Thomson Foundation TV College
I remember whist installing some equipment in a make-shift colour OB Van in 1974 , George Ang the then Chief Engineer of the Department of Broadcasting informed me that I had been nominated to attend a four-month course in Colour TV Engineering in Scotland. Subsequently I was told by my immdiate boss Mr Lam that WY Chan who was my senior and earmarked to go had tendered his resignation to migrate to Australia. I was happy to attend the course, being the first out of the country for me and to learn things which proved to be very useful in my later career. The course was conducted at the Thomson Foundation TV College in Newton Mearns,Glasgow Scotland ( The College was started by Lord Thomson of the Fleet)
The College held residential training courses in television production and engineering for people who were already employed in stations in developing countries. They also sent lecturers to train staff in TV stations in countries such as India, Zimbabwe, Bahrain and China. It was an interesting place to work, meeting people from all over the world and learning a little about the world of broadcasting. So for four plus months stayed in the college with 20 other students who were full time broadcaters. They came from all over viz Brazil, Lebanon, India, Nigeria, Kenya, Turkey, England, Scotland. It was months of intensive learning of colour television engineering and operation techniques.
The four-month study included subjects like fundamentals of colour television, transmitter technicques, camera and studio lighting operations, videotape operations and some management principles of broadcasting stations.
I remember whist installing some equipment in a make-shift colour OB Van in 1974 , George Ang the then Chief Engineer of the Department of Broadcasting informed me that I had been nominated to attend a four-month course in Colour TV Engineering in Scotland. Subsequently I was told by my immdiate boss Mr Lam that WY Chan who was my senior and earmarked to go had tendered his resignation to migrate to Australia. I was happy to attend the course, being the first out of the country for me and to learn things which proved to be very useful in my later career. The course was conducted at the Thomson Foundation TV College in Newton Mearns,Glasgow Scotland ( The College was started by Lord Thomson of the Fleet)
The College held residential training courses in television production and engineering for people who were already employed in stations in developing countries. They also sent lecturers to train staff in TV stations in countries such as India, Zimbabwe, Bahrain and China. It was an interesting place to work, meeting people from all over the world and learning a little about the world of broadcasting. So for four plus months stayed in the college with 20 other students who were full time broadcaters. They came from all over viz Brazil, Lebanon, India, Nigeria, Kenya, Turkey, England, Scotland. It was months of intensive learning of colour television engineering and operation techniques.
The four-month study included subjects like fundamentals of colour television, transmitter technicques, camera and studio lighting operations, videotape operations and some management principles of broadcasting stations.
During the week-ends and short holidays the students travelled to places north of the River Cyde eg Inverness, Loch Tay, Loch Ness (The Loch Ness monster did not appear that day when we were there) and visited Edinburgh castle as well. It was during these travels that I learnt a lot about the Scottish people...and the fact that the Scots and English could not get along... would poke at one another when occasions arose..and I also learnt to like bagpipes and Scottish songs. Loch Lomond and the Skye Boat are my two favourites.
As mentioned earlier the knowledge and skills learnt gave me more opportunities at the then Radio and TV Singapore Engineering Division. After the training I was posted to train engineering staff at the Telecentre Centre, 1 Hill crest Road and later promoted to Head of Broadcasting Training(About Telecentre the joint training school for the then Singapore Telephone Board , Telecommunications Department and Broadcasting Department..that is another story). Later I was promoted to Head of Training there . And after few years there I subsequently returned to Caldecott Hill to be engineer-in-charge of television studios………
The above pictures were taken (around Dec 1974) one at the school in Glasgow and the other in London with Lord Thomson.
If you recognize yourself in the pictures please email me and tell us more about yourself since then (I guess most will be in the age group 60- 80 now) email: tay.philip@gmail.com
The above pictures were taken (around Dec 1974) one at the school in Glasgow and the other in London with Lord Thomson.
If you recognize yourself in the pictures please email me and tell us more about yourself since then (I guess most will be in the age group 60- 80 now) email: tay.philip@gmail.com
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7 comments:
Hello Mr.Philip! First of all I want to introduce my self. My name is
Muhammadejazmian and I was one of the student of TFTC in the year 1975
probably the course number was 36 may be I am wrong? I have few
pictures which I want to share with you. On receipt of your reply I
will send the pictures which were made during the course. I hope when
you see you will enjoy and recall the memories of Kirkhill college.
Thanks .
ejazmian
Hi,
I read your item about TFTC and happy to learn some people in this trade and has been with Thompson is only a few clicks away from where I am. I was with TV 20 at Kirkhill in Newton Mearns. I trained for Engineering and am still active in TV Broadcast. I live in Manila and visit Singapore every other year for BROADCAST ASIA. Glad to hear from you, dear neighbor…………………….
Ely Nanquil
elynanquil@mydestiny.net
My name is Roberto Amaral from Brasil. My group is the TV 14 in 1971. I want know about my collegues...
Hi.
I was the Studio Assistant at TFTC from Nov 1971 to Dec 1972 and was involved with 3 of the TV Production courses before moving to Granada TV and beyond.
I can add some staff names to your photographs, though at this distance in time my memory may not be totally accurate!
In the first picture the Principal, Bill Meikle, is in the middle of the front row. From the left of the second row are Bill Kirkwood (Senior Engineering Lecturer), Charles [?] (Film Lecturer), a student, Sheila [Watson?] (Graphic Designer) and Rosemary [I think] (Housekeeper). Behind snd between Charles and the student is Sheila's husband Tom (Engineering Lecturer).
On the right of picture, half hidden by the second row of students, are Richie [?] (Engineering Lecturer), Malcolm Scrimgeour (TV Production Lecturer, seconded from BBC Manchester) and Jim McIntyre (Senior Production Lecturer).
The picture was probably taken by Film Cameraman John McNairn.
In the London picture Bill Kirkwood, Malcolm Scrimgeour and Bill Meilkle are half hidden at the back left.
Best wishes
Alan Buchan
Hi.
I was the Studio Assistant at TFTC from Nov 1971 to Dec 1972 and was involved with 3 of the TV Production courses before moving to Granada TV and beyond.
I can add some staff names to your photographs, though at this distance in time my memory may not be totally accurate!
In the first picture the Principal, Bill Meikle, is in the middle of the front row. From the left of the second row are Bill Kirkwood (Senior Engineering Lecturer), Charles [?] (Film Lecturer), a student, Sheila [Watson?] (Graphic Designer) and Rosemary [I think] (Housekeeper). Behind snd between Charles and the student is Sheila's husband Tom (Engineering Lecturer).
On the right of picture, half hidden by the second row of students, are Richie [?] (Engineering Lecturer), Malcolm Scrimgeour (TV Production Lecturer, seconded from BBC Manchester) and Jim McIntyre (Senior Production Lecturer).
The picture was probably taken by Film Cameraman John McNairn.
In the London picture Bill Kirkwood, Malcolm Scrimgeour and Bill Meilkle are half hidden at the back left.
Best wishes
Alan Buchan
My name is Sergio Nuno, I was in Newton Mearns in 1975, TV Production, I have perhaps the best memories of my life in that magic castle, Pat Mackintosh, Bill Meakle, and so many more names to remember
Hello everyone. My mum Margaret Sanda attended this College in 1976. I'm currently in Glasgow for 2 days and would like to visit but my search for location is not bringing up anything.Has the name changed,can anyone help please?
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