ABOUT US
About Rycotewood Association
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The association is keen to keep in contact from students and staff who were part of Rycotewood. Either as an Engineer or as a Furniture Maker. A reunion dinner is held each year following the AGM.
Misson Statement
The Rycotewood Association exists to support and encourage contact between ex-students of both Rycotewood College and the Rycotewood Furniture Centre / engineering faculty of Activate Learning.
It fosters an exchange of information between ex-students and students & staff of Activate Learning.
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Members promote the benefits of the college to potential students, whilst the students and staff see membership of the association as a source of guidance and the provision of access to a database of contacts and experience.
Ex-students and guests at 'The Lunchtime Reunion' (20th February 2010)
Max Michaelis
Cecil's (our Founders) son. Expert engineer of magnet's.
President
Simon Stranks
Engineer - Rycotewood. Works at Cranfield University.
Chairman
Chris Hyde
Furniture Maker -Rycotewood 1986. “A cabinetmaker and antique restorer whose interest in the furniture industry came from his upbringing in a family retail furnishing company G.B.Hyde and Son, that traded for 127 years. Chris Hyde has a passion to share his broad skills and knowledge along with a belief that crafts, community and education firmly go hand in hand.
Vice-Chairman
Tim Fryer
My first one year course at Rycotewood started in September 1951 training to be an Agricultural Engineer. From there I went to work for W J Coopers at Newport Pagnell and returned to Rycotewood for eight week courses each year. I took my final City and Guilds 261 exam in 1956. The next two years were spent doing National Service in the REME as an armoured vehicle fitter in Germany. From 1958 to 64 I worked in my local garage where I was often involved in recovery work from the newly opened M1. In 1964 I started work at the Institute of Agricultural Engineering until 1987 when I took Voluntary Premature Retirement.
Treasurer