Rt Hon Michael Jack MP
Member of Parliament for Fylde in Lancashire, the Rt Hon Michael Jack, attended Bradford Technical College for 2 years, where he passed his A Levels and was elected President of the Students’ Union. He recalls his College years with affection and has particularly vivid memories of events of November 1963.
“I had not exactly excelled academically at Bradford Grammar School. The 2 years I spent at the College were
both happy and memorable. I received enough A Levels to enable me to go to Leicester University and at the
same time, through the good offices of the language laboratory, was able to learn enough conversational French
that still survives to this day.
During my time at College I became involved in the Students’
Union and my first venture into student political activity
was running the Film & Photographic Society. I used to
hire films to be shown in one of the lecture theatres in the
textile block on a Friday evening. I would tramp around the
different departments putting up my notices and probably
around 10 brave souls used to come along and watch the
films.
I think the most poignant of all of them was On the
Beach. You may recall that this depicted what happened
when a nuclear holocaust affected the world and the last few
people remained in Australia. This outing got me well known
in College and so it wasn’t too difficult for me to ultimately
progress to be the President of the Students’ Union. That was
certainly an important appointment as it took me forward to
become involved in NUS politics.
I thoroughly benefited from the learning atmosphere that
lectures presented as opposed to the more rigid structure
of my old school. I was also able to tackle in economics and
economic history, subjects I really enjoyed. It also taught
me something else. People develop at different speeds as
far as their education is concerned and organisations like
the Technical College were able to cater for people like me
whereas the more rigid environment at school had not at that
time been of great help.
Since that time I have worked for Proctor & Gamble, Marks &
Spencer and part of Northern Foods. I became a Conservative
MP in 1987 for the constituency of Fylde in Lancashire and
after I had been a Member for around 3 years I became part
of John Major’s Government, holding 4 government posts,
finishing up in the Treasury as Financial Secretary before
the 1997 election. Opposition has seen me develop a keen
interest in environmental, food and rural affairs matters and
now I chair the Select Committee that deals with these issues
in the House.
Perhaps one thing that I will remember above all others was
where I was when President Kennedy was shot. We had been
having a debate in the main hall of the College and the news
filtered through to stunned silence in the audience. We had
in fact been debating aspects about WWII. It is certainly an
event which remains indelibly in my mind and the College will
always be a part of it.
It is perhaps also worth recording that the College used to
be a promoter of some excellent dance events in the old
swimming pool nearby to the main college buildings (Windsor
Baths). On one of those occasions when the pop band The
Swinging Blue Jeans finished performing I remember leaving
the hall and walking down towards the Gaumont Cinema
in the company of none other than Brian Epstein. We got
chatting and I said perhaps he would like to know I was going
to see another one of his bands the following night. He asked
which one it was and I told him it was the Beatles. I am afraid
in those days I wasn’t to well up in pop music but again
the college and a memorable concert the next night in the
Gaumont will be something I will never forget.”
Photograph supplied by Rt Hon Michael Jack MP