Publication looks back at the history of York College

7:57pm Friday 2nd May 2008

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THE history of York College and the important role it has played in the city for nearly two centuries is at the heart of a new book.

Local historian Marjorie Harrison got together with three colleagues, including former principal Mike Galloway, to help put a book together to catalogue and celebrate the college's rich history.

Marjorie, who used to work at the college as a learning resources assistant before she retired, said the project had been a real joy to research and had been timed to coincide with the opening of the college's new building in Sim Balk Lane.

She said: "What I have tried to do is link the history of the college with what was going on in the city at the time, so that it isn't just the history of an academic institution.

"I think the book will appeal to anyone who lives or has lived in the city, especially who went to the school of commerce."

The college appealed to former teachers and pupils for their contributions to the book, which charts the history of the institution from its inception in 1827.

The book, which is called Angles Of The Learning Curve, starts with the opening of the Mechanics Institute, originally in Bedern, in 1827, and the founding of the School Of Art And Design, in Little Blake Street, in 1842, and works all the way through to the present day and the opening of the college's new £60 million site last September.

It covers the involvement of William Hargrove, the proprietor of The York Herald - one of The Press's predecessors, who used his paper to campaign for better education in the city, which led to the opening of the original institute in 1827.

The other authors who put the book together with Marjorie were Avril Cheetham and Kay Green.

The book will have an official launch at York College, on June 26, at 6pm, when the authors will be present for book signings.

Anyone wanting to pre-order Angles Of The Learning Curve should send a cheque for £14.99 made payable to York College, which can then be collected at the book launch event or, phone the customer services unit on 01904 770400 to pay by credit card.

Those unable to attend the book launch should send a cheque for £16.99 (including the cost to cover post and packing) to: Angles Of The Learning Curve, Customer Services Unit, York College, Sim Balk Lane, York YO23 2BB.