Favourite thing you did at university outside of studies?

[Avaznee]

For me it would have to be engaging in student politics. Absolutely loved it.

I volunteered for (and for some time ran) our Nightline. Obviously could be distressing at times but also very fulfilling and I met some brilliant people.

I can also blame my just missing a first on the time commitment it took. But realistically it was more the Union which was to blame for that.

My boyfriend!

Hanging out with friends.

For me it was orienteering. Had never done it before, got invited to an event by a friend and I really enjoyed it. 30 years later I’m still doing it.

Met my future wife 😁
Still married 40 odd years later

I took up a new team sport, which as a very academic kid had never been my thing at school. Realised I loved being outside with the larks going for an early jog, or doing a sweaty circuits session with my team mates.

I don’t work in an area related to my degree now, but I still love my sport and hiking, swimming, cycling, gym, running have all been a big part of my adult life. I doubt this would have happened without someone dragging me along to try out for my sport in Freshers week.

Rugby, men, beer.

In that order.

I can’t remember doing anything useful. My hazy memories are predominantly of being pissed and stoned. 🥴

Yup same. Nothing productive! But very enjoyable!

A part time job which put my qualifications to the test and built up a lot of knowledge and experience working as part of a team and meeting new people

Loads of sport.

Did you guys have any student activities that you absolutely enjoyed?

I mean I myself still remember going clubbing and having my first snog. Couldn't believe that someone was flirting with me.

Joined the cricket club. Back in the 80s there was no ladies cricket so me and a mate joined 'the cricket club' - we were the only 2 females for most of our time there. We went along to nets and the club did their best to find mixed matches so we got the occasional game here and there. Sounds thoroughly sexist now, but the rest of the time we were the official scorers and organised the teas for home matches. We had so much fun, the lads were lovely to us. Great memories.

I was part of the University Officer Training Corps. Learnt lots of useful skills, travelled the world (well Europe and USA) and drank a lot while earning money.

And met my husband (who might have been my section commander)

My gorgeous boyfriend who gave me the confidence to see i was good enough to follow my career passion. And i have. Still think of him a lot.

Lots of music in outstanding student orchestras.

But also having friends so close, hanging out with them, cooking, going to the college bar, going on day trips on the train. And now we are scattered all over the world.

Going to cheap lunchtime concerts in college chapels. Hanging out in Blackwell's Music Shop when it was still quirky and run by geeks.

Helping to organise the Faculty's end of year ball.

Learnt a lot about event planning

I remember a ball I went to at university. Had the misfortune of seeing someone I had a major crush on snog someone else.

I really enjoyed all the exploring of London I did, just walking around and finding hidden streets and coffee shops and places to go. I didn’t make a lot of friends in my first year, so didn’t get to experience going out with a big group partying and clubbing (I’ve made up for it in multitudes since hitting 30, though!)

My summer job which I had in my second and third years, whilst I often hated it at the time, I actually look back in with some fondness now. I worked alongside a lot of young men and women from European countries who were in London temporarily and made some firm friendships.

How do you find "hidden" places in London?

Back in the early 2000s, by walking around extensively. I’m sure there are fewer hidden places now that everyone has access to TikTok influencers broadcasting where cool places are and a smartphone to easily direct them there.

G&S. And Glee Club (membership by no means identical but overlapped).

The Christian sub-culture.

Independence - organising my own meals, deciding when to go to bed and so forth.

Having lots of friends. They still thought I was weird but they didn't seem to mind as much as people did at school.

A few things - I was in the Wind Band (I wasn't good enough for the main orchestra); volunteered at the university playgroup; went to a church group (though mainly for the ceilidhs); and got to go cross-country skiing.
(In case you hadn't guessed, I went to university in Scotland!)

Oh and how could I forget - I was in a great small choir, from which many things stay in my memory, but none so much as the director telling us "if you have a cold, take whisky and Lemsip, if it doesn't work at least in the morning you'll have forgotten you had a cold".

Sport, drama, student politics.

Living with your friends

afternoons in the pub