1940s

(Oswald) John Oliver (BEng Hons 1949) joined Liverpool directly from grammar school and enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering in September 1946 with 102 others, which included three women. His best friends had been fellow students. It was the first 3-year post-war course, many students had seen war service or been in essential industry. The first year covered all branches of engineering, before separating to a chosen specialism for the remaining years. John read civil engineering with an emphasis on practical applications, an ideal preparation for his career in local authority highways, where he finally became an Assistant Chief Officer. John says that he would probably not recognise the work present-day students are doing...