Memories of Mo as LRC marks ten years

On 16 January 1998 Mo Mowlam, then Redcar MP and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, officially opened the University of Teesside’s Learning Resource Centre (LRC).

Guests included primary pupils from St Thomas More school in Middlesbrough and one of those pupils, Emma Jones, is now a student at the University and will be joining the celebrations for the LRC’s tenth anniversary.

Emma, 21, from Middlesbrough, is a third year BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance student. Back in 1998, she was among children from St Thomas More and High Clarence schools who were invited to the LRC opening. They attended through their involvement in an exhibition updating Lady Florence Bell’s original research into the lives of iron workers.

The original research by Lady Bell, wife of Teesside Iron Master Sir Hugh Bell, was first published in 1907 in a book called ‘At The Works’. A new edition of the book was published by the University ten years ago, with Emma among the schoolchildren who presented a copy to Mo Mowlam. Emma has fond memories of the building being formally opened by Mo, who died in August 2005.

Emma said: ‘I remember this very important lady shaking my hand and asking me about a project we had been working on Lady Bell.

‘I remember being very nervous speaking to her. Also, I can remember thinking how big the building was. And now I’m using the library as a student, it’s really useful.’

Speaking at the opening Mo Mowlam described the £10m four-floor LRC as marking ‘another milestone’ in the development of the University.

The LRC’s official opening was celebrated this week, with displays and competitions, where students could win pens, DVD players and Middlesbrough Monopoly games. A commemorative brochure was also published.

Ian Butchart, Director of Library & Information Services at the University, said: ‘In the last ten years the University’s Learning Resource Centre has inspired our students and staff to access our collections and services for knowledge, imagination and learning. In doing so we remember the joy of the opening of the building by Mo Mowlam and the inspiration she offered to the university colleagues and school pupils present.’

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