In September 1982 I went to college. I had an interview at
Torbay College to do "Hotel & Catering Management". Whilst I was in Torquay my mum received a phone call from
Gwent College and on the basis of their conversation with my mum offered me a place. To my parents minds it was settled - it was "God's will" that I went to Gwent College to do "Business Studies". I found out two years later that the next week a letter had come for me from Torbay College offering me a place, but my parents kept this from me. Had I known at the time, I would have not hesitated in packing up my belongings and moving to Torquay to take up that place. Perhaps my parents sensed this and wanted to prevent such an open flouting of "God's will". There was a lot of
tooing-and-froing during the first half term, and no-one would have thought badly of me if I had gone to Torbay. However, it was not to be.
I must say I hated Gwent College, and came to loathe the town of Newport. I did do some touring out and visited
Monmouth amongst other places. We had a course trip to
Brynmawr on the day that the new pound coins came out; very excitedly we found a bank in Brynmawr and got our first pound coins. Then £1 had spending power, nowadays £1 is loose change.
I also took the opportunity of being in Newport to get involved again in the
Boys' Brigade, and became a non-commissioned helper in the 1st Newport. I was privileged to be able to attend the 1983 Centenary Service in
Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.
I did not flourish at college. I scraped through the first year and eventually (after retakes) got a first year pass - which they tell me is an A level equivalent. I dramatically failed my second year, and my one A level (or this A level equivalent) remains my highest academic qualification.
Famously I stood for the college executive for the post of Executive Officer Clubs & Societies, standing openly as a Liberal Party member. I got elected with 23 votes, that was over half the votes cast, and there were two other candidates. I think most of my votes came from my course members and from the Christian Union; but 23 votes was a pitifully small total. There were three campuses to the college - Caerleon (where the halls of residence were, and the teacher training site), Allt-yr-Yn (where my course was based, the Business & Technology site) and the Art College. Only 2 votes were cast
ALL DAY at the Art College - both of whom were Christian Union members, so I presume I got both the votes.
Speaking of the Liberal Party I attended my first Assembly whilst at college, which was in the Winter Gardens in
Bournemouth. That was fun! I made some good friends some of which I am still in touch with. I was also on the by-election trail (which may have accounted for me doing so badly at my studies), and went to help the Liberal Party candidate at a number of by-elections. The first was in July 1983 at Penrith and the Border, followed by Chesterfield (March 1984), South-West Surrey (May 1984), Stafford (May 1984), Portsmouth South (June 1984) and Enfield Southgate (December 1984).
