Audrey Raistrick
Retired lecturer and seasoned campaigner,
Audrey Raistrick, studied speech and drama in
the 1950s and taught in the 1960s, at Bradford
Technical College.
Audrey’s schooldays were cut short when she
was evacuated, aged 13, at the outbreak of
war in 1939. On returning home she worked in
a shoe shop and at the New Vic Theatre, but
classes at Bradford Technical College set the
stage for a rewarding career.
“My wonderful parents taught me a lot but I
realised that if I wanted to proceed I would
have to learn to articulate. I came to Bradford
Technical College in the 1950s to study speech
and drama, achieving the LAMDA Gold medal.
My teacher, Fred Slack, encouraged me to join
the Bradford Civic Playhouse and I appeared
in productions there for 10 years, as well taking
part in College productions. Many of those
I played with have since become household
names, including George Layton, Duncan
Preston, Gordon Kaye and Billie Whitelaw.”
Audrey showed such promise that when Fred
had to attend a course he asked her to cover
some of his classes. Her success prompted an
invitation from the Principal to teach throughout
the college campus. She gained her Technical
Teaching Certificate and taught English,
Communications and General Studies to day
release students.
Audrey’s flair for enticing
the best from students was demonstrated in
a delightful book of poetry written by a group
of mechanics in one of her classes. The poems
were recently rediscovered and performed at our
Founders’ Day Concert in June 2008.
Audrey then spent 25 years teaching at
Wakefield District College. She also taught the
police at Bishopgarth and prisoners in HMP
Wakefield and thoroughly enjoyed working with
all her students.
Audrey has always been politically active and
in recent years she has become a pensioners’
champion, appearing in TV debates with
Jack Straw and David Blunkett She and her
husband, Peter, raised funds to set up local
charity, Neighbourly Care Bradford, where she is
secretary and trustee.
“If opportunities come you have to seize them.
Bradford College provided the stimulus for life.
It is about attitude and outlook. I have never
wasted a moment in my entire life.”
Photograph by Shelagh Ward