In 1987, the School of Health Sciences, which had been formed in 1986, moved into the Old Post Office in Lichfield Street, and the old Valhalla pub. In February 1987, the council's finance committee agreed to a request from Councillor Alan Garner, chairman of the Polytechnic Governors, for the council to acquire a twenty year lease on the old post office and the Valhalla pub, which at the time belonged to Leamore Developments, based in Walsall. The old post office had been empty for two years and the Valhalla, even longer. The lease was initially acquired for £250,000 per year. The refurbished buildings would house up to 200 students and a large number of staff, to provide ample office space; biomedical, physiology, and psychology laboratories; three lecture theatres; a dining room; and the Polytechnic's shop.

The first head of the section was psychologist, Bob Jamieson. In 1990 or 1991 he returned to his home country of Australia and taught psychology at the Bendigo Campus of La Trobe University.


The old post office in its early years.

The following photos were taken in 2001 when the School of Health Sciences had become part of the School of Applied Sciences, and the staff and laboratories were moving to main site.


The foyer with the main entrance on the right. The far door led to one of the lecture theatres.


Another view of the foyer. The doorway on the left led to the ground floor corridor and the lift.


The refreshment room. Light refreshments were served behind the hatch.


Another view of the refreshment room.

 

The staff staircase.

 

The first floor corridor, above the main staircase.

 
The first floor corridor leading to MV Block and the stairs.   In the other direction the corridor led to the lift and more offices.
 

Some of the staff offices further along the corridor which led to the staff staircase.

  The water dispenser and the stairs leading to the upper psychology lab.


Joyce Wilson at work.


Mel Porter-Turner at work in one of the laboratories.


Bev Parker in room MT 104. Courtesy of David Parsons.


Many people will remember Ken Harper, who was Laboratory Superintendent in the School of Health Sciences.


Members of the School of Health Sciences staff.

 

Another view of the first floor corridor.

 

One of the offices, almost packed and ready to go.


Another nearly empty office.


Pat Martin at work just before the move began.

The university continued to use the old post office and the Valhalla, until 2007.

   
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