DEAR EDITOR -- The report on the proposed demolition of the 1960's buildings on the Bromsgrove Campus of NEW College interested me, as did the artist's impression of what the new edifices will look like - causing me to send up a fervent prayer that professional and support staff will be fully involved at the detailed design stage.

Brickwork students built their own workshop, during day-release classes at the old New Road premises; every brick, grain of sand and bag of cement, had to be dumped on the pavement, before being 'wheeled' up the drive to the rear of the John Cotton- designed Bromsgrove Institute buildings.

The staff and students worked voluntarily on Saturday mornings to finish the job!

One advantage when teaching Building Science in the 'New Buildings' at School Drive, was that all around were examples of how buildings ought not to be constructed!

Among but a small number of teaching aids:- a flat roof and rigid skylights - water poured in! Dennis the plumbing lecturer, finally rigged up a gutter under the worst leak, running out through an opening-light, and hard quarry tiles - set in cement-mortar in the corridor, with no expansion joint.

I could go on! Russ Clayton, an old colleague, and I are frequently found yarning about the 'pioneering days' at Bromsgrove College of Further Education, especially in the fifties and sixties; 25 'contact hours' and three evenings per week, before 'overtime' was paid, when being required to teach every subject in the course. But we enjoyed it all!

One final memory, my number two son was 49 last week.

When he was born, the not very well-paid apprentice brickies collected for a gift; thrusting 6s. 4d. into my hand, saying in their Worcestershire accent - "Here you are sir, buy the babby summat".

I still get emotional at the memory.

May I wish NEW College well for the future.

County Councillor

Tom Wareing,

Jays Close,

Winyates Green,

Redditch.