Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming back two former Agriculture students, David Banks and Keith Truett, for a visit to Oaklands College. Their return to campus was a wonderful opportunity to reminisce about their student days and see how the college has evolved over the years.
David studied Agriculture here from 1964 to 1965, back when the college was known as the Hertfordshire County Council Institute of Agriculture. After graduating, he embarked on a career in the agricultural industry, initially working with fertilisers and chemicals before moving into agricultural sales. He recalled earning an annual salary of £700 - equivalent to a much higher sum today - which came with a company car. Over the years, his company evolved through various acquisitions, eventually becoming Yara International, and he retired in the early 1990s.
Keith attended Oaklands from 1981 to 1984, earning a National Diploma in Agriculture. Encouraged by his farm employers near Stevenage, he pursued formal education and went on to have a successful career in farming, working across Essex and Bristol before becoming an arable farm manager for Lord Braeburn and Countess Mountbatten at the Mershan Hatch Estate. Today, Keith is a consultant agronomist for the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB), advising on farming operations in Cambridgeshire. Despite his role as a consultant, he still enjoys hands-on work, such as driving a combine harvester and summer crop spraying.
Both David and Keith fondly recalled their time at Oaklands, emphasising the camaraderie among students, the support they received, and the numerous opportunities that the college opened up for them. The residential nature of the courses meant that lifelong friendships were formed, and a variety of sports and extracurricular activities kept them engaged. David shared memories of participating in the St Albans Chariot Race—a hand-pulled chariot race from Marble Arch to St Albans, where beer, rather than water, was relayed! He also had the unforgettable experience of seeing the Rolling Stones live in concert in 1964. Meanwhile, Keith recalled helping out at the college over a very cold Christmas and participating in a field trip to Yorkshire.
Among the many skills they gained at Oaklands, David reminisced about learning to make bread and pastry in a weekly cookery course for bachelor students run by the "Rural Domestic Economy" department which was located in a room in Mansion House. Both men reflected on how their education and experiences at the College helped shape their careers and provided them with invaluable life skills.
During their visit, they enjoyed a tour of the campus and met with staff—including Andrew Slade and Colin Elcombe. Keith reminisced that Leo Boon, who still works at Oaklands, taught Keith in the 1980s. Leo shared his thoughts on Keith's journey, saying: "The field trip that Keith spoke about was an annual, week-long event for ND Agric. students to experience differences between Hertfordshire and Yorkshire farming. It was always the last week of the spring term, and we stayed at The Black Bull in Reeth, Swaledale. It included educational AND social activities, a memorable trip for all, and I'm pleased he remembers it! "
Accompanying this article are photos from their visit, along with archival images that highlight the rich history of Oaklands College. It was a pleasure to welcome David and Keith back, and we hope their stories inspire future generations of students.
