MARGARET, MP, HANDS OUT THE HONOURS

The Hendon College of Technology degree ceremony last Friday was a very special occasion. For Mrs. Margaret Thatcher. Shadow Minister for Education and MP for North Finchley, was the guest of honour.

The degree winners were “chuffed” when Mrs. Thatcher told them how impressed she was with the wide range of courses that were offered at the college and, indeed, the courses that would be offered in the future.

She praised the system of joining colleges to become polytechnics. And she hoped they would become “centres of excellence in their own right.”

Mrs. Thatcher talked about what she believed were the aims of education. First, it was “to bring out a young person's talents” Secondly, “to provide sufficient reserves of skill for the economic growth of the nation,” and then, “to develop a capacity for informed and balanced judgment.”

Finally, “to advance the frontiers of knowledge and to lead responsible lives in society.”

But the man who would have been most gratified by Mrs. Thatcher's appraisal was, unfortunately, away ill—the principal of the college, Mr. E. Williams. His report was given by the acting principal, Mr. R. H. C. Brousson, who spoke about the development of the college as a community and, in particular, the Students' Union.

He said: “Our students' union executive and the student body who support them have, over the past few years, set a standard of responsible behaviour which, I feel, has been an example which others could do well to follow.

“Students are represented on our governing body, the academic board, departmental boards of studies and a number of college committees.

“The relations between the executive of the students' union and the staff association are excellent, he added.

Among the other guests were the mayor and mayoress, Councillor and Mrs. Victor Usher, the town clerk and Mrs. Williams, Alderman Freedman and Mrs. Freedman, a number of councillors, members of the governing body, staff governors and student governors, the chief education officer, Mr. Dawkins, and guest principals from other colleges.