When Tony (Anthony Millership) enrolled at Medway Technical College (now MidKent College) in Gillingham in the years following the Second World War
When Tony (Anthony Millership) enrolled at Medway Technical College (now MidKent College) in Gillingham in the years following the Second World War, Britain was rebuilding, not just its cities, but its opportunities. For many ex-servicemen, education had been put on hold by the war. When peace came, there was a surge of demand for higher learning.
“I graduated in 1948,” Tony recalls. “It was just after the war, and there was an overflow of ex-servicemen who had missed their chance at an education. There was overcrowding, so an agreement was made that technical colleges like MidKent could teach degree-level courses. I was one of the beneficiaries.”
Tony studied for a Bachelor of Science in Engineering awarded by the University of London’s External Examination Board, one of the first students at the college to do so. “The London External system ensured technical schools kept the same standards as universities like Cambridge, which was the most popular at the time,” he explains.
He spent two afternoons each week in MidKent College’s mechanical workshops on Gardiner Street, learning hands-on skills in machining and toolmaking. “If I’d taken a different path, I could have become a toolmaker,” he says reminiscing.
Shortly after Tony began his studies, Shorts, the seaplane manufacturer, relocated to Belfast. Several of its engineers, however, chose to stay in Medway, taking jobs as lecturers at the expanding Technical College.
After finishing his degree, Tony served 18 months in the Army and was one of the last groups of men to be conscripted. When he returned, he began a varied and successful career as a civil engineer.
“I worked all over the world,” Tony says. “In Africa, I was involved in road building, housing, and waste management projects. Sometimes I worked as a design engineer, and at other times I represented as a consulting engineer in Nigeria. My favourite place was the federated Malay states, before it became part of Malaysia.”
Tony later spent time working in the Arab Emirates, but during the Gulf War he was home on leave when his family made a collective decision: it was time to retire and enjoy the years ahead.
Now 96 and living in Scotland, Tony has never lost his curiosity or his love of learning. “I used to be a computer expert,” he says. “I even earned a degree in Computing from the Open University. I’ve been using Apple for six or seven years now, before that it was Windows. Luckily, I’ve got grandchildren to help me keep up!”
When asked what his time at college meant to him, Tony smiles. “I made great friends, I remember Colin Shaw and Stewart Adams well. I really enjoyed my time there before serving my country. I also have fond memories of playing hockey - Bryony Williams and I used to play together.”
Tony’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and lifelong learning, from post war Gillingham to projects across the globe. His journey reminds us how education can open doors, build communities, and shape entire lives.
