The Seale-Haynians | Seale-Hayne College

Welcome to the Seale-Hayne web site
	We hope that you will find this site useful and interesting. For those new to the Seale-Haynians, Seale-Hayne is an Agricultural College of old, and more latterly became a faculty of the University of Plymouth. The University have subsequently closed Seale-Hayne and much of the history and discussion surrounding the closure can be found elsewhere on this site. The Seale-Hayne alumni club is administered by a volunteer committee comprising several dedicated former students and members of staff from both the College and the Students Union. In addition we currently have an honorary President’s post that was previously the Dean of the Faculty, but as the faculty has ceased to be we are pleased that Fred Harper (the last Principal and first Dean) has taken up the post for another term. To this end we endeavour to meet every couple of months and as a result of several specific members hard work, we can now boast the fact that we are internationally renowned (via the web site) and of course the annual magazine. Membership of the Seale-Haynians is based on a ten year standing order subscription for the magazine. If you left Seale-Hayne before 1989 please Click Here for information relating to your life membership. To download the membership form Click Here

Hannahs at Seale-Hayne
	Sadly, we were notified late in December 2018 that Hannahs have decided with regret that they need to relinquish their ownership of Seale-Hayne. We were aware that since purchase in 2009, Hannahs has been struggling financially to realise their dreams at our college, and even after a fairly drastic revamp of their corporate structure over the last 18-months, they unfortunately find that they simply cannot make Seale-Hayne an economically viable arm of their business. Bronwen Hewitt had a dream of it being a place where Hannahs ‘guests’ and the general public would mix and mingle in a stunning, caring and relaxed environment to the greater benefit of both groups. They managed to attract many tenants in the form of aligned businesses and also provide a home for several inspiring craft and artisan studios and artists, and the concept worked to some degree. But the cost of just running and maintaining Seale-Hayne was simply too great, and that was before the huge challenge of improving some of its archaic systems such as the heating, plumbing and electrics. Hannahs, quite rightly, have decided to relieve themselves of the financial strain and worry of keeping Seale-Hayne going, to enable them to concentrate on their core business of care at their Ivybridge base. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Hannahs for the generosity shown to our club over the last 8-years and for allowing us a continued presence at Seale-Hayne as well as actively and enthusiastically supporting our activities! We are sure that all Seale-Haynians will be sorry to see Hannahs leave our college and would like to wish them every success in the future. It has been a hugely enjoyable partnership and we are sorry to see Hannahs leave. We will of course, keep in touch with Hannahs and would encourage all Seale-Haynians to do the same. It is an inspiring charity doing remarkable work, but like all charities it is in constant need of donations. Please visit the Hannahs website and consider helping financially, as so much more is possible when funds are available! Your committee, combined with the Seale-Hayne Future Group, will obviously keep an eye on developments and we keep our fingers crossed that the right people / business takes Seale-Hayne on eventually. Our main concern is the collection of artefacts and archive material that we have accumulated (thanks to the generosity of Hannahs) in the ‘Old Library’. We have formulated a plan in the event that we are asked to vacate the room, although we don’t expect anything to happen quickly. All Hannahs’ tenants have been assured that their tenancies will be honoured at least until renewal and likewise, we are informed that the Old Library is available to us until further notice.

Seale-Hayne Neurasthenic Hospital – First World War
	At the beginning of the last century Seale-Hayne was the only purpose built agricultural college in the UK. It was ready to open in 1914 but the start of the First World War caused the opening to be postponed. The building was offered by the Governors to the War Office to help in the ‘National War Effort’ and at first it became a centre for training ‘Land Girls’. Then from April 1918 until July 1919, Seale-Hayne was chosen for its idyllic setting to become a specialist hospital to treat soldiers returning from the horrors of the war who were suffering from what was then called “Shell Shock”. Some novel and pioneering treatment was administered by Sir Arthur Hurst, some of which is recorded in an extraordinary Pathé Bros film which features Netley Hospital and Seale-Hayne and which can be found on ‘YouTube’.With the Centenary of the War fast approaching and as part of the commemoration events being plannned by the present owners of the college, the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust, the Seale-Haynians (alumni) club are researching Sir Arthur Hurst’s extraordinary and pioneering treatment of soldiers at the college. Within this work we are concentrating on the lives of those who suffered from Shell-Shock and the subsequent affect this had on those men and their families. This will eventually form part of the archive at Seale-Hayne and we hope will achieve some national media coverage for the events at Hannahs.The Seale-Haynians and Hannahs are keen to hear from any descendants or any contacts of any WW1 servicemen, patients or medical staff who may have been at Seale-Hayne Neurasthenic Military Hospital during this period.If you think that you may have a story related to the Seale-Hayne hospital or if you know of someone who might, then please get in touch here or write to Ray Bartlett, Hannahs at Seale-Hayne, Newton Abbot, Devon. TQ12 6NQ.

SHF response to the Teignbridge District Council 20-year Core Strategy plan
	The Seale-Hayne Future Group spent nearly eight years from 2002 arguing that the Grade II listed former Agricultural College buildings, along with 450 acres of its productive farmland should remain in use for education and food production. In November 2011, TDC released its 20-year Core Strategy Plan covering the region’s development strategy until the year 2033. And it seems that without any consultation or notification to the present owners, or to the farmer who now owns the land, the bulk of Seale-Hayne’s estate was earmarked for development within the Houghton Barton ‘vision’ of the Council’s Strategic Plan. TDC’s ‘vision’ for this particular part of Teignbridge is for ‘concentrated growth’, with some 2500 new houses to be built, most of them on the green fields that are currently producing food. A huge primary school, new shops and a leisure centre are also proposed and of course, a new road to make it all possible. This plan is in its ‘consultation’ phase right now. Letters of objection really do count in these considerations. We urge everyone to get in touch with Teignbridge District Council before March 2nd and make their views known, before the plan is finalised later in March. Click Here to see the full text of the letter to TDC.

News from Ray Bartlett, Chairman, December 2015
	Your committee and co-opted members are pursuing the task of gathering alumni names and details to register on the S-H’ians database. Many we come across are former “lost souls” as we call them, i.e. members who forgot to inform us of their new address when moving house. Many others, mostly those attending Seale-Hayne post the 1989 merger with Plymouth University, say they were unaware there was an alumni club. Some contact us via the S-H website www.seale-hayne.com. A steady flow of alumni visit Hannahs at Seale-Hayne and leave their name and contact details on Hannahs visitors books; this is our main source. Almost without exception the ‘remarks’ written express words to the effect “so lovely to be back; some of the happiest years of my life spent here; so gratifying to see S-H put to such good use; would like to be kept in touch” Hannahs data records officer is very helpful to us by listing all the S-H’ian names from visitors books and presenting them Tom Jenkins ’56 –’59 a committee member. Tom is undertaking the task of gathering all the names for Ian Goodwin (Igg) our Membership Secretary. As a consequence of this work, our registered membership is actually increasing. Many of you reading this may not be recorded on our database register and may know of others who are not. Accordingly, I urge you please to contact us via this website. It costs nothing to join –membership of the club is free. The only fee is for the annual The Seale-Haynian magazine, for the princely sum of £6:00 a year. As I mentioned, many visiting S-H’ians express their delight (and relief) that our beloved Alma mater is being used for such a worthy purpose, which brings me to our host Dame Hannah Rogers Trust. (DHRT). I must make clear that there is no formal connection between DHRT and The Seale-Haynians Club; we are distinct organisations. From the beginning however, Hannahs welcomed us as ‘part of their family’ and embraced the heritage of Seale-Hayne. This attitude persists and your committee regards it very much in our interests for Hannahs to flourish at Seale-Hayne. A part of S-H early history was the Military hospital for ‘shell-shocked’ servicemen in WW1. Hannahs decided to commemorate this by creating a ‘visually augmented’ trail around the main building, which they entitle “Safe Haven”. A headphone commentary will tell the story, directing the listener around the trail. With an I-pad one can see images of the hospital almost 100 years ago. Digital and visual artists were employed and the project cost £50K to produce. Grants were obtained from the Heritage Lottery fund and The Arts Council; the grant from the latter was applied for by The Seale-Haynians. The “Safe Haven” project is an example of the way Hannahs can generate income from harnessing the heritage of Seale-Hayne. Listening to and viewing the Safe Haven trail is free and takes about 30 minutes to walk. We are trying to trace the descendent relatives of the patients at S-H Military Hospital in an attempt to discover what happened to those men. This is a painstaking plodding task. We need some volunteers who are adept at searching on ancestry/military archives websites for this information. Any volunteers please? The most financially rewarding way we can help Hannahs is from the Reunions held at S-H. In February this year, James Youd (73 -76) organised a reunion of his cohorts. One hundred Seale-Haynians and spouses attended and it was a great success. In addition to the income, Hannahs staff love our reunions because, so they say, we are such good fun. They enjoy laughs at the anecdotes and storied we tell of our student days. Following James Youd’s reunion I was ‘commanded’ to attend to the presence of the head of Hannahs ‘Bookings’ department, whereupon I was further commanded to actively promote Seale-Haynians reunions. James very kindly offered, with his reunion organising experience, to be an adviser for other Seale-Haynians reunions. Accordingly, he is helping Andrew Gabriel (1980 -?) organising a reunion in April next year. A smaller Reunion was organised in July this year by Suzie Paton (nee Evans). A 50 year anniversary reunion is being organised for 2017. Accommodation at Seale-Hayne is very good now, with rooms in Parkinson Hall and East Block converted to en-suite accommodation. In addition there are some very swish ‘glamping’ units. It is our intension, when finances allow, to ‘digitise’ all our archive records so they can be viewed on a touch screen in the Old Library. Ian Goodwin (Igg) has discovered a company specialising in this regard. Following a meeting with the company it became clear that the scope could be widened to incorporate the heritage and history of Hannahs and S-H in order to display it to a wider audience. Watch this space! If you suspect from this discourse that your committee and helpers have a lot to do, you will be correct. Accordingly, we need more help; any Seale-Haynian in the South Devon area who would like to help, please contact us. The research and documentation action required for the “touch Screen” project will be considerable. Moreover, the contribution Seale-Hayne made to agriculture in the UK and indeed elsewhere should not be forgotten. It needs to be researched and recorded. This too will be a considerable task. Finally, for the moment at least, I would like to draw your attention to “Donate” (to DHRT) on our website. As mentioned, it is in our interests for Hannahs to thrive at Seale-Hayne and a suggestion has been made to ask Seale-Haynians if they would consider signing up to donate the minimum of £2:00 a month to Hannahs. I reckon most of us would not miss £2:00 a month and although not much, lots of £2:00’s mount up. Raymond Bartlett, Chairman, the Seale-Haynains

Watercolour of Seale-Hayne
	A limited edition of a fine watercolour of College has been produced, they are available from the shop at Seale-Hayne for £45.00 (with mount but unframed). The following is a short piece by the artist. Richard Basker has had an interest in painting since his early childhood, but only started painting on a regular basis in the late 1980’s as a form of relaxation, and to compliment his career as a Structural/Civil Engineering Consultant. Painting holidays and courses with established watercolour artists Andrew Johnson and Trevor Waugh, gave Richard that experience which enabled him to develop his own style, influenced also by his own Engineering background.Richard’s painting interests have also run side by side with his membership at Saltram Rotary Club, from whom he has received invaluable support, and which has enabled him to return that support by giving paintings for various Rotary Charities. For over 30 years Richard has driven passed the distant buildings at Seale-Hayne, but has never ventured up to the site, until his fellow Rotarian and Chair of Trustees to Dame Hannah, Geoff Perham, showed him round in the Spring of 2010. He was so impressed with the beauty and magnificence of the main facade, that he felt compelled to paint ‘Hannahs at Seale-Hayne’, which he has given to Dame Hannah Rogers. A limited edition print has been produced in celebration of all those who have passed through their famous portals and for the support of the students who will reside here in the years to come.