| Description | Audio cassette sound recording of an interview with Dr. Colin V. Newman, FBPsS, BPS Honorary Life Member , (HonMBPsS), CPsychol. former Executive Secretary of the British Psychological Society (1980-2000) for the British Psychological Society's Oral History project.
The interview was conducted by Dr George Delafield in 2008.
The following summary is by way of introduction to the full recording held at the British Psychological Society's History of Psychology Centre, London.
Performers:
Dr Colin V.Newman (CN)
Dr George Delafield (GD)
Topics covered:
Running order:
Pre-amble before the interview starts with CN discussing his work with Bosworth Health Authority, his interview with Jon Sheppard for The Psychologist [published March 2000], CN's life after retirement, GD talks of the aims of the project and CN speaks of his yachting achievements
The main interview begins:
GD asks CN why he chose psychology
CN speaks of his early childhood in Kenya, his family, his father's missionary work, his birth during the Second world War, his education and time at public school in Kenya, his school subjects, his national service in Kenya, how he left Kenya to attend University in Leicester UK, his original choice of zoology before choosing psychology, his tutors at Leicester (including Professor Lee and Dr Sluckin), how he studied animal behaviourism, his friendship with fellow student Bob Hockey, his father's death in his final year, how he met his wife his PhD thesis (Professor O Zangwill as external examiner), standing in for Jim Reason as lecturer at Leicester, his marriage (1968), his interview and subsequent appointment as Lecturer at Birmingham University (1969).
GD asks CN if he can remember any books or name any psychologists that had an influence on him as an undergraduate
CN talks of Professor Lee and Dr Sluckin at Leicester and seminars, his colleagues at Leicester; Bob Hockey, Chris Johnson, Hilary Munce?, his assistant lectureship and new psychology department at Leicester
GD asks CN to speak of any books which had influenced him [at University]
CN mentions that there were not many books available in the 1960s before speaking of the main text books he read at University and Richard Gregory's on perception
Cn speaks of his strengths in administration rather than research leading to his interest in departmental administration, his future BPS appointment, and the advice he received from Pat Rabbitt concerning his administration strengths
GD asks CN to speak about his time at Birmingham University
CN talks of Peter Broadhurst (Head of Department), Phil Levy Senior lecturer, Dr Sandy Kray, statistics, Dr Sandy Kray?, Bob Carroll, Ray Cochrane, Roz Bradbury, Glyn Thomas, his staff relationships, work ethics and Professor Broadhurst's retirement
GD asks CN if he had any links with groups or people
CN talks of attending BPS Conferences, the EPS, his hobbies, living in Birmingham, and Sandwell and his wife's work
CN speaks of his career change and his research in advertising, Sandy MacRae's influence on his application for the BPS post, Phil Levy as BPS President, his BPS job interview, his service on department committees, his in interest in mountaineering and sailing and how he was offered the BPS post
CN speaks of his early day working at the BPS, David Legge and Derek Blackman
Side A ends
c 48 mins
Side B starts
GD asks CN to speak about his time at the BPS
CN talks of the early seventies [1970s] at the BPS, Frank Partridge's retirement, BPS office in London, the role of the BPS Hon.Gen.Sec at the time, the appointment of Ralph Hetherington as Secretary General, the financial typhoon at the BPS, the appointment of Alan Sakne as BPS Business Manager, the setting up of BPS Comms, selling advertising space, how the BPS was put on a commercial footing, the role of the SAB and PAB,, the Finance and General Purposes Committee, May Davidson, Leslie Reid, his secretary Hazel Delapino? and Marion Newton?
CN continued to talk of his days at the BPS including statutory regulation, setting up a Steering Committee on Registration with Professor K Connolly as Chair, Fraser Watts as Secretary and CN, the BPS Admissions Committee, chartered psychologists, occupational psychologists, Connolly's retirement and David Legge's appointment as Chair of the Steering Committee on Registration, CN's work on the Steering Committee, psychologist definitions and terms, chartered psychologists, adjectival titles, meetings with government, and CN's suggestion that BPS should self-regulate
CN continued to talk about statutory regulation and spoke of BPS as a regulatory body, his meeting with Dr Ferguson RPS, BPS Charter change (1980s), a chartered psychologist proposal, the use of chartered title, setting up a register, non-psychologists on regulatory body, 'holding out' clause, and CN's enjoyment of the registration issue
CN talks of the growth in BPS staff, Alan Sakne, Jenny Parker, and the early adoption of computer technology within the BPS office
CN continued to speak of the growth in BPS' office , Stephen White, Russell Hobbs, the appointment of solicitors on BPS staff, CN's changing role in the BPS, Chris Cullen, Geoff Lyndsay, Ingrid Lunt, evaluation systems, his working relationship with Alan Sakne, and working from home.
CN speaks of BPS Trustee role changes, the large size of BPS Rep Council and the suggestion of a smaller body to become BPS Trustees, the re-organisation of FGPC to become BPS Board of Directors, the decision to appoint a BPS Chief Executive, Alan Sakne's retirement, the appointment of David Legge as BPS Development Officer, CN's initial appointment as BPS Chief Executive, Russell Hobbs, Stephen White, BPS Trustee changes, CN's retirement in 2000, issues with parliamentary bill for BPS self-regulation , the Health Registration Council, CN's pride in receiving the award of BPS Honorary Life Membership,, Russell Bicks?, the creation and award of BPS Honorary Life Membership awards to non-members, such as Mr Richards from the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Side B ends
c 48 mins
[tape I finishes]
Side C [tape II] begins
GD asks CN to speak of the good things (for him) during his career
CN mentions his teaching, administration, working with a wide variety of psychologists, how he formed quick relationships within the BPS, his steering of the BPS when the main growth in psychology took place, the BPS, chartered membership and the professionalisation of the BPS
CN adds some comments about his sailing achievements in retirement before the interview ends
c 6 mins
Total Running Time c 102 mins
For more details on Colin Newman see: 'The Psychologist', March 2000 Vol.13, No.3 pp 136-137.
Summary by Mike Maskill, BPS Archivist. |
| RunTime | On two cassettes, running time c 102 minutes. 3-sides (A.B and C), side C starts 17 minutes in |