Tag: RSM

The Missing Graduations: 2003 & 2007 to 2010

 

During the recent decommissioning of the last TV Studio and Edit Suite, I was asked to be involved with any potential archival retention. This was to preserve any videotapes or recordings that were not archived and may have slipped through the net when the entire videotape collection was put into archival storage in 2024.

Something that I had been aware of for some time was the fact that a number of Postgraduate and also Commemoration Day events were not on YouTube. From October 2010 onwards, these events were live-streamed and therefore retained automatically on the Imperial YouTube channel. The production of DVDs for purchase ceased at this time. So there was a timeline from the very first recording in 2002 until 2010 when these events were only viewable by those graduates who had purchased a DVD, or prior to that, in 2003 (only), a VHS tape. I took early retirement in December 2010 and therefore lost any involvement in graduation archiving from then onwards. With the recent retirement of my only remaining video production colleague Martin Sayers, I am now taking a hard look at what needs to be corrected with any missing ceremonies on Imperial’s YouTube channel.

Fortunately, I was recently able to sort through all of the unsold DVDs from this period. I was delighted to discover the ceremonies from 2007 to 2010 that are not currently on YouTube. They will all be made available, very soon.

Although Imperial launched its YouTube channel in 2008, these ceremonies continued to be distributed only on DVD until 2010. As a result, from 2002 to 2010 we never produced complete full-length versions of these events on videotape, instead creating them only on DVD (or VHS) both in sectional form. I am now converting the DVDs into complete videos and adding YouTube chapter (or index) markers to make it easier to locate individual sections (not people).

Currently available are PG Awards (AM & PM) and Commemoration Day (AM & PM) from 2007 (morning sessions are shown below in the two examples). Visit the Imperial YouTube channel for the afternoon ceremonies. Stay tuned for the remaining missing years from 2008–2010 and also 2003, for which I need to locate the master tapes in the archives. This process takes time as I sort, prepare, and upload them onto YouTube.

Colin Grimshaw August 2026

Elections for Beginners: 1976

“Elections for Beginners” was shown on STOIC 50 years ago today. It was during STOIC’s live coverage of the ICU elections that this video was seen. James Sinclair was, by then, the chairman of STOIC and also the lead presenter, especially during live transmissions like this one. Apparently, it was James who had asked John Downs (see page 6 of the link to Felix) the ICU Honorary Secretary to present this pre-recorded video that would explain the STV system used by the union.

It is actually a miracle that this videotape even survives. It was inserted into the live programme, which itself was recorded for posterity on the Ampex recorder. Luckily, for some reason, the original Ampex one-inch “Type A” videotape was transferred onto a still usable U-Matic tape. By chance, John Downs subscribes to this blog and recently sent me a lovely Christmas message. I then had a sudden flash of memory of that name linked to STOIC, and fortunately I had the card index that I could refer to. John’s name popped up; at first I had assumed it was indexing a currently inaccessible Ampex tape. However, there was an additional reference to a transfer to the U-Matic format. It was that tape, which I had forgotten I had already digitised some years ago, and hence how we are able to see it today.

John has kindly added some additional insight into that particular year’s elections, as well as the union staff members:

“Perhaps of interest to note that there were only the three sabbatical roles back then—even the Deputy President (Riz Shakir) was a full-time student. We were supported by an admin staff of three… Jen Hardy-Smith and Pat in the first-floor office, and a lady called Pam, I think… who had her own booth at the main entrance to the union building.”

So let’s take you, and John, back 50 years, and please note that the image quality is not great, but I have corrected it as best I can. James Sinclair does the introduction during the live transmission from the Great Hall, which was linked by cable back to the TV studio.

Colin Grimshaw – 26 February 2026

Studying for the Future: 1985

For the 1985 “Technology 2000” exhibition held at Imperial College, two videos were produced: Studying for the Future and Discovering the Future. Both made use of the same visual stock-footage material, such as teaching, research, and campus footage. Studying for the Future was a promotional video for potential undergraduates. I’ve managed to colour-correct and enhance the 40-year-old videotape.

A lot of what you’ll see in this video has long gone—for example, the old main entrance, the college shop, the Reactor Centre, and the TV Studio. However, as I’ve said, it wonderfully captures what Imperial looked and felt like all those years ago. My memories are of a nicer, much happier and friendlier place back then, when people knew each other.

How much do you remember of the old place? Indeed, are you featured in the video, let me know?

Colin Grimshaw – December 2025

Lord Mayor’s Show: 1979

Back in 2019, I released the video that STOIC had recorded at the 1980 Lord Mayor’s Show. However, that was not the first time it was covered. An earlier report was shot on 8mm colour film in 1971. Now, we are able to see the very first report covered on videotape, dating from 14 November 1979. It was featured, as always, in the weekly news programme News-Break.

The on-location STOIC reporter was Tracy Poole (Tracy Dudley). The picture is not amazing because it was recorded using an early video camera and recording system, but it did at least allow for synced audio. And of course, everything was still in black and white, although the studio had just purchased its first piece of colour equipment.

Colin Grimshaw 14 November 2025

Oxford Street Chariot Race: 1972

I have a feeling that this is yet another RAG event that has long disappeared. The Chariot Race down Oxford Street from Speaker’s Corner was last referenced in FELIX way back in 1976 and has not been mentioned since. Well, until today of course because we have some silent 8mm film once again shot by STOIC. This was yet another item featured in their weekly news programme TOPIC. This particular item has suffered from the ‘home processing’ that was carried out on these black and white films. I think that a combination of over exposure and dodgy processing has resulted in rather poor quality. However, it is a wonderful record of what Imperial students used to get up to to raise money during RAG week 50 years ago.

This 8mm film that we have is from 1972 and is not even listed in the STOIC archive index. That is simply because the original videotape in which the film was used no longer exists. In this case I cannot find any corresponding audio, which I assume was added during the recording of TOPIC, so it will appear silent.

Colin Grimshaw October 2022

Inter-CCU Raft Race: 1979

The Inter-CCU Raft Race across the Serpentine in 1979 is yet another part of college history that’s very difficult to find anything about. I can certainly find several references to the event in Felix, but nothing about why it started. What I can tell you is that this 1979 race is the first I found mentioned, so it could have been the first race to happen and the reason why STOIC recorded it.

Of the listings in FELIX, there are only mentions of the fact that it’s happening or that it had already happened and which CCU won it (photo on right). Just one tiny extra piece I found was this ‘thanks’ from the Union President who said after the 1979 race: “Thanks to the Underwater Club for giving up their Sunday Lie-In to ensure the safety of the Raft Race“. And there was one photo in Felix announcing that RCS had won the race.

So sit back and enjoy this brief coverage of what may have been the very first Raft Race across the Serpentine in London’s Hyde Park. It started in Prince’s Garden and then up the roads to Hyde Park.

Colin Grimshaw September 2022

The Great Tartan Race: 1973

Well, who remembers the Great Tartan Race?  Other references that I’ve found also called it the Great Tartan Barrel Race, either way it seemed to involve beer! This news item from STOIC’s 8 June 1973 TOPIC programme is missed from the card index because it was shot well before the index was started. The original videotape is long gone, so this item would have been forgotten. But, once again I found this gem in the collection of 8mm films that I’m currently digitising. If you remember, film was the only way for the programme to provide coverage of events outside of the college TV studio. Sadly this film is all that now remains of the programme so I’ve had to revert to a news clipping from FELIX dated 3 May 1973. (And yes you will have noticed a month’s difference between when it was shot and actually used in the programme)

“A team consisting of two members each from City and Guilds’ Union and Royal School of Mines Union were outright winners in their class in the Great Tartan Race, run annually by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries. The race involves transporting an (empty) keg of Tartan beer from Edinburgh to London, and the various classes of entry are for the most novel way of doing this, the team collecting most money for their nominated charity and for the team completing the distance in the shortest time. The IC team made the trip in a tartan-liveried Morris Minor accompanied by tartan-clad dolly birds, and collected for Action for the Crippled Child. The Tartan Race was entered by teams from universities and colleges throughout Britain.”

Coverage of the race was not only from STOIC it would seem, but also from British Movietone News. I didn’t realise that news for the cinema was still running in 1973, but at least STOIC’s was shot in colour (although seen in black and white). You’ll also spot that I found not only the used footage from the programme, but also the off cuts. These I’ve also included to show all that is still available in the archive collection. And when you look at the British Movietone News coverage does anyone recognise the voice doing the commentary? It’s the first presenter of BBC Television in 1936, Leslie Mitchell.

Colin Grimshaw May 2021

Chris Sleap – RSMU President Elect: 1979

Today I’ve unearthed an unusual interview, it’s with Chris Sleap, who at the time of this interview in May 1979, was RSM Union President Elect. However, on further research I find that in FELIX dated October 1979 Chris Sleap had failed his exams. FELIX also states that papers will go back up for this (and other failed Union posts) shortly.

I’ve not been able to find out who did actually take on this roll, later that year. This then is a somewhat unique interview. Mark Foley was the interviewer in the college TV Studio. We’d still not gone fully into colour, so interviews were still in black and white.

Colin Grimshaw July 2018

History of the RSM: 1957

In 1957 Imperial College was celebrating its 50 year half century. Many events took place that year, none of them were recorded visually and only some recorded onto audio tape or disc. One item that does survive is a presentation given by Dr S.W. Smith on the History of the Royal School of Mines up to that time. When I digitised the tape a few years ago I heard one or two things that stood out.

There is mention of attending a lecture in 1897 and the astonishing thing that he heard suggested. And on 13th March 1901 he was present at the RSM half-century celebrations, the formal dinner for which, was delayed due to the death of Queen Victoria. Fascinating to hear a college alumni talking about what was happening in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

New College Phone System: 1984

In the summer of 1984 I was asked by Peter Burridge the Telecoms Manager, to make a special video to alert all members of Imperial College to the fact that we were about to put into service a new electronic telephone exchange. Until this time we had two systems running side by side: an internal automatic exchange and an external (BT) manually operated switchboard.

1950's Automatic Telephone Exchange
1950’s Automatic Telephone Exchange

The original internal exchange, installed sometime around 1959, was located in the basement of the Royal School of Mines, whilst the external switchboard was installed in the Sherfield Building around 1969. This was probably to coincide with the opening of the building that year. For those only familiar with how things operate these days, the old system now seems very ancient. It required two telephones on a desk, internal and external. You called via the internal exchange with very old dial phones (in some cases), whilst to make an external call you picked up the receiver of the other phone and waited for the operator to answer.

Sherfield Building Manual Switchboard
Sherfield Building Manual Switchboard

You then had to request an ‘outside line’ and from there you could dial your call. All incoming calls to Imperial were answered by the operator and then put through to the extension in question. There were no connections between the two systems! So if a location only had an internal phone there was no way to contact them from outside of the college. The internal exchange catered for some 2,500 extensions whilst the external catered for 1,500 extensions.

statesman handset
The ‘new’ Statesman telephone 1984

The new system was deemed so “new” that training sessions were put into place at various locations around college. These were designed for either staff or students and some even took place in the Great Hall. It may seem odd, but at that time most secretaries, for example, were using normal electric golf-ball typewriters and few people had contact with computers unless they were academic. So, having to press button combination’s to achieve things like two way calling or call transfer had some people a bit stumped, thus the training sessions were arranged. As this concerned all of college there was great publicity and this can be seen from this mid-summer edition of the student newspaper Felix from 17 August 1984 (pages 4 & 5).

The colour stills of both the 1950’s exchange and switchboard are taken from the videotape I shot. So far, I’ve not located any other images of, what was, a major part of the daily unseen operation of Imperial College. I suspect that these sequences in the video may have been the first time that some people had seen any of these background services operating. I was also one of the first to experience the new system.

A few weeks before operation began I was asked if I’d wait by my current internal phone at around 6pm one evening whilst it was manually switched from the old to the new system. I then received a call via the new exchange to test all functionality and quality of sound. The rest is now part of college history as we all take the new systems as part of normal daily college life. But is was just a little bit different when you picked up the external phone and knew the person on the switchboard and had a short conversation before saying…”can I have an outside line please?”.

Colin Grimshaw November 2010