Goodbye Westwood: A New Name and a New Home for Our Beloved College

  It is with a heavy heart I have to write this article - but it is one that I believe needs to be written more so than any other I will probably write in the coming future. I'm sure it has come very much as a surprise to most of you, as it has myself, to hear that after this academic year, Westwood will be closing its doors to students after over a century as an educational establishment - particularly considering an article was published on the Scarborough Evening News website before most of us had even heard anything about the plans - but I think it is a process that should be documented, commented on, and most certainly not ignored. 

  The building opened at the inception of the 20th century, initially as the - illegal - Municipal School (I shall write more on its history in coming articles, but yes, when the building opened in 1900, it was indeed an unauthorised and therefore illegal place of education - very much paving the way for generations of rebellious students over the years, I think we can agree); to the epic amalgamation of the two rival boy's schools from opposite sides of the Valley (the Municipal School and St Martin's Grammar school) as the girls were ousted out in 1922, and the two collaborated to become the Scarborough High School the Boys. Then in 1959, the boys followed the girls' suit and migrated to Sandybed, onto the site where Graham School resides today. Westwood became a Secondary Modern under the Butler Act (An Education Act enforced in 1944 as an answer to surging social and educational demands post-war; enforcing a division between the traditional all-age elementary sector - 5-14 - into primary and secondary schools, and abolishing fees for parents wishing to send their children for state schools: essentially

making the school system we know today); and then 15 years after the government required the building, it became a "temporary" home  for the Stephen Joseph Theatre (then known as the Theatre in the Round - it only became known as the Stephen Joseph Theatre in The Round at Westwood in 1978,  in honour of its founder. The original lease was just three years, however it quickly became apparent the funds for a new permanent home were lacking and the lease was extended for a further 10 years in 1979, and the theatre had to share its home with Scarborough Technical College (Fun Fact: Our cafe's name, The Square Cat, is actually the name of Alan Ayckbourn's first play (under the pen-name Roland Allen); and has had its name since way back when SJT was at Westwood, serving as both a bar/kitchen space, as well as doubling up as the small studio space where the highly successful and critically acclaimed play The Woman In Black was first premiered as a low-budget Christmas play in 1987). The theatre hosted 232 productions in its time at Westwood, 106 of  which were world premieres; all the way through till 1996 when it found it's proper - and current - residence opposite the train station, and the entire building was then free for use by the Technical College, which changed its name to Yorkshire Coast College, as we know it today. 

  ... Back to the present, and here we have it: scrolling through my Facebook News Feed with half an eye on the usual crappy Sunday telly, I come across and article that catches my eye from the Scarborough Evening News: "New Name and New Site for YCC." I initially assumed this had little to do with us Westwood-goers, seen as we tend to work very much as separate entities between the two campuses - or at least from a student's perspective - and, as we all are aware, our name has already been changed once this year to "Scarborough School of Arts," which, in my opinion, is enough of a change for one year; but then I am a bit stuck in my ways, so I suppose I would have been angered even if the headline was "Westwood Decides to Take Quiche Off the Menu." In a sense I almost think the ballot regarding our new college name was somewhat of a distraction from the real big change happening underneath our noses, or a facade to make it look like we were being given input and a voice on something that, in the grand scheme of things, was rather inconsequential. Anyway (back from the tangent); going to open the article I am very disheartened to see that the whole college is included in this statement, that Grimsby Institute has already started auctioning off our buildings to the highest bidder, bought a new building instead, and there we have it: We're officially packing our bags and moving to the old Hull University campus on Filey Road, reverting to our original name of "Scarborough TEC," (TEC = Training, Education and Careers... I personally like this change as it hails back to the times before the name change in 1992) without a murmur nor a whisper managing to find its way down the echoey corridors  of our college, nor a consultation from staff members, a letter through our doors; or really anything at all. 

  As you now know (if you didn't already), our building has a rich and eclectic history, and this is just another chapter in its tale; one we are witnessing firsthand, much like our tutor John Pattison did when the SJT at Westwood - his workplace at the time - flew the nest and moved just 0.2 miles up the road after years of struggling to find a new home. And, as unfortunate as it is, Westwood has been in need of some serious renovation work for quite some time, and with it being a listed building, renovations will be a long, careful and arduous process that simply is not feasible for us a college to do ourselves - even if money was no option. We'd need to temporarily relocate anyway, and then we have to consider the impossible task of accommodating for disabled access, health and safety, etc. etc... This move was inevitable. The real issue at hand here is how the Grimsby Institute and YCC have handled it. Rumours are flying around everywhere at the moment, and as both sites have apparently already been bough, there's bound to be multiple questions on our lips, coloured with both concern for the building we love so much and concern for our own education: what's next for our beloved college? What will the building become? What will college life be like at the new campus? Who will be taking over to replace the staff we have lost? And while the work in seeking out some of the answers to our queries are a case of seeing how things go; others really should have been sorted out prior to all of the publicity so we could contain or at least manage some of the uproar and student protest - our voices of course are as important as any, but not everyone has gone about speaking up in the right way.

  We're barely at the start of the moving process and yet already we've lost at least three members of staff, including the main Performing Arts tutor Laura Hawley; leaving the entirety of the Performing Arts department without a single tutor as John Pattison has had to step down from his post as tutor on the course in order to focus full-time on his music students what with the sudden loss of Progression Coach and tutor George Hoey (who was informed rather suddenly he was to be laid off in Christmas and consequently decided to leave early; which we empathise with), as well as our technician who very kindly came in to help out with our Halloween gig in spite of the fact he wasn't getting paid. The music department is now running with just 3 staff (one of whom is part-time) between 4 classes.  Moves are being made to find a new Performing Arts tutor, but who knows how long it will take to find one, let alone get them acquainted with the course and our students? Our Christmas production of American Idiot has already been pushed back to February due mainly to these staff cuts. Two Art tutors were also laid off before being reinstated, thanks pretty much entirely due to Higher Education students who spoke up and demanded a meeting with the Head of the college who wanted to know where and why their tutors had gone, and exactly what the approximate £9,000 per year they were paying was going to if they were going to be on a course with nobody to teach them.

  It is understandable that students are already expressing fears for their education, as well as how they will slot in with the students from main site post-move. It is fair to say we're a rather eclectic and eccentric bunch, who are used to dressing how we want and expressing ourselves how we want; as expected from arts students, but perhaps life is different on main site where courses are more 'traditional' and less creative, and we will feel we are perceived negatively. It is easy as young people when being undergoing changes in our environment to feel vulnerable or oppress ourselves in attempts to 'blend in' with social norms - which for the most part, is the exact opposite of what we should be encouraging as an arts school where creativity and expression are key factors in achieving success in our chosen fields. That's not to say that this will be the case, but when suddenly informed of such big news, it is easy to stress, speculate and consequently work oneself into a spiral of negative thoughts that once present, can easily seem to manifest themselves in real life regardless of whether they are true or not. It very much feels as though as separate sites we are very much segregated - aside from enrolment this year, I have not once been on the main site nor liaised with a single member of staff or student there. A gradual integration would be the sensible option, - perhaps some meet-ups or collaborative projects between the two campuses? For instance, we put on several gigs and events here at Westwood, but never offer any food or refreshments - why couldn't we work with our prestigious catering department to put on a spread, and show the true range of skills we can offer at YCC? Or get individuals from the Constructions courses to help us set up equipment for shows? All of these things could easily tie in with coursework on both sides as well as offer a really great opportunity to gain 'real-world' experience, and also help us get acquainted with one another pre-move. I don't believe any of us expect to get on tremendously with every single individual, but it would certainly be a good chance to test the waters before jumping into the big pond. 

  To give credit where credit is due, Hull University Campus does have some great facilities: but it is also lacking in many areas and will have to be quickly adapted if there's any hope of it being suitable for teaching all of the courses offered under the umbrella of YCC. Everyone will be scrabbling for the prime teaching spaces, the biggest helping of the funding pie, and the best opportunities for their students, and honestly, we really cannot blame them. They have just as much stress on their plate if not more - and in the midst of that, axing employees over Christmas time? I'm pretty sure most of the figurative plates are near breaking. Plans need to be made for facilities for us to use - unfortunately the fantastic recording studios that belonged to Hull Campus have been sold separately to the main building - otherwise we will be seriously lacking in space to record and rehearse. The Hull Campus does have some brilliant stages for performances but we will be sorely missing our theatre in the round, and places to practice, dressing rooms, etc. The main site will also need to adapt facilities to suit the courses they offer, particularly the catering spaces; and whilst all this is going on, the Campus will still be teaching university students for their final - and possibly most important - year of the course, so time is a big issue. How can we realistically expect the transfer of a college - tutoring 20 courses at various academic levels, all requiring specialist equipment - to take place over the small space between June and September (when courses will be finished and work can take place without disrupting students), with most work having to be done by tutors who will likely want their holidays and annual leave, who have been working overtime already to accommodate for staff cuts? 
  It's going to be a tricky move, but nonetheless a necessary one and I think it is best we open it up for discussion. I think all the staff at the college currently deserve a big, huge, ginormous thank you for all the hard work they've been putting in (and continue to) trying to keep the Westwood boat afloat this past week. And to those who have left us, this is a sorrowful farewell; we wish you all the best in the future and hope to see you again soon.
  If anyone has any answers to any of my questions, or wishes to contest what I've said, or has any comments; I implore them to respond however they feel comfortable doing so - be it on this post, Facebook, email.. there's all the details you need in the 'Contact Us' section of this blog.

- Jessie Law

Sources:
http://sghsoldgirls.org.uk/School%20history/Municipal%20School.html
http://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/scarborough-boys-high-school-joined-the-elite-1-5619901
http://careers.alanayckbourn.net/styled-6/styled-9/index.html
http://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/education/new-name-and-new-site-for-ycc-1-8214157

Undercover In: Mecca Bingo

On a dreary autumnal Sunday afternoon, with nothing to do, a group of students decided to delve into the mysterious and scary world of Mecca Bingo. (dun dun duuuuun!)

Now I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but I believe I know what you’re thinking - and yes, this was a rather bizarre and spur-of-the-moment decision. But as locals in Scarborough, it is possibly even more bizarre that we overlook this area of our community: yes; I will admit I was once one of ‘those’ who considered bingo-goers to be a collection of anoraks and old-fogeys who wholly disapprove of our presence; however the reality is quite on the contrary - we essentially need discard our heavily stereotyped and skewed perception, just as they perhaps do when looking at ‘the youths,’ gaggles of students swarming through the town of a night searching for the cheapest place to get a pint.

The building back when it opened
 in 1929;and again (left) in 1968
 (© Ian Grundy 2013)

But before we get to all that, let’s have a look at the building itself and its rich history; which as artsy folk I think you may find interesting...  

Originally the Capitol Cine-Variety Theatre, it opened its doors to the public for the first time on the 11th of March 1929 showing the 1927 silent film ‘The Garden of Allah.’ As it opened just before the introduction of sound into early film; the theatre was equipped with a Fitton & Haley Organ and a large orchestra pit. The theatre also had a large stage with a flytower (in layman’s terms; one of those huge pulley systems for moving scenery, etc.) and dressing rooms. It also had a second entrance (which is still present today) on Westborough; mainly used for access to the backstage.

Despite all this, the building was sadly not used much for live performances; and mainly used for feature films. The stalls foyer was small, leading onto a cafe lit by the three central windows, and then moved through to the auditorium; lavishly decorated in a classical style with circle seating. There was also a large balcony in a similar style; and the ceiling had a series of arches decorated with elaborate plasterwork cornicing at this level leading to the main arch over the stage, which had a greek-style frieze (and emblem or image in plasterwork) depicting the letter C (for Capitol Cinema) at its apex. The frieze was also featured at the entrances along with some Greek-masks and violins (to depict music).

Views from the Balcony today

The exterior facade of the building featured white faience tiling (a kind of tin or lead-glazed pottery); which was very fashionable at the time. A lot of this still remains today; aside from the original Capitol sign at the main entrance.

In the 1970s the theatre was taken over by a company called Classic Cinemas; and while it was still used to show films; bingo was played most days in the stalls area. In 1977 Mecca Bingo took over the building; taking away the original cinema seats in favour of benches with tables. The organ was also removed shortly before the building became Grade II listed in 1996; although some parts of it remain in storage.

… Enough of that very sad (in my opinion) tale; and on onto our beautiful bingo experience!

Feeling very official! - Amen for Freebies!

Upon entrance I was welcomed and signed up for membership quickly by a very nice gentleman. I received my main game for a ⅓ of the price (£5 instead of £15 - there are 3 main games each day; and you play 15 rounds of bingo: for each round you can win either £10, £20 or £100, and winning one cash prize each round doesn’t exclude you from winning the next two! Some rounds you can win £500 instead of £100; but I’ll confess I haven’t quite figured that out yet, I believe it is the last two rounds where the prizes increase); also the national game (which is played at Mecca Bingo halls all over the country and has an even larger prize sum); £2 to play the table games (a smaller bingo grid is on each table, where you insert a £1 to play); £5 for the fruit machines and a free soft drink and dobber for the bingo tickets. Essentially; I hadn’t even walked through the door and pretty much everything was free - they even gave me a scratch card on which I won a ½ price main game voucher (which I gave to a friend who had to pay full price) and another of my friends won a Mecca Bingo mug!

Once I had registered I went through to the area where you pay for your tickets; paid for my game (for just £5) and the lady kindly gave me the option to use an iPad to play which basically does the whole thing for you (amen for technology as I didn’t have a clue!). We then walked through to the main hall (aka. The old cinema auditorium - sad face) and grabbed drinks (which may or may *not* have contained alcohol…) and ordered some macaroni cheese - yes, they sell food! Burgers, nachos, you name it.. And desserts! Before sitting down to play some bingo! The food came very quickly (possibly too quickly because we were just getting the hang of the game… although I was really just sitting for watching to see if I won); and we spent the next half hour trying to stuff our faces (quietly - it was deadly silent aside from the man reading out the numbers… and apparently it’s against the rules to say things like ‘two little ducks, 22,’ and ‘two fat ladies, 88,’ anymore - it’s offensive, what a disappointment!) when half way through a mouthful of cheesy macaroni goodness I won! I shouted out a garbled cry of ‘Bingo!,’ much to the distaste of the bingo veterans surrounding me (or so I assume by the looks on their faces - or maybe that was because I spoke with my mouth full?), and alas I won my first £10. But a minute later, I won again! This time the £20, all in the same round (and at this point everybody was displeased). Then the first half of the main game was over; and I stopped to get a celebratory drink.

Whilst freshening up in the little girls’ room, I stopped to chat to a couple older ladies (who didn’t want their picture taken as they ‘weren’t ready,’) about how they felt towards younger people coming to the Bingo Halls. They admitted sometimes they find younger people ‘a little scary and often foul-mouthed,’ but were happy to see new faces as ‘it’s great fun - we started coming years ago with a little group of ladies from our area just like our mothers before us, and have been coming along once a week ever since! We’re not fussy about winning, it’s more the sense of community, although when one of us wins they have to get us all a sherry!’ They seemed really happy once we got chatting and opened up quite a bit, having a giggle, until the announcement came for the second half and everyone rushed back to their tables, dobbers in hand and ready to (hopefully) win some cash.

The second half passed quickly and uneventfully as we didn’t win anything; and then we had another pause before the National Game, so I took the opportunity to use my free £2 for the slots - which we didn’t win either - and then moved onto the national game, which was won by a gentlemen from Huddersfield (well done to him).

The lovely Keith :-)

We packed up, and while we sat we spoke to a regular called Keith (who did not want us to tell you his age!). He’s a friendly and eccentric gentlemen, with an infectious laugh; a white ponytail that stretches all the way down his back, a Confederate hat he can’t remember buying, and is a massive Black Sabbath fan - even has ‘Ozzy’ tattooed on his knuckles! And used to front a tribute band in Leeds. His first job when he was younger was in the in a bookmakers writing the odds on the chalk boards in the shops; and he had a tendency to gamble ever since, often using scratch cards and the like. However, he doesn’t like to win as he says he’ll only spend it on booze! On his first bingo experience, he said (in his thick West Yorkshire accent) “I was in my 30s when my girlfriend kicked me out of the house so I was sleeping rough in Leeds Train station. I was cold so I decided to go in! [laughs] I’ve been going to bingo ever since. I go at lunchtime and then again at 7 o’clock for the main games and get a pint in between!” On his life outside bingo and booze, he said, “I have a daughter who lives in New Zealand at the moment and I am hoping to save up to go live there. [smiles] And maybe I’ll get some dinner in the casino!” before proceeding to roll a cigarette and go out for a pint in the pub across the road before the final main game at 11.

Before I went to collect my winnings, I decided to go use my free voucher for the slot machines, where I won another £6 (beginners luck), and then went to the counter to hand everything in and thank everyone. As I left another gentleman congratulated me for my win and said it was nice to see some fresh faces.

Whilst I’m not pro-gambling, and am a firm believer my winnings were indeed beginner’s luck, I still thoroughly enjoyed my experience, seeing the building and trying something new. It really opened my eyes that the bingo hall wasn’t a daunting place full of disapproving older people who would viciously attack if you happened to sit in their seat. For the most part everyone was friendly, it was a fun night out, and rather affordable (particularly considering I barely paid for anything). But next time I walk past I’ll be sure not to avert my eyes or turn my nose up, and just smile and say hello. And who knows? Maybe one day I will visit again; or try and nag them to see if I can have a look at that 90-year old organ they (allegedly) have in storage. :-)

- Article by Jessie Law

Sources: http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/

http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/