The Brookes Years
1928
John Brookes is appointed Vice-Principal of the Oxford City Technical School and Head of the School of Art; the two are scattered over 19 different sites.
John Henry Brookes
"Any history of this university's development in the first half of the twentieth century takes on something of a paean of praise for John Henry Brookes."
Andrew Smtih MP, former Chair of Governors
1929
Training courses for architects are introduced within the School of Art.
1931
Visiting lecturers include Kenneth Clark, Noel Carrington and Clough Williams-Ellis.
1934
Technical School and School of Art are merged, to form the Schools of Technology, Art and Commerce. John Brookes is elected the first Principal.
1943
It is envisaged that the institution can be transformed into a City Technical College. Negotiati##被过滤## begin for suitable site.
1949
Classes in catering are started. Purchase of a 25-acre site on Headington Hill is completed.
1950
Despite Ministry of Education setting aside £250,000 for first phase of the new technical college's development, City Council rejects plans. Amidst public outcry, public campaign is launched by Kenneth Wheare, Oxford University's Gladstone Professor of Government, to create the new college at Headington Hill.
"...most local authorities make some curious decisi##被过滤## in their time, but we cannot recall one so astonishing as the City Council's flat rejection...of the proposed College. It seems almost impossible that such a thing could happen in Oxford, which should be in the forefront of educational matters..." Oxford Times leader, 22 September 1950
1952
Proposals for new technical college are approved by City Council. Name of institution is changed to College of Technology, Art and Commerce.
1953
John Brookes awarded OBE.
1954
Former student Lord Nuffield lays foundation stone of new college.
1956
John Brookes retires. Institution's name changed to College of Technology.
"He liked to refer to the move to Headington as setting foot in the Promised Land. And in 1956...John Brookes - the man who had done more than any other to steer the project forward since he came to Oxford to teach stonemas##被过滤## how to carve - felt confident enough about its future to hand over the reins."
Don Chapman, Oxford Mail, 19 November 1990
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