Archived 2002 Guestbook

Archived 2005/06 Guestbook

Collated Archive
2011-13
Guestbook

Name:

Subject:

Dates:

Date:

21 February, 2012

Comments

Name:

Judith Walsh

Subject:

Dates:

Date:

26 January, 2012

Comments

I am writing my PhD on Jack Smith who taught at Corsham in the fifties. I would be very grateful if anyone who recalls being taught by him could get in touch with me. Many thanks, Judith Walsh

Name:

Patrick Goff

Subject:

Painting

Dates:

1967 - 70 (I think)

Date:

12 January, 2012

Comments

Just passing 65. One of what the Times calls 'Wearies'. i.e. still working. Just want to wish everyone a very happy 2012. You can find me on Facebook if you want (put A in the middle) or just google my name - it turns me up. Happy to hear from anyone who wants to make contact from what were very happy days.

Name:

Steve Fairbairn

Subject:

Graphics

Dates:

1966-'70

Date:

24 December, 2011

Comments

Yuletide Greetings to everyone and best wishes from me and Margrét. Snow and blowing a gale up here in the Frozen North. And if anybody has got Judy Pilcher's (Campbell's) new e-mail address in South Africa it would be much appreciated. I have tried her old Nampak mail several times without luck.

Name:

re Geoffrey Bocking

Subject:

Dates:

Date:

29 November, 2011

Comments

My father Geoffrey Bocking 1919-1969 taught at Corsham but I am unsure of the dates. He left there to go to Hammersmith but we kept our home near Gastard until 1977. Apparently his cottage was ‘out of bounds’ to students. You might be interested in this post and others. http://watertowerproject.blogspot.com/2009/04/geoffrey-bocking-in-memoriam.html Kind regards, Nat Bocking

Name:

Sioban Coppinger

Subject:

Sculpture

Dates:

1973 - 1977

Date:

09 November, 2011

Comments

What a time we all had ... It would be great to hear from people from those days ... workshop number is 01488 73978 email is sioban@siobancoppinger.co.uk website: www.siobancoppinger.co.uk

Name:

Sioban Coppinger

Subject:

Sculpture

Dates:

1973 - 1977

Date:

09 November, 2011

Comments

What a time we all had ... It would be great to hear from people from those days ... workshop number is 01488 73978 email is sioban@siobancoppinger.co.uk website: www.siobancoppinger.co.uk

Name:

Sioban Coppinger

Subject:

Sculpture

Dates:

1973 - 1977

Date:

09 November, 2011

Comments

What a time we all had ...

Name:

Katie Morgan

Subject:

Graphics

Dates:

1982-1985

Date:

06 November, 2011

Comments

Great to see photo's of Corsham and fellow students....It really was a wonderful time...I must sort some pictures out.Thankyou for running this site.

Name:

Kim Hinks/Bloomfield-Garland

Subject:

Ceramics

Dates:

83-86

Date:

27 October, 2011

Comments

Oh the halsien days of freezin me butt off or boilin me ead!!!(B26 hut) but it was soooo well worth it. I can't wait to catch up with bods I aint seen in donkeys years. Unfortunately I am disabled now and it has put a stop to a lot of what I want to do but I do get art psychotherapy each week. Yeup really did go totally bonkers in the end.

Name:

lucy webster

Subject:

painting

Dates:

74-77

Date:

17 October, 2011

Comments

what became of Peter Sokoloff Edwards

Name:

Tony Haase

Subject:

Fine Art

Dates:

1975-79

Date:

05 October, 2011

Comments

I would like to point out that the Mr Bath Academy Competition was masterminded by Suzanne Hutchinson, who was a foundation student and one of the judges was tutor - Elaine Johnson.

Name:

sian evans

Subject:

painting

Dates:

1980-1983

Date:

23 September, 2011

Comments

That's so funny to see the cabaret! I'm sure our band the Melting Moments were worst though. I remember coming up under the stage and out through a fridge, popped a balloon painted like an eye full of porridge (how???) and started throwing it out at the audience only to start getting slapped back by dead fish being thrown back at me by . . . was he called Martin??? After that all a blur .. . Still trying to end civilisation as we know it with fellow Corsham people Kay and Cristel - painting qualifications handy for banners against the cuts!

Name:

Jenny Ashcroft (nee Shimell)

Subject:

Ceramics

Dates:

1981 to 1984

Date:

21 September, 2011

Comments

Wonderful to look at all the comments and pictures they bring back many memories.

Name:

Keith Orange

Subject:

Foundation, Vis Comm

Dates:

1973 - 1977

Date:

24 August, 2011

Comments

The recollections of first days at Corsham are intriguing – and make me wonder whether our respective experiences were really that different, or if it's all in the telling.. I have to confess that, rather like Roland, my application for Foundation was based almost entirely on an aerial photograph of the Court found in an old prospectus. That image, along with the word ‘Academy’, seemed to offer a working-class seventeen year-old from a northern railway town an opportunity to experience something entirely unfamiliar. To those used to wealth and privilege (and lets face it, there were quite a few) it may have seemed unremarkable, but to some of us it was an extraordinary Alice-like experience which, as it turned out, entirely lived up to expectation. Of course it wasn’t to everyone’s taste, but then neither is winning the lottery. My only recollection of the first day is meeting en masse with Derek Pope in the Barn to listen to the house rules, but I do remember later that week my first glimpse of Bath with nose pressed against the coach window, and Stephen Russ somewhere behind me declaring it ‘the most beautiful city on earth’. And I also have a vivid recollection of first setting foot in the sculpture school to the smell of welding and epoxy resin, and being overwhelmed by the sense of creative opportunity. Of course I didn’t make the most of it - which of us did - but I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that for me the experience was profound and life-changing. Perhaps I was naïve, and perhaps I still am, but having spent twenty-odd years in higher education taking on the spreadsheet junkies in an attempt to cultivate an environment which could begin to approach what we had at Corsham, I can only observe that we were indeed fortunate. For what its worth, I loved every last minute, and can’t quite believe it all really happened. As Joni famously said, ‘you don’t know what you got ‘til its gone’.

Name:

Petrina Kent (nee Brawn)

Subject:

Fine art

Dates:

1976-1978

Date:

29 July, 2011

Comments

Lovely to read all the comments, the party pictures at number 40 were mine, what a surprise to see them again. I too would like to track down Geoffrey Glover who drove the Citron and sported a very strong after shave. Also Adrian Hicken Art History extrodinaire, still tracking down the impressionists hide outs and the latest lush chick, no doubt! Alison Coath is till teaching and potting I think, Ian Alan, I'm not sure about but Jayne Strother is working well, teaching, painting and exhibiting great work. I've got an exhibition on at the moment so at least some focus are doing 'it' still. It was said ' How many of you will be painting in ten years?' a challenge I well remember. Well it's over thirty years now!! And some of us are indeed 'still at it' Thanks for your great web site. Petrina

Name:

Subject:

Graphics

Dates:

1980-85

Date:

10 July, 2011

Comments

What ever happened to "Dr Bowsers Brown Bowel Oil Band" c 1982? Never a sign in any concerts.

Name:

Subject:

Graphics

Dates:

1980-85

Date:

10 July, 2011

Comments

What ever happened to "Dr Bowsers Brown Bowel Oil Band" c 1982? Never a sign in any concerts.

Name:

Subject:

Graphics

Dates:

1980-85

Date:

10 July, 2011

Comments

What ever happened to "Dr Bowsers Brown Bowel Oil Band" c 1982? Never a sign in any concerts.

Name:

sally newton re pinfield

Subject:

graphics

Dates:

1972-1976

Date:

09 July, 2011

Comments

hello everyone.miss Benno zender ,miss bob grieg,

Name:

heather haythornthwaite

Subject:

Foundation, then Graphics

Dates:

1977-1981

Date:

29 June, 2011

Comments

I have more photos and some names for you too. How can I get them to you, or when/ where could we meet to sift through them?

Name:

Roland Wallis

Subject:

Illustration

Dates:

1978-1982

Date:

23 June, 2011

Comments

What a shock the first day on the fine art course was, only applied to Corsham becouse it looked like the nearest thing to being in Brideshead revisited; ended up sharing a room with a football fan because we both came from the north. We devided the room down the middle; football pictures one side objet d'art the other.The room was in the gate house at the end of the drive to Corsham Court and was where Lord Methuens ex nurse had retired to.She kept a tight ship and so all dreams of wild collage days sitting around drinking,smoking and discussing the meaning of life seemed to be evaporating.I remember looking out through the leaded windows and thinking this was going to be more Mike Leigh than Evelyn Waugh.

Name:

Steve Fairbairn

Subject:

Graphics

Dates:

1966 - 1970

Date:

13 June, 2011

Comments

The first visit of the select Pre Dip graphics 1-in-20 to Mr. Wilcox's subterranean emporium at the Court. Twenty sheets of Bockingford cartridge, a T-square and that awful clattering plywood box on a rubber shoulder-strap which never kept things in order and had the nasty habit of opening unexpectedly and disgorging its contents. After 45 years mine has still never served the purpose it was 'specially designed' for, nor any other for that matter. Waiting on the gravel in front of the Court for our transport to Sydney Place. Rosemary Ellis strutting round like an over-stuffed pigeon shrieking orders at everyone. Being scrambled aboard the coaches – there were two of them. Christ-I know-that-guy-from prep-school-hope-he-doesn't-remember-me. Falling head over heels in lech-at-first-sight with that buxom blonde in Pre Dip painting. Learning for a whole morning how to stick a drawing pin into a drawing board. Yes, Andrew Wilson gave himself time to explain the niceties of fastening paper to board, punctuated by long silences and hushed moments of inner panic in the hearts of those who had not previously experienced that cold Wilsonian stare and whose attempts to comprehend were thwarted by that fearful Scottish accent. A rather insipid fish lunch with Clive Adams at a second-rate restaurant on Milsom Street because we hadn't discovered a decent pub yet. The afternoon spent learning how sharpen a pencil and how to make a gadget out of corrugated cardboard for holding delicate paintbrushes. Beginning to understand Andrew Wilson. That blonde agreed to sit beside me on the bus back to Corsham. Got to know her better later. Yep, Mike's got it pretty much right.

Name:

Subject:

Sculpture

Dates:

1965 - 69

Date:

08 June, 2011

Comments

Chatting the other day with a couple of colleagues as one does . . . we ended up recalling what we could of our very first day at art college . . . and whether it was that great elevating step we supposed it to be . . . . (back then someone had told me that in 1965 for the Pre Dip course at Corsham there were over twenty applicants for every place . . . r e a l l y???) Now I start thinking how reliable is my memory . . . . anyway back to that first day in 1965 (probably Wednesday 22nd September), which started off in the morning in the Barn at the Court . . . . all the new 1st year Fine Art Degree students and we new Fine Art Pre-Dip students were there and maybe the new Institute students plus a few others too?. . . . Telfer Stokes and Malcolm Hughes (other lecturers popped in from time to time) were on duty trying to organise us so we got drawing and in turn went to the shop in the cellar to buy all we needed to be artists – later in the day, the image of all we new Fine Art Pre-Dippers walking down the drive each carrying one of those pristine wooden paint boxes slung over our shoulders has stayed with me to this day – not quite nightmare material but . . . . close. Anyway back to the barn . . . . it was pretty crowded in there, drawing-boards jostling drawing-boards as we did drawings from observation of a female nude . . . . and probably in the evening it was glasses jostling glasses in the Pack Horse too. One of my colleagues remembered the clothing fashions, with some of the staff at his college dressed like peacocks, I told him we were lucky because we had the real things parading around manicured gardens! Nevertheless we each agreed that no matter what we did on the first day, starting off at art college was bloody exciting, even though it might have left the majority of us “feeling like potholers trying to navigate by the stars.” Now I think again, how reliable is my memory. Let it be . . . .

Name:

Stephen Fairbairn

Subject:

Graphics

Dates:

1966 - 1970

Date:

26 May, 2011

Comments

It has sadly come to my notice that my friend Wendy McLerie (Pre Dip Graphics 1966-'67) passed away in January 2011. I had been in touch with her not so long ago and knew that she was struggling with cancer, although she made light of it. Wendy was always ready for a giggle. May the gods giggle with her.

Name:

Mike Watson

Subject:

Photo Technician

Dates:

65-67

Date:

07 May, 2011

Comments

I was photo technician from 65 to 67 under Richard Morling and married Wendi Thairs from the graphic design students of that time.

Name:

Betty Holmes

Subject:

Art Education/Teaching

Dates:

1954-57

Date:

05 May, 2011

Comments

I like many other BAA students, have many many happy memories of my time at Corsham Court and Monkes Park, and would love to hear from any old friends who remember me.

Name:

Brian Dunce

Subject:

Dates:

Date:

17 March, 2011

Comments

Peter Lanyon exhibition at Tate St Ives, reminded me about how vital the teaching was by practitioners not bound up with masses of red-tape. Has the experience for students now been greatly reduced?

Name:

Pauline Watts

Subject:

Sculpture

Dates:

1965-1969

Date:

20 February, 2011

Comments

I suppose this is a continuation of my previous contributions! Really enjoyed the reunion last year and remade lovely friendships. Also spurred me on to re enter the 'artworld' by seriously moving on my painting. This has resulted in a very productive and creative year for me. Thank you Corsham! you are still influencing after all these years. Pauline or Paddy Allen as I was known then.

Name:

Chris Garratt

Subject:

Painting

Dates:

1963-66

Date:

15 February, 2011

Comments

Good to read Paddy "Kansas City" Adamson's reminiscences about the ever changing personnel of the Big T Band, sometime house band at impressario Roy Forgan's "cheaper by the Double" Royal Oak. .... and Lest we forget drummers John Punt, Michael Albert and church organist Chris Hall who lent a special Baroque feel to Paul Deacon's murdering of James Brown's "I'll Go Crazy". I still think we should have done more Rolling Stones numbers, Tony. And apologies to the local guy who lent us his amp which we ruined with a spilt pint of 6x. As he complained "it's only made of pressed cardboard." Keep on rockin'. I am, playing tenor sax in a soul band. And Deeks is still murdering James Brown songs.

Name:

David Alexander

Subject:

teacher training

Dates:

56-59

Date:

16 January, 2011

Comments

The glory years of Corsham ! Lots of us men had come straight from all male National Service and suddenly we were outnumbered by women. What wonderful years,great teaching, lovely place; we were very privileged. And all for free! We hid from Rosemary Ellis and threw our call up papers for the Suez Crisis in the bin. We had a film society in the barn and some great visiting lecturers like Nicholas Pevsner. Wanda Szalinska are you out there somewhere?

Name:

Brian Dunce

Subject:

Dates:

Date:

09 January, 2011

Comments

Going through my files of 35mm slides, there are some general shots which I think must have been for use in promoting the course and campus. They may be the work of Helen Harris who was often doing photographic work for the Course. They will date from81 or 82, and will be of interest to all who were there then. As I said above, they are 35mm colour transparencies. Being a dinosaur I have no reader! Still meaning to put the vhs onto dvd, I have bought the machine. Best wishes and love from Brian

Name:

Gerry McFarlane

Subject:

Ceramics

Dates:

74-78

Date:

01 January, 2011

Comments

GUESTBOOK TEST ... hope everyone has a good 2011 year to remember!!!