Appleton family follow the Teesside timeline

The Appleton family from Teesside have joined the University’s educational journey to our 80th anniversary.

John Cornwell Appleton, a District Commissioner for the Scouts in Middlesbrough, took part in Constantine’s official opening in 1930, by the then Prince of Wales and future King Edward VIII.

John also gave a guest lecture at Constantine in the 1940s about home-made radios, sharing his personal hobby with a public audience.

John’s son Gordon went on to achieve a part-time chemistry degree at Constantine, and then later lectured in the subject at the college and polytechnic up to his retirement in 1985.

His romance with wife Jean also flourished at Saturday night band dances held in Constantine’s hall.

Gordon’s son Paul also achieved a part-time chemistry degree from the polytechnic in 1985.

Eldest son joins virtual incubator scheme Now eldest son Mike, 53, has joined the University’s virtual incubator scheme which supports new businesses and also delivered a guest workshop at the University about sales skills.

Gordon is now 80 and has five children, sixteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He learned about the University’s 80th anniversary when Mike showed him a specially produced supplement in a local newspaper, which featured an original picture of his father alongside the Prince of Wales at the opening.

Gordon who lives in Stockton and said: 'I felt elated when I saw the picture of my Dad. He was a pay clerk in the pay office for Dorman Long aged 38 when the College was opened. Dad had created a scout troop in this area and went on to become District Commissioner, that’s why he was invited to the opening with his scouts.'

Gordon first enrolled at Constantine on a part-time chemistry degree in 1947 while working as a junior scientist for British Steel and after two years they sponsored him to go full-time. He then completed national service and returned in 1956 as a part-time chemistry and metallurgy lecturer, followed by a full time role and later promotion to senior lecturer.

Gordon added: 'It was very encouraging to see the development from what we called the Tech to a Polytechnic and see the rise in prestige. And then to get University status is wonderful, the town’s very lucky to have its own University. I taught students who didn’t have grammar school educations but still went on to get very good, high-earning jobs. I sometimes see some of my old students and they say hello, I think ‘I’ve helped that guy.'

Gordon was inspired by the supplement to donate towards the University’s gift giving campaign. Teesside University has officially launched the ‘It Started with a gift’ campaign, named in honour of the initial £80,000 donation from benefactor Joseph Constantine.

Teesside graduates can donate to the campaign via the University’s Development Office, either online, by direct debit or as a one-off payment. The funds will help to develop student activities, improve research capacity and go towards scholarships and bursaries for non-traditional students. For more details email gift@tees.ac.uk Mike, also from Stockton, has continued the Appleton connection with Teesside University, by launching his own company, Apple Action Planning (aap), through the University’s virtual incubator scheme.

The scheme provides premises, advice and support to new businesses and aap offers sales training and consultancy to companies.

Mike said: 'It’s been a fantastic experience for someone who didn’t go to University. And I recently delivered a workshop at the University to a group of businesses about sales skills. So over 60 years after my Grandad gave his home-made radio lecture here, the Appleton’s are still delivering to an audience!'

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