Item RSP/7/k/19 - Photograph: Department of Chemistry and Biology

Photograph showing students in the laboratory. One of the students is identified as Eric Buchwald.

Labelled on reverse 'Central Office of Information Photograph. Crown Copyright reserved (See Feature Set Into No.210 The Working Man's University: The First Polytechnic. The demand for evening education in Britain far exceeds facilities. After a full day's work a large proportion of the adult population hurry to evening institutes and polytechnics to learn, at a very low cost, the 'know-how' that modern industry and commerce insists of its workers. More than 11,000 people in the evenings, and 2,500 during the day attend courses for further education at the regent Street Polytechnic, where the twelve departments and three craft courses are designed almost exclusively for the vocational student who has reached the age of seventeen (there is no maximum age) and has passed Matriculation or an equivalent University entrance examination.'

Separately labelled 'D.47580 (7)In the Department of Chemistry and Biology at the Polytechnic, Eric Buchwald (facing camera) is in his fifth year. He is a part-time day student who works for Distillers Company who give him time off to attend courses, pay his fees and his railway fares. He is British of German parents. The School provides students with courses in Chemistry, Botany and Zoology up to BSc Special Degree (External) standard. Evening courses cost 3 guineas per session for degree and A.R.I.C. course.'