified the place as a hotel.

Hi. I attended the Butts technical college several times over the years, mostly updates or refresher stuff. I was also a member of the Astronomical club there. My son taught 'electronics' there twenty years ago.

I recall my father telling me that the "Tech" had been "transferred" (his words) to Woodlands and Fred (Knocker) West - I had forgotten his nickname! - was the head for the first year I was there, before retiring. His place was taken by Mr Thom(p)son

Another member of staff who transferred from the Tech to Woodlands was Mr Burdett who became the head of Mclachlan House. A great teacher who was rather good at throwing books, and using a pump for dispensing punishment.

Hi Dreamtime, No I didn't have the pleasure of knowing Mr Hemmings, he was before my time, although I heard a lot about him from 'the girls'. I understand that to attend his classes you had to be grammar school educated. Do you know if this was true? I must say though, that all the girls he taught were first class shorthand typists.

Hi Tricia, Well he certainly got the knowledge into me. There was a little window in the door entrance to the room where he took the lessons and now and again he would go out and leave us with an exercise to do, then he would peep through the window to see how we were getting on. He caught me rubbing out one day and was my face red because that was a 'no no'. Anyway, I did attain my 100 words per minute in shorthand and typing so he must have been a good teacher.

I attended the college in the early 1960's on day release from the GEC taking my ONC and City and Guilds in Telecomms and electronics. One thing I can remember about the college was the rather unique vacuum cleaner installation they had in the place. This consisted of a centralised pump connected to classrooms and corridors by a network of pipes. These terminated in "sockets" to which a cleaning hose could be attached, and were covered by an air-tight hinged flap. If a flap was wedged open slightly they used to make a rather satisfying whistling sound when the installation was powered up in the early evening ready for the cleaning staff.

I took my 'A' levels at the Tech. Am I correct in thinking that the college building (with its theatre) is now a Premier Inn? Rose

Quite correct ! (You obviously didn't view the photos via the link !)

Am I right in thinking that the "Theatre" is still used by local drama groups and that the new owners pledged that they would keep it that way?