Martyn worked as a manager at West Suffolk College for nearly 23 years across two separate periods. He first joined in 1987 to help set up the full-time hospitality courses – a department that has grown from strength to strength over the decades since. He returned in 2001 as a manager overseeing multiple areas, retiring in 2016. He remained involved afterward, serving on the College’s Trust Members’ Board until 2024.
When did you join Eastern Education Group?
Joining the College in 1987, I saw it as an opportunity to serve and be part of a defined community – West Suffolk – having previously only lived and worked in large cities and colleges. I was employed to launch the full-time hospitality courses and develop my own team of staff, which included Chef Lecturers Roger Carter and Paul Harding, and Elizabeth (Liz) Tindall, who managed restaurant studies. We were all new to the College and fresh from industry. The team was later joined by Neil Courtier in 1988, who then led the restaurant team and set the standards in that area of provision.
We established a brand-new catering training suite, including a public restaurant (the Australia Suite Restaurant, now Edmunds), which was officially opened in 1988 by the Australian High Commissioner. We understood that Australia House had previously been named after a Suffolk Regiment campaign, as were other College buildings such as Gibraltar and Minden House.
The principal at the time, John Shipston, was a keen supporter of the department and had championed the acquisition of funding and Local Authority support for the hospitality training facility. John even had a table reserved in the training restaurant every day for business lunches, and we were left with no doubt of his displeasure if it was accidentally booked by someone else!
In 1987/88, the year before the restaurant opened, we delivered practical courses and operated a training restaurant from a domestic science kitchen and classroom in the original part of Australia House, as well as using the College diner. Prior to 1987, the College had only offered part-time catering courses, such as evening cookery classes for adults. The current kitchen and restaurant facilities, with classrooms above, were an extension to the original building, accommodating hair and beauty. The domestic science kitchen was decommissioned after 1988, allowing for the expansion of the ground floor hair salon. A further extension providing better changing facilities for catering students and additional classrooms was added around 1990.
Fortunately, the courses recruited well at the time, and the provision was sustained. There have been numerous developments and changes since then. The College has always had a strong and supportive community focus. It has been a privilege to be part of, and I feel very fortunate to have spent a significant part of my career working with excellent staff and students.
My timeline:
- Head of Unit, Hospitality Courses: 1987–1995
(Art and Design and Health and Social Care were part of the department at various times during that period)
- Returning to the College as a Senior Manager: 2001–2016
Oversight responsibilities were wide-ranging, mainly externally focused, covering the College’s work with employers, all 19+ provision, Higher Education, marketing, and Student Services.
- Member of the Trust Members Board: circa 2018–2024
Do you have any special memories from your time with us?
There are so many special memories – far too many to list individually – but it has been a privilege to work with such a diverse range of people and to see students achieve and progress in their chosen careers.
I consider myself very fortunate to have been a member of the College, and over nearly four decades at WSC and the EEG, there has always been a clear focus on improvement and serving our community. Developing staff and students to reach their full potential, and celebrating successes of all kinds, has been central to that mission. As a result, the EEG has grown into the thriving institution it is today.
In my various roles at the College, I have been privileged to witness countless examples of inspired teaching and learning, alongside superb craft and technical skills across all areas. Excellent vocational teachers, regardless of their subject, share much in common – attention to detail, supportive approaches, and effective methods of working. Equally, the dedication of support staff, the strength of teamwork, and the achievements of our students all contribute to the wider community, and it has been wonderful to be part of that.
Are there any family members or friends who have connections to EEG?
No direct connections now. It is good to see the Group continue to develop and respond to the education and training needs of West Suffolk and the wider region.
Is there a message you would like to share as we celebrate our 100 years of history?
I wish the Eastern Education Group every success for the future.
Lastly, do you have any advice for future students and staff at EEG?
The EEG can help you achieve your goals in life, possibly some that you did not believe possible, and it’s never too late to gain new knowledge and skills.
