| Description | Interview with Alan Elwell, Conservation Technician at Chelsea College of Art and Design (retired).
The interview can be accessed in QuickTime Movie and Waveform Audio formats, and a transcript is also available.
Interview description:
Audio 1 [00:00] Alan Elwell; Conservation Technician since 1974; first role as bookbinding technician; expansion of courses; current role; teaching techniques and materials. [02:47] Own background; father had shop on Old Kent Road; near a bookbinders shop; trial at shop; apprenticeship; no exams; day release to study; increased confidence. [06:14] Evening classes at London College of Printing; worked as a guillotine operator for a banknote company; Print and Allied Trades vacancy at Camberwell; experience of interview; approval from union. [09:42] Apprenticeship in 1967; City and Guilds qualification; impressions of LCP; machinery in lower block; bookbinding floor; Printing studies; peers; friends; tutors. [13:19] Discusses equipment during 1960s; leaving LCP; evening course; ILEA funding. [15:57] First impressions of Camberwell; tradition of art schools; bookbinding certificate; archives and preservation course; interconnection between areas; monocasting technique; 11 technicians; teamwork; Christmas drink and mince pie; separation between tutors and technicians. [20:16] Principal Leonard Daniels; shows; bookbinding team; Brian Hoy; Bob Acres; David Collins fellow apprentice; Len Rose; David Acreman; duplication of courses with London College of Printing; staff movement and retirement; London Institute formation; conservation grouped with art history. [23:23] Decline of ILEA; staff concern; conservation remaining stable; security in London Institute; change in courses; collections focus. [26:32] Wilson Road site as boy’s grammar school; other sites; annexes in Dulwich; ILEA bus to transport students to classes; conservation move to Wilson Road at start of academic year; electrical problems in great hall for workshops; science at Peckham Road; working between buildings. [30:17] End of decorative arts course; progression centre; move into current space; downsizing from Wilson Road; advantages of current site; current activities at Wilson Road. [33:17] Changes of site; new build at Camberwell; campus feel; connections with other colleges; research with LCC; fashion collections at CSM; ILEA collection; collections acquired at auction. [37:21] Discusses day-to-day role; liaison role; equipment; demonstrations; differences to other areas; tight syllabus. [40:48] Key changes during role; changes in sites and techniques; reflection; move from restoration to preservation. [42:41] Discusses becoming university; expansion; status; cease BA in Conservation due to recruitment difficulties. [45:00] Merger of Wimbledon, Camberwell and Chelsea; potential move to Chelsea; conservation attached to photography resource area; collaboration between technicians; repair on piece from Kubrick collection. [48:51] CSM archive collection; Jocelyn Herbert archive; feeling part of university; building work helped feelings of inclusion. [51:07] Impact of changes to Camberwell; destinations of students; students returning to teach; network of graduates; Camberwell as family; healthy environment; academic year cycle; enthusiasm. [54:51] Discusses couple attending evening classes; Mr Thompson’s printing company; member of livery company; exhibition in 1987 in Stationer’s Hall; promoting printing through Camberwell; opened by Sarah Ferguson; Stationer’s Prize for best British paper conservator continues. [58:05] Student-staff football and cricket matches; tutor’s party in summer; wayzgoose; blow darts match; links with Wellcome Institute; visits to paper mills; shows; symposiums. [01:00:24] Annual Christmas dinner; last of old printing technicians; plan for retirement; move to Somerset; holiday; return for summer show; technicians leaving Camberwell; filling position and passing responsibilities to Craig; continue own conservation work. [01:04:25] |