Former students share memories of college campus

Susie Rack
BBC News, West Midlands
City of Wolverhampton College Ten people pose around an old computer, looking up and smiling at a camera held above. They are in a room with an exhibition of old black and white photos on the wall and tables on the right set for lunch. There are five men and five women.City of Wolverhampton College
Former staff and students at Wolverhampton's Paget Road campus met to share stories before the site closes

Former staff and students have met to share 60 years of memories and say farewell to a college campus that will shut later this year.

City of Wolverhampton College's Paget Road site is closing as students move to a newly developed campus in the heart of the city in the autumn.

A heritage group was set up to share photographs and memorabilia gathered by people who have worked and studied on Paget Road since it opened in 1962.

College principal and chief executive Louise Fall said it was important to recognise "the significant contribution [the campus] has made to the education of thousands of students, apprentices and staff".

About a dozen members met for lunch on Friday to watch video interviews and see an exhibition of items collected.

"We were delighted to welcome back some of our former staff and students to thank them for their contributions to the heritage project and to hear their memories of college life, the friends they made and the impact it had on their lives," Ms Fall said.

The meeting was part of a Further Education Big Lunch initiative, which celebrates the contributions of local community and voluntary organisations.

The new City Learning Quarter campus is on the corner of Garrick Street and Bilston Street where Faces nightclub once stood.

It will open to students in the autumn, offering A Levels and vocational qualifications.

Director of finance at the college Paul Davies predicted the city centre site would increase footfall to neighbouring businesses.

The new campus is part of a £61m City of Wolverhampton Council government-supported masterplan that also incorporates improvements to adult education and the Central Library.

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