Retired lecturer looks back at teaching at Moreton Morrell College as it celebrates 70th year

He spent more than four decades teaching at the college
Clifford Mitchell, who was a lecturer at Moreton Morrell College for over
40 years. Photo suppliedClifford Mitchell, who was a lecturer at Moreton Morrell College for over
40 years. Photo supplied
Clifford Mitchell, who was a lecturer at Moreton Morrell College for over 40 years. Photo supplied

A retired lecturer who spent his entire working life at Moreton Morrell College in Warwickshire has been reflecting on his time there and its history as it celebrates 70 years.

Clifford Mitchell, who lives in Bishops Itchington, spent more than four decades teaching at Moreton Morrell College, which is part of WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group).

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Clifford, originally from Yorkshire, joined in 1971 after graduating in farm management from Leeds University and went on to teach a variety of subjects full-time for 40 years before spending five years in a part-time role until retiring in 2015.

Clifford Mitchell pictured sheep shearing at a Moreton Morrell College
open day in the early 1980s. Photo supplied.Clifford Mitchell pictured sheep shearing at a Moreton Morrell College
open day in the early 1980s. Photo supplied.
Clifford Mitchell pictured sheep shearing at a Moreton Morrell College open day in the early 1980s. Photo supplied.

He worked and lived on site for a number of years, initially combining his teaching role with being a warden for students who were then all residential, and it became his family home with his wife and their first two daughters.

Moreton Morrell College had been among the first agricultural colleges to be established by the government after the Second World War to help get the country back to food self-sufficiency.

Set over 750 acres, it has since evolved into an internationally-recognised countryside campus with a working farm, equine and animal centres, and other specialist land-based learning facilities.

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Clifford recalled: “When I joined, there was only around 12 teaching staff for 45 students on two courses, plus day release classes at a number of centres including Nuneaton College and the showground at Stoneleigh.

An open day at Moreton Morrell College in the 1970s. Photo suppliedAn open day at Moreton Morrell College in the 1970s. Photo supplied
An open day at Moreton Morrell College in the 1970s. Photo supplied

"My first session at Stoneleigh was on crops which wasn’t my best subject and the senior member of staff and crops lecturer lent me his notes. They were in beautiful copper-plate and began ‘It looks like the tractor is here to stay....’.

“Principal George Jackson had the foresight to start the first equine study courses, largely due to requests from farmers who wanted their daughters, as well as their sons, to be educated in country matters.

“The growth of these courses was exponential and culminated with Moreton Morrell as a clear leader in the rapidly growing equine education provision nationally.

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"In fact, at one time, you would struggle to find an equine college anywhere in the UK without one or more Moreton Morrell alumni on the staff.

“Moreton graduates went on to some high-flying employments in and out of the equine industry to really make a mark. The first ever equine degree graduation ceremony in Coventry Cathedral was a great event and set the scene for many years to come.”

Clifford has many fond memories of his time at the college and stays in touch with other staff and students.

He said: “In my early years the students were predominantly male, and for the popular barn dances and discos the imbalance was addressed by ‘bussing-in’ some trainee nurses from Rugby.

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"I am sure some long-term relationships were fostered there.

“I have many amusing recollections like the time the names of the Farm Manager and Senior Warden, who happened to be Tom and Jerry, were written with nitrogen fertiliser on the lawns and were a lasting sight for several months.

"The archway was once blocked by a car which had been man-handled in cross-ways. It took some time to remove.

“I was proud to work there. I never intended to but spent my entire working life there and do miss it. It had a great family feeling even when it grew so much with the equine students. It still felt a personal place.

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“As it celebrates its 70 th year, it’s nice to be able to look back and share the memories. I don’t think a lot of people perhaps realise how long it has been there and the important mark it has made.”

WCG is collating staff and student memories of Moreton Morrell College as it celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Anyone who would like to contribute is asked to email: [email protected]

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