Many students find love during their time at Birmingham. We bring you stories of University relationships that have stood the test of time.
Geoff Uren (BDS Dentistry, 1962) and Janet Uren (Nursing, 1963)
Janet says: 'We met at a Saturday night hop at the Guild of
Students in 1960. In those days there was always a live band
and it was a shilling a ticket. I remember running down the
main stairs to get back to the nurses' accommodation by
midnight and avoid being seen by the matron.
'We were married in 1963. Geoff was a dentist and
orthodontist until his retirement, setting up his own practice
in Stourport. I later retrained as a primary school teacher,
having been inspired by my time volunteering with the
Women’s Royal Voluntary Society throughout the 1970s.
'We remained in the West Midlands and have two children, four grandchildren including Birmingham graduate Bryony [see the next story], and two great-grandchildren.'
Bryony Allison (BA History and North American Studies, 2018) and Matthew Allison (MSc Geology, 2019)
Bryony says: 'I met my husband Matt in the same building
as my grandparents [the Guild of Students] at a Guild
Musical Theatre Group rehearsal in 2014. Just as we
started to get to know each other, Matt suffered a serious
head injury and had to take some time out of University.
'We were reunited in 2015 and became an item shortly after. I worked out that the reason Matt was building all the sets for the show I was choreographing and was always in the front row of my tap rehearsals was because he was interested in me, not the show!
'We married in June 2023 and live in Birmingham with
our rescue dog Zoe. Matt has remained at the University
studying for a PhD in Geology. After a career in arts
marketing, I have returned to the much-loved Edgbaston
campus as well and am now working in the Development
and Alumni Relations Office.'
Hannah Fryman (BA History of Art, 2018) and Ellie Jamieson (MSc Geology, 2019)
Hannah says: 'We met in 2015 through some mutual friends.
I was a History of Art student and Ellie was a Geology
student. Our favourite memories include sports nights
at the Guild, art talks at the Barber Institute and revising
together for finals at our chosen spot we called the "big table of love" with our pals on floor one of the new library.
'Since then, we have moved to London, where I am a primary school teacher and Ellie is back as a student, studying medicine at St George's Hospital. We still see many of our
university friends and have fond memories of our time there.'
Linda Moore (BSc Mathematics and Geography, 1980) and Julian Moore (BSc Biological Sciences and Geography, 1980)
Julian says: 'We first met over breakfast in 1978, in one of
the halls of residence of Montpellier University during a
Geography field trip. As luck would have it, when we returned
to Birmingham, we discovered that we lived just yards from
each other in Maple Bank.
'After meeting up with each other virtually every day over the
next two years, we completed PGCEs at Leicester University
and got married in 1981, after which we settled down in
Derbyshire and had two children.
'When our daughter Lucy came to study at the University, we visited some of our old haunts; the Physics bridge, High Hall during its demolition and, most poignantly, the small memorial in remembrance of Catherine Mitchell and John Kolpinski who we knew from our shared courses. We both retired from teaching in 2015.'
James Ward (BMedSc Biomedical Materials Science, 2014) and Katherine Luker (BA Ancient History and Archaeology with English Literature, 2014; MA Heritage Management, 2016)
Katie says: 'We met at a Pritchatts House party on the first night of Freshers Week in 2011. We stayed in Birmingham and still live within sight of Old Joe. After 10 years together we celebrated our marriage in April 2023, with a big Spring wedding complete with lambs and an Easter egg hunt!'
James Sharpe (BA Applied Golf Management, 2006) and Katie Sharpe (BA French, 2008)
James says: 'We met through a mutual friend on a night out on Broad Street in 2006 at The Works! We got married in 2015. I am a Golf Coach at Wentworth and Katie is a Recruiter at TASIS an American school in Surrey. We live in Chobham, Surrey with two daughters, Rosie and Poppy, and often proudly reminisce on amazing times at University.'
Alex Smith (BCom, 1984) and Helen Grimbley (BA Geography and Physical Education, 1984)
Helen says: 'We met in the Old Mason Hall in our first year of studying at Birmingham, wild times in 1981! We married in 1986 and have two daughters: the eldest also studied at Birmingham and the youngest at Warwick. We both teach at Sevenoaks School in Kent and have been married now for 37 years; quite an achievement after those tumultuous first years.'