B&FC staff gather to celebrate College’s 125-year history

Blackpool and The Fylde College staff have gathered together to celebrate 125 years providing education on the Fylde Coast.

During the event, an historic timeline was unveiled in the mezzanine at B&FC’s Bispham Campus by Principal Bev Robinson and the College’s longest serving staff member, David Ogden.

B&FC is one of the Fylde Coast’s biggest employers with more than 1,000 staff and a photograph taken during the event will feature in a new history book commissioned by the College.

The book will be launched later in the year during one of a number of 125 celebration events planned.

Engineering lecturer David, who is this year himself celebrating a 60-year involvement with the College as a student and staff member, said: “I am delighted to be part of the 125 celebrations.

“I started here as a student in 1957, doing an HNC in Engineering. When I completed the course, the Head of Engineering suggested I apply for a teaching vacancy, which I did. 

“I got the job and started work here in 1963 as a lecturer in Electrical Installation then, when the College started working with Lancaster University, I began teaching Advanced Engineering. I haven’t missed a September start either as a student or member of staff since 1957.

“I now work part-time in Construction, Engineering and at Fleetwood Nautical Campus and have also had the opportunity to work overseas for the College, in places such as Brunei, Egypt, Ethiopia and Thailand.

“My most memorable moment at the College was moving into the Bispham Campus when it was built, the facilities and equipment were wonderful – something which recently continued with the opening of the new Advanced Technology Centre.”

Tracing its roots back to the opening of a small School for Fisherman in Fleetwood in 1892, B&FC has gone on to become England’s most successful large general further education college.

The College also offers more than 60 degrees and was last year awarded Foundation Degree Awarding Powers. It specialises in sectors including aerospace, engineering, energy, maritime, digital, health, project management and tourism. 

At last review, Blackpool and The Fylde College’s higher education provision received more commendations than any other institution in the UK from the Quality Assurance Agency and the College won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education 2015 for its work with BAE Systems.

Alyce Wynne, Students’ Union HE President at the College, added: “The 125th anniversary is a great opportunity for students to join with staff to celebrate all that is good about our College.

“I believe students have a real pride in where they study and the Students’ Union tries to help build that feeling of a college community.

“I’m sure all the students will be keen to get involved in the 125th anniversary to help celebrate our history, while also looking forward to the future.”

More than 1,800 businesses – including Ford, BAE Systems, Jaguar Land Rover and the NHS – choose B&FC to deliver education and training programmes and are an important part of the College’s ongoing story.