The Seale-Haynians

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

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
	I write to reassure you that your committee fully intends to continue and indeed expand the activities of The Seale-Haynians. Seale-Hayne was special and countless times I have heard alumni declare that those S-H years were some of the most significant and enjoyable of their life. When addressing the final Graduation Day congregation in 2005, the SU President Lisa Wiley said, “Remember, they (UoP) may have taken away our College, but they will never take away its soul”. Says it all! Two of our constitution’s foundation objectives were; to promote fellowship among Seale-Haynians and to promote and maintain past and present students’ association with the college and one another and provide opportunities for exchange of information. Clearly, association with the College will now change, discussions are underway with the DHRT for a small office or room and a postal address for The Seale-Haynians. The vital function of the club in the future will be to help Seale-Haynians maintain contact and exchange information with one another. So even though our existing message board is already used to an extent that quite frankly surprises us, we will continue to improve the website. We hope that members will use the website for a variety of reasons, not just sentiment. One possibility is career development. I am a member of the Conservation Agriculture movement and regularly receive notices of positions being advertised which I post on our website. Members are welcome to post their own notices. Whether it’s advertising or seeking information, there are endless possibilities. We have around 2500 members on our database although only about 600 are “active”, i.e. subscribing to receive “The Seale-Haynian. Considering the thousands who have qualified through college, this is a ludicrously small number recorded and we must do something about it. So I appeal to all of you to send us the names, addresses, phone numbers or emails of any Seale-Haynians who you know – they may well be missing from our database. And please complete the Standing Order Mandate in order to receive “The Seale-Haynian” magazine – it costs just £6.00 a year, click here to download the form. Return the form to Ian Goodwin, our membership secretary, and please urge your cohorts to do likewise. Finally – another appeal. Eminent scientists and authorities worldwide are warning that unless something is done quickly about the impending world food shortage, an immense famine is certain. But where is the national strategy for redressing the neglect of agricultural research and education over the last 25 years? A recent Royal Society report stated, “Action is needed now as food production (globally) needs to rise by 50% over 40 years”. “Moreover, the UK has the potential to develop viable solutions and the responsibility to do so”. Instead, our agricultural institutions continue to close. I believe we Seale-Haynians should do all we can to help raise the alarm. Lobby the Minister and your MP’s, it will take their minds off such trivia as expenses! Do anything that you feel you can do that might raise public awareness. And good luck.

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.