Sumant Mathure speaks about his time as a research student in Mechanical Engineering at Dundee College of Technology, his journey from India to Dundee in January 1987, the work he did on continuous casting with precious metals, and meeting Prince Philip during the College’s centenary celebrations in 1988.

[0.00] Interview Preliminaries
[03:22] Interview starts
[04:20] Name & connection to University - Jan 1987-May 1991 at DIT
[04:44] Research into continuous casting with gold, silver copper; Working with Birmingham Mint & Rautomead; Student project working on unique relationship with manufacture & institution
[06:00] Already had a Bsc in chemistry (?) from India; Dr Robert W Johnson was his supervisor
[07:00] Degree in metallurgy (mentioned in Herald newspaper)
[08:00] Dr R W Johnson presented a paper on continuous casting in Mumbai at the Hotel Taj. This attracted him to studying in Dundee.
[10:00] Lots of profound memories from his “golden years”. Born in 1966 and arrived in Dundee 5th Jan 1987, only 20 years old, no internet, only letters and telephone to communicate. His Dad was in Dubai when he and his mother received the letter of acceptance from R W Johnson to attend at DIT. Courses started on 7th Jan
[11:53] First time travelling alone internationally. Arrived to the worst winter in the UK
[12:45] Not happy with the snow, weather or food.
[13:53] Met friends, started to feel Scottish
[14:50] Food – first 3 months were in halls of residence. He had to prove he was able to do his studies and so was often working on projects into the later hours. Meaning he’d miss his high tea at the halls and would be given cold salad to eat!
[15:50] Difficult to understand the Scottish accent
[16:15] Student council international food fest. Sumant insisted on 4 tables to represent India
[18:50] Had international housemates, from China, Egypt and Zambia.
[19:20] Duke of Edinburgh visit in 1989 to look at the gold project
[22:00] Gold project. Only a few people were able to enter the mechanical engineering room where the gold project was taking place. Needed a pass to get in. Felt very proud that he was one of the students who had access
[23:30] Sumant ran the demo for Duke of Edinburgh. Metal heated to 1100 degrees C – needed to be very careful and was his responsibility to make sure the demo ran smoothly!
[24:20] Duke of Edinburgh comments on India and how pleased he was with the presence of international students
[25:10] Felt honored as a student to be there
[26:36] Becoming a university in 1992-1994. Had to scrap the mechanical engineering degree.
[28:50] He also did consultancies under R W Johnson and 2 scholarships
[29:20] Joined his father in India after graduating in 1991. 1994 – got married. 1995 – made director of his Dad's company.
[31:00] Over 400 clients, very popular and well-reputed company in India.
[31:40] Still maintained contact with R W Johnson and others.
[31:46] Interview Recording ends

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.

Jenny McNeill speaks about her experiences as one of the first nursing degree students at Dundee College of Technology in 1975, and her subsequent career.

Construction and Materials tutorial notes and coursework; Formwork;
Diploma Part II Syllabus;

Construction notes on:-
Introduction to Quantity Surveyors Role in the Building Industry
Function and Uses of Bills of Quantities
The Evolution of the Bill of Quantities
Setting Out of Items and Dimensions
Statement Notes on measurement of different trades

Worked Examples (format is Drawing No; Drawing Title; Model (all references in brackets are to the Standard Method of Measurement of Building Works Edition 5 (SMM) Sections)
1 Dormer Slater Work (M)
2 Tilerwork Roof Tiler Work (M)
3 Roof Measurement Asphalt roofing (L)
4 Pitched Slate Roof Slater Work, Tile Work (alt) (M)
5 Asphalt Roofing Asphalt Roofing (L) Bituminous Felt (M)
6 Example A Roofing Measurement Asphalt Roofing (L), Bituminous Roofing (M)
7 Example B Roofing Measurement Asphalt Roofing (L)
8 The Bungalow – RICS intermediate Exam 1970 Roof Carpentry, Joinery Works (M,N,P)

Worked Examples (format is Drawing No; Drawing Title; Model (all references in brackets are to the Standard Method of Measurement of Building Works Edition 5 (SMM) Sections)

9/ A1 Offices and Stores Excavations, Foundations, Brickwork, Drainage
(D,F,G,X)
9/ B2 Offices and Stores
17 Typical Window Details Joinery (P)
18 Framed Lined Door Joinery (P)
19 Door Types (Int and External) Joinery (P)
Rainwater Installation (Dwg 9) (S)
Plaster Work (Dwg 9) (U)
Glazier Work (Dwg 9) (V)
Plumber Work – Roof Lead Work (M)
Painter Work (W)
10 Room with Dormer Slater Work (M)
Plasterwork (Dwg 10) (U)
11 Office and Store (Workshop) Plaster Work (U)
12 4Apt Dwelling House Excavations, Foundations, Under Building
Superstructure (D,F,G.M,S,X)
Plumber Work (gutters etc) (M)
Drainage (X)
Roughcast Work (U)
13 Extension Excavations, Foundations, Under Building(D,F,G, N)
14 Simple Pitched Roof Carpentry Work, Joinery Work (N,P)
20 Sash and Case Window Details Joiner Work (P)
13 Purpose-made Casement Wdw Joiner Work (P)
No Number Cottage Carpenter Work (N)
1a 4 Apt Dwelling House
1b 4 Apt Dwelling House - Roof Roof Plumber Work / Lead Work (M)
No number Glazed Screen Glazier Work (V)
No number Bus Shelter and Public Convenience Excavations, Brick Work and Concrete Work(D,F,G,
No number Trussed Rafters Carpentry (N)
Sketch Excavator and Builder Work (D,F,G)
No number Lead Work Lead flashings to chimney (M)