Alexander (Sandy) Robertson shared his memories of studying Mechanical and Production Engineering at Dundee Technical College, including his accommodation in "digs", and using early computers. He shares anecdotes about lectures and various lecturers during his time there.

0.00 Interview started
0.20 Studied Mechanical and Production Engineering – father owned a garage in Nairn
1.10 Showed us his certificate
1.25 Donald Macgregor, his friend from Nairn, did civil engineering
1.50 Things going on at the time - Vietnam War. NCR (National Cash Registers) laying off staff in Dundee
2.30 Talked about new technology that he used – showed a slide rule that he used as a calculator.
3.40 “Everything was new technology to me”
4.20 Funny memories – filling out form for new course, someone wrote “occupation - Poet Laureate”, so he was challenged to recite a poem to everyone else.
5.30 There were hundreds of engineers but they all had to do a common course in Chemistry. Chemists don’t normally do complicated formulae (unlike physicists and engineers), but one day when Dr Hargreaves did, the engineering students all cheered. Dr Hargreaves turned around and said “Don’t cheer! Just throw cigarettes!”
6.40 Tutorials – one student trying to impress his tutor, trying fancy equations to solve a problem – nothing worked. An old tutor in “Plus fours” (trousers tucking into socks) suggested using Ohms Law – “you’ve tried everything else, even though it won’t work you might as well try it.”
8.00 Meeting a support tutor, who asks the students how they’re doing. One student had no problems, but the support Tutor kept asking, “Are you sure?”. Eventually, in desperation – “Maybe you could listen to some of my problems.”.
8.50 1966 college computer. I remember a lab on programming the digital computer. Paper tape of an inch wide, punched with a programme. Basic stuff. Another computer we used more and earlier – an analogue computer. More of a continuous computer, plugging in wires to create circuits (like an old telephone exchange).
11.20 At Aston in Birmingham, he used a computer with punch cards. In early days in Dundee, the computer was huge – filled a whole room.
12.20 AR asked Stuart and Aaron if they used computers much. They used computers a lot – for technology, and English for example.
13.30 Societies – “I had friends that played rugby. I don’t remember being in any societies. We had parties, get togethers, played golf. Societies were not something we had in the 60s.”
14.40 Accommodation – we had to find our own accommodation. Stayed in a Church of Scotland Hostel on Hilltown. Had a cubicle. Amongst other people – bakers, plumbers etc. The baker made the porridge early in the morning – hard once they got to it. Then he stayed in an apartment (flat) with his friend Donald MacGregor, then he was in digs (shared rented accommodation) with a schoolteacher at Kirktown Secondary School, Miss Wallace – Kirktown won Top of the Form in 1967 – she coached that team. Knowledgeable person that helped him get through his final year at the College
17.20 Not been back in Dundee since 1970. He thinks the accommodation has changed. Courses have changed. Very different now.

Ahmar Ghafoor speaks about his time studying Mechatronics at Dundee Institute of Technology / Abertay University. He speaks about the societies he was involved with - Dungeons and Dragons, Sci-Fi society; his project to design and build a computer; the changes that university status brought; how the university has changed since then; his subsequent career working in mobile technology.

0.00 Interview starts – Ahmar Ghafoor, former student at Abertay, student during the transition to University status
What did you study and why?
Went to do an HND in Electrical engineering because failed GCSEs
0.50 Abertay was the first place to do Mechatronics – MSc sponsored by NCR and so was a joint Abertay and Dundee Uni degree
2.00 Was there anything else you ever considered studying?
Wanted to go to Warwick but family moved to Dundee, really wanted to do Mechatronics
3.20 What groups were you involved with?
Dungeons and Dragons; some people imported episodes of Star Trek: Next Generation from America and they’d all watch them in the pub on the big screen
4.30 What’s your proudest moment/achievement?
Design a computer and it worked first time, completed his MSc project in 2 weeks
5.10 Did you notice anything change when Dundee Institute of Tech became Abertay University?
Yes, more investment in the labs, library was built, there was a joke that there were “more computers that books”
6.20 What do you think the experience at Abertay would be like for students now?
Don’t have to carry so many books now, everything is online
6.40 Are you still in touch with anyone you met at Uni?
Colin McLean who is a former lecturer of his, once a year say hi to some people, Camilla at NCR
7.20 Is there anything in everyday life that I would use that you have worked on?
Mobile phones, 10 years in Nokia, worked on the first GPS Bluetooth chips in mobile phones; very first contactless payment designs but was shelved as was ahead of its time
8.20 Would you prefer to go to University as it was then or with the improved technology there is now?
Prefer it with improved technology, in those days you couldn’t get online if your Mum was on the phone; don’t need to go into Uni now,
9.07 Do you have any funny or embarrassing stories?
Sixth Sense film had just come out, was in a lift with some girls who were talking about it and they gave away the whole plot including the twist at the end. He still watched it that night!
10.10 Are you still friends with anyone from university?
Not really friends with anyone from Uni, moved away and there were a lot of mature students
10.43 What did you do after you left University?
Now works with the robotics team with Dyson, working on the next generation of robotic vacuums, works on the wireless communication to connect it to internet;
Before that CMR Surgical who made robots to aid keyhole surgery; UPTOS – machine that scans your eye
12.35 When a graduate it’s difficult, but afterwards it’s about learning how to learn – filtering, knowing how to find the information;
Never be scared to say I don’t know, the team will help;
Reasons for going into engineering - all about problem solving, need interpersonal skills too
15.20 What was your favourite thing about University?
Dossing around; when they got high speed internet, some would bring in their home computers and download things
After Masters had a researcher post, which can be very lonely, it was nice to share problems with others,
Gave him access to a lab even after he left to work at NCR
16.20 Did you ever get in trouble at University for anything you and your friends were doing?
Didn’t get in trouble at Uni, because it’s different
16.48 Were you involved in any sports clubs at Uni?
No sports at Uni, but now run a cricket club, never into sports until had kids

13 videos and text summaries of reminiscence interviews conducted with former staff and alumni of Abertay University by Abertay 25 Young Ambassadors, and current staff and students of Abertay University. Interviewees were as follows:

1. Sumant Mathure
2. David Ross
3. Richard Irvine
4. Alastair Scott
5. Nick Hamilton
6. Alexander (Sandy) Robertson
7. Graham Milne
8. Christina Howie
9. Ahmar Ghafoor
10. William Mohieddeen
11. Rebecca Wade
12. Jenny McNeill
13. Louise Giblin

6 stop-motion animation videos were created from the interviews and these are as follows:

1. Craigie High School - William Moheiddeen
2. Craigie High School - Nick Hamilton
3. Craigie High School - Ahmar Ghafoor
4. Dundee Young Carers - Louise Giblin
5. Larisa Olaru-Peter - Jenny McNeill
6. Hope Busák - Sumant Mathure

Richard Irvine speaks about his course and career at Dundee Institute of Technology. He spoke about his work as a research student and subsequent member of staff working on developing environmentally sustainable compost, and then acting as an intermediary between industry and the university when he worked for the Abertay Centre for the Environment. After the centre closed he was made redundant and he subsequently worked as a teacher / lecturer periodically for the University.
He speaks about his experience waiting on the Queen when she opened the new library building in 1998, which included speaking to her and helping her when the proceedings got a bit confused.
He talks about his feelings about the change of attitude amongst some staff concerning the change to university status.

0.00 Interview started
0.50 Use of Doctors terms previously, but titles are not used now.
2.15 Got to end of school – wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. Flowed into Dundee Institute of Technology. No specific reason to come here.
3.15 HND BioSciences course 1989 – Biotechnology started then. Got HND and got the Young Prize then went into 3rd year of the degree programme. Graduated 1993.
4.30 “Best time of my life” – really good group. All worked really well.
5.10 Studied at Nottingham Trent but didn’t work out. Came back. Friend researching here. Kevin Gartland was working on plant Biotech – stopping Dutch Elm disease. At same time working on waste products – Richard worked on sewage sludge. It can produce compost.
7.20 The University got European Regional Development Fund grant for sustainable environment research institute. It also got its labs refurbished for this. Richard was a Biowaste scientist. He acted as a conduit between the university and general public on environmental issues. It went on for 4 years. Kevin then went to Glasgow Caledonian University, and Richard was made redundant.
9.20 He’s been teaching on and off over the years.
10.20 He remembers great work with a company in Fife during the sustainable environment work – Andrew Cook in Methil / Glenrothes. He helped with composting. The work went on after the end of the project. He travelled round country into factories / yards / caravan sites in remote locations. Not really worrying about the funding, unusually.
13.10 Opening of the Library – 1998. The University was doing lots of fancy dinners for VIP visitors and hon grads and also graduation lunches. Not enough staff. Doris Kinnison? Asked research students if they wanted some extra money to help in these. Royal opening came – Research Student catering staff were first in line for being involved. We just turned up as normal – carparks were cleared. Every draincover was open, looking for explosives. "We winged it!" The Queen arrived, she came in the main door, up to the Principals office, small drinks reception, "we had to wheel along all the alcohol the uni could muster". The Queen was briefed on what would happen, then she went to the library, cut the ribbon, had a tour, she then went back across to the Kydd Building and she had the lunch in the old journal area of the old library which was turned into a reception and dining area. Richard served the Queen and Prince Philip with their Dubonnay and lemonade using the white gloves – the ladies were terrified of dropping it. Everyone filtered away apart from the Queen and Prince Philip. She asked Richard what to do next – he told her to go through the double door. Prince Philip was “playing with the sockets”. She was joking away. Dinner was from students of Dundee and Angus College? Then they lined up and the Queen walked past to leave.
24.20 He has his student and staff cards from his time at the university. Enamel badge for the nursing course that he rescued (does it have a number on it?!). He has a 1950 prospectus. He has a lot of books from when the library was moving. He has material on jute too.
27.40 He talks about the display of jute shuttles in the main building that has disappeared.
28.40 After university status, he feels nothing really changed in the buildings. He thinks there were changes in how the staff perceived the institution – wanted to be more university-like. He thinks there was more university stuff, but less of what it had been doing. DIT had a good record and image of what it was doing – it was just a name change, he feels it shouldn’t have made any difference. On Wednesday afternoons there were never any scheduled classes so you could do clubs, but that faded out in the 1990s.
32.30 He says he is a bit of a collector, hence why he has some good material saved from being thrown out.
35.50 He feels the HND in Biosciences was a really good course. Very positive way of getting into the degree. Strong vocational course. Well put together. Very talented individuals, lecturers, and technicians. They were not into research, but dedicated to teaching. Sometimes their talent was overlooked, and not always respected.

Autobiography by former mechanical engineering student at the Dundee Technical College.
"A Dundee Engineer's story from the dark days of World War 2 via post war austerity and the swinging sixties to the start of the twenty-first century.
Included are school days, apprenticeship at Caledon Shipyard Dundee and American precision manufacturing, University Education, industrial experience and an academic career at University of Dundee."

The letter provides an update on the course the prize now applies to, and also on the current BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering course.
Dr J. Low is the son of J. N. Low

Thanks Prof Martin for his letter and expresses gladness that the prize is still awarded for Mechanical Engineering. Gives an indication of J. N. Low’s character and his vision in seeing the need for production engineers.

“Features the work of Molecular Life Sciences, plus the quiz and news from around the Campus”.
Highlights cryopreservation work in the Department and Freshers Week events.

0.00 Start
0.50 Jeff Ferguson talks to Department of Medical Life Sciences about Cryopreservation and the wider subject of Biotechnology. Dr David Button, Dr Graeme Wishart, and Kevin Gartland, all from the department, are interviewed about the subjects.
09.05 Dr David Button is interviewed about the qualifications needed for entry onto Biotechnology courses, and the job prospects for students successfully completing a diploma or degree.
11.40 Quiz – Chemistry and Biology students Chris Ruff, Paul Hartley, Michael Kilpatrick, and Jamie Balderson. Questions on their specialist subject and general knowledge.
17.05 News round-up with Brian Lindsay. Freshers Week events just finished – Blastaway Night, Blind Date Night (compered by comedian Ed Byrne), and River Detectives gig (which was recorded for use in their up-coming live album). Future events include the Rock Music Society disco, Dance Music Society disco, and “Party Night”. Sports activities: Football team has already started its participation in the Midland Amateur League (W3 L2 so far); the Amateur League is starting this week. Trials for the Rugby Team (which this season includes Scotland Internationalist Andy Nicoll) are taking place at Caird Park. Hockey Club inaugural party “Bunnies Night” followed by fun game at Austin Park have taken place and a more serious game will be happening next week at Maryfield Astroturf; Basketball is starting at the Lynch Centre; Women’s only gym, and a self defence class (led by Grant Clark) are starting at the Marketgait Building; Grant Clark is a black belt in karate and he also runs karate classes.
19.50 End

“Features an interview with Dr Karen Sullivan about her research into DNA molecules”
Highlight on Department of Molecular Life Sciences research on DNA fingerprinting and possible application in forensic police work and detecting wildlife crime, Student Association work towards NUS “Student Fest” campaign against government changes to student associations, and Graduation Day.

0.00 Start
0.45 Jimmy Black interviews Dr Karen Sullivan in the Department of Molecular Life Sciences about research on DNA fingerprinting. Discussion on forensic police uses of DNA finger printing for suspect elimination, and her current work using DNA finger-printing to research the effect of environmental stress on the DNA in cells. For the first time finger-printing allows entire strands of DNA to be scanned in order to locate areas undergoing change in response to stress. This can be applied to various different areas, such as crop research (e.g. to help increase resistance to disease or dry environment and pests) to help identify unstable DNA regions to try and understand them in an effort to help fix them. The technique could even be used to combat poaching – analysing the meat of elephant carcasses to see if they were sourced from regions where it was illegal to cull them or not.
9.30 Quiz: Electronic and Electrical Engineering students Ahmar Ghaffoor, Doug Watson, Donald Laing, Jason Moonie. Questions on their specialist subject and general knowledge.
15.20 Brian Lindsay’s News Round-up. He speaks to NUS Scotland Vice President Douglas Traynor about the NUS campaign against changes in student’s unions, “Student Fest” – a day of events and entertainments advertising what’s student life has to offer from the student associations points of view. An anti racism campaign is being launched across the country too. The events and activities of “Student Fest” are all things that the proposed government changes would prevent, such as debates, charities, anti-racism work, clubs and societies, social events etc even the opportunity for the national student voice to be heard, since the changes would only fund welfare, catering, internal representation and sports.
17.27 Highlight on Graduation Day, with degrees being conferred by Principal Bernard King, including three Hon Fellowships to DIT Alumnis - George Simpson, Chief Executive of Rover Cars and Vice Chair of British Aerospace; Alastair McCallum, Chief Executive at Don and Low Holdings; Roderick Rennit, Director of Water Services for Tayside.
18.05 DIT Football Team doing better in the League. 3rd equal in the league after another victory against Birkhead (1-0, with Terry Thomas scoring a penalty against them). Next week they play Fintry Thistle. Hockey Team had their first game of the season, winning 2-1 against Napier in the Inter-University League (scorers – Paul Lyall and Robin Campbell).
19.09 End