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Keith Truman (BSc Chemistry, 1975), Lamorna Spry (BSc Physics, 1975) and Bernard Davis (BA Law, 1975)
What do a lawyer, a chemist and a physicist all have in common? The answer? Geology, of course!
Keith Truman (BSc Chemistry, 1975) met fellow alumni Lamorna Spry (BSc Physics, 1975) and Bernard Davis (BA Law, 1975) while studying an elective subsidiary course in geology, taking part in field trips and learning about a subject that was completely different from their substantive courses. Together with a number of other graduates from different disciplines, the group have met up regularly, maintaining a friendship over 50 years.
The group met up in Birmingham this summer to reminisce and see how much of the campus has changed in recent years.
Birmingham Brewers
A cohort of Birmingham brewing graduates have been meeting up every year since graduating in 1982. Their course was run by the British School of Malting and Brewing and was one of the first to be set up by the University. It was a key part of the early vision for an institution that would produce graduates to support regional industries. While critics of the new university presented brewing at Birmingham as a huge joke, the course became one of the best regarded programmes of its type by the brewing industry. Steve Wilkinson, Jerry Dyson, Alan Pateman and David Antrobus (all MSc Brewing Science, 1982) have enjoyed long careers in brewing and related industries.
We caught up with them to find out what made the course memorable, and what doors a brewing qualification from Birmingham opened up for them.
John Robinson (BA English Literature and American Studies, 2004; PGCE Education, 2007; MA Literature and Culture, 2022)
Schoolteacher and Birmingham alumnus John Robinson was the proud winner of this year’s Mastermind trophy.
John, who is a teacher at Bishop Challoner Catholic College in Birmingham says: ‘I constantly tell the students that I teach, if you put effort into your revision, you’ll get a reward at the end of it. Hopefully, the kids can look at me and be inspired by the hard work that I’ve put in as well.’
John from Sutton Coldfield had impressed host Clive Myrie (who delivered the 2025 Baggs Memorial Happiness Lecture on campus), as well as viewers, when he scored 12 points in his specialist subject – The Empire State Building. He even wore a shirt featuring the iconic 102-storey New York skyscraper.
See if you can answer one of John's favourite questions from the series!
Send in your answer using our contact form by 1 March to be in with a chance of winning some 125 merchandise. Please review our competition entry terms and conditions
Jordan Moxey (BMedSc International Health, 2015; MBChB Medicine and Surgery, 2017)
Life has been a whirlwind adventure since graduating. My time at the University was mostly spent in medical school, on placement, on netball courts and, of course, at the Guild on Wednesday and Saturday nights! But since leaving, life has taken a completely different direction. I’ve worked as a doctor, left medicine, explored a research career, worked on a start-up and become a professional musician (Instagram: @itsmayajordan). My most recent music highlight has to be singing in front of a crowd of 5,000 people with the Jazz Orchestra at the University’s 125th Anniversary Concert! The University definitely helped me cultivate an empathetic, explorative and hard-working mindset. Sometimes I wonder if I should just stick to one thing, instead of pursuing multiple passions. But then I remember that’s one of the reasons why I chose the University of Birmingham in the first place. Living in a diverse city and being part of a community that encouraged me to expand my education and extra-curricular activities helped shape me into the person I am today. So, whenever I get to come back, I absolutely love it! Not just for the beautiful campus or incredible events, but simply because coming back feels like coming home.
Photo credit: Chris Bentley
Rishi Sher Singh (MBA International Business, 2014)
Birmingham didn’t just teach me business – it gave me the confidence to start one. The MBA experience shaped my thinking, helped me trust my voice and laid the foundation for World of Gears, a consultancy helping companies make sustainability practical and human, especially in complex supply chains. Since graduating, I’ve worked across 17 countries, supporting businesses in turning responsibility into resilience. But no matter where I go, I carry the mindset and values I found at Birmingham – empathy, clarity and action. I remain deeply grateful to the University for everything it unlocked in me. I’ve stayed closely involved with the alumni network in India, speaking with hundreds of offer holders each year and mentoring students exploring careers in sustainability.
Rishi recently featured in our Built in Birmingham series, you can see more of his story here.
Dr Matthew Lamb (MIS International Studies, 1994, PhD Political Science, 2003) and Dr Zoe Cookson (BSocSci Political Science, 1995)
Dr Matt Lamb and Dr Zoe Cookson first met in a pub in Kidderminster in 1991 but fate also threw them together as they shared the commute to the University of Birmingham. Matt was studying for an MIS in International Studies and Zoe a BSocSci in Political Science. Matt went on to complete his PhD in Political Science at Birmingham (1997-2002) while Zoe did her PhD in Political Science at Warwick (1995-2000).
Matt built a successful career in education and retired this year as Principal of Central Saint Michael’s Sixth Form in West Bromwich after 28 years of teaching and managing educational provision. Meanwhile, Zoe had a successful career in local government before establishing her own public sector management consultancy.
After graduating, Matt and Zoe stayed in touch and have been a couple for almost 21 years. Matt was elected to Worcester City Council in 2010 and Zoe joined him 12 years later, being elected in 2022. In 2025 Matt and Zoe were elected Mayor and Mayoress of Worcester, a role that dates back more than 400 years.
From chance encounters on the train to sharing the honour of serving as Mayor and Mayoress, their journey together has taken many twists and turns before reaching this shared milestone.
Priti Parekh (BSS Money, Banking and Finance, 2000) and Aryan Parekh (BEng Mechanical Engineering with Year in Computer Science, 2025)
Priti says: ‘I studied Money, Banking and Finance at the University, graduating in 2000.
‘25 years later in July 2025, I took a trip down memory lane, proudly attending my son Aryan’s graduation and taking photos in the exact same spot as I did with my personal tutor Dr Cillian Ryan.
‘Special memories were captured with Head of the School of Engineering Professor Karl Dearn and Aryan’s personal tutor Dr Amir Hajyavand.
‘I started work at HSBC after graduating from the University and Aryan just completed a summer internship in Venture Capital and has started a graduate job at Jaguar Land Rover, which was only possible with the amazing academic staff at University of Birmingham and his hard work.
‘I also have memories of bringing Aryan to the old library at the University to tutor him for his 11-plus exam. It’s lovely to see how campus has changed and the new library which has replaced it is beautiful.
‘We are a proud family of alumni, pleased to have made our own multigenerational mark on the University’s 125-year timeline.’
Adam Raw (BSc Money, Banking & Finance with French, 2007) and Ian McLaren (BCom Business Management, 2006)
Adam and Ian met whilst studying at the University, later going on to start nationwide renewables firm, dwellow. Together, they are currently making strides in transforming the UK’s heat pump installation industry with their new app, dwellowPRO.
The business has benefited significantly from taking part in the University of Birmingham's Climate Innovation Platform (CIP) in partnership with Energy Systems Catapult, which supports SME's in energy technology innovations and services, contributing to the UK's goal of achieving Net Zero by 2050. As part of this they were selected to take part in and completed the Climate Innovation Incubator at Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham.
Ian says: ‘Taking part in the Climate Innovation Platform, and specifically the Climate Innovation Incubator at Tyseley Energy Park, was an incredibly valuable experience for us at dwellow. The programme was inspiring, innovative, and deeply aligned with our mission to accelerate the UK’s transition to Net Zero. The sessions led by Energy Systems Catapult were not only engaging but packed with actionable insights that helped shape the direction of our business. It gave us the tools, network, and confidence to push forward — and has undoubtedly been a key part of our journey to where we are today.’
As well as meeting each other at Birmingham, Adam and Ian also met their wives Dr Victoria Marchant and Emily Allen. Both Victoria and Emily are involved in dwellow too behind the scenes, making the company very much connected to the university with a unique and shared history.
Graham Willett (BSc Physics, 1971)
From the Who and Jethro Tull to Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, some of the biggest bands of the 1960s and ‘70s played in Birmingham – and on our campus.
Soaking up every last bit of it was Graham Willett (BSc Physics, 1971) who studied at Birmingham as the Swinging 60s gave way to the prog rock and psychedelia of the 1970s. Graham, a member of the ‘Dull Boys’ group of student physicists recalls the anything-but-dull gigs he went to, the stars he saw – and the rules he broke.
Dr Richard Palmer (PhD Medicine, 1963)
It is more than 46 years since the first baby conceived using IVF was born on 25 July 1978. Since then, more than 10 million IVF children have been born worldwide. Such life-changing treatment would not have been possible without the pioneering research conducted in the 1960s by academics like University of Birmingham alumnus and distinguished biochemist Dr Richard Palmer.
Dr Palmer came back to campus with his family this summer to celebrate with us at our Come to Campus Festival, recreating a graduation photo.
Pauline Mundy (MBChB Medicine, 2024)
This summer the Medical School was able finally to award a degree to an outstanding student, who ought to have graduated 50 years ago.
Pauline Mundy was a Medical student from 1970 to 1975. As she worked through her final year, she was offered her first house job with the Professorial Medical Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with Professor Ray Hoffenberg, a prominent endocrinologist.
Pauline was one of six students in her year to be awarded an Arthur Thomson Travelling Bursary and spent 10 weeks of her final year in Minneapolis as an exchange student undertaking five-week blocks of medicine and surgery.
She accumulated sufficient ‘honours points’ to have become an honours graduate, and would have been the only medical student to have graduated in 1975 with this elevated degree title.
Pauline died of septicaemia at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 5 March 1975, just a couple of days before starting her final 10-week block of her medical course.
As the 50th anniversary of Pauline’s death approached, her financé, Dr David Derbyshire, contacted the University to ask if her degree could be awarded posthumously.
David explained: ‘Pauline and I shared a flat in Kings Heath at the time of her death and I was her primary carer in her final hours, her illness having started less than 36 hours before her death. We were engaged, and our wedding date was set for Tuesday 10 June, allowing time for a holiday before starting pre-registration jobs on 7 July.
‘Pauline’s parents, Alan and Joy, set up a Travelling Bursary at the Medical School in her name, which continued for many years, but at the time, the University did not feel able to award Pauline a degree.’
This summer, the University agreed to rectify this and Pauline’s degree was awarded by Professor Kate Thomas, former Dean of the Medical School, in a ceremony attended by David, along with Pauline’s sister and nephew.
Elizabeth S. Green, (née Cutler) (BDS Dentistry 1979)
Along with eight close family members spanning two generations, I am a Birmingham alumna, who graduated in 1979 in Dentistry.
After practicing for a few years, both in the community dental service and General Practice, I had a long career break as a full-time mother.
A change in circumstances meant that I returned to work in Dentistry, made possible through the excellent KITS scheme run by the Birmingham University Dental Hospital. The scheme was invaluable in retraining and updating my skills to be fit for practice after such a long career break.
While my success was underpinned by my sheer determination, the support and encouragement I received from the University second time around was exceptional, I wouldn’t have succeeded without this, along with willing clinicians’ time. The breadth of my BDS course also stood me in good stead. I shall always be grateful to the University for all this.
I am now retired again; but crucially and enjoyably I had been able to return to dental practice - it took 3 years to find my level and be gainfully employed, mainly working in delivering dental hygiene treatment for around 10 years.
I am proud of this and so can the University be proud of the part it played, because it allowed me once more to improve dental health. I made wonderful new friends, met some splendid people - including patients and dental colleagues, expanded my horizons later in life and was once more employable in a field I had great regard for - it’s fair to comment that Birmingham is truly a University for life.