“It felt like time travel; where had the previous 50 years gone?” was how Richard Woodward felt on reuniting with his fellow Reading graduates half a century after leaving the University.
It was in October 1968 when Richard began studying physics at the University of Reading – he remained here for six years, undertaking a PhD, and made strong friendships during his time here.
He recalled: “I didn’t get a place in halls in my first year so I ended up in digs on London Road. I also missed Freshers’ Week, so it wasn’t the best start!” In his second year, Richard moved to Whiteknights Hall, where he stayed for three years before moving to Sibley Hall.
He said: “Whiteknights was a traditional single sex hall with formal dinners at 7pm each night, where everyone was required to wear their undergraduate gown.
“The rooms were laid out in groups of eight with an open communal area in the middle, which was a focal point for meeting fellow students.
“This is where I met Dave Callis, Dave Messer, Neil Fleming, Andy Kirton and Pete Spall. Lesley Messer (née Wilson) and Jenny Kirton (née Cutts), who lived in Wessex and Bridges Hall, also became part of the A Block community,” Richard shared.
Andy recalled: “I met Jenny at the beginning of the first term during Freshers’ Week, when the so-called ‘gentlemen’ of Whiteknights Hall were invited to a social evening by the ‘ladies’ of Bridges Hall.” Lesley was Dave’s girlfriend, and both couples went on to get married giving this friendship group two #UoRLoveStories!
Richard added: “We all enjoyed our time at Reading with lots of fond memories. In particular, Andy and Jenny remember the formal hall dances and the Vice-Chancellor’s Ball at the end of the summer term, which went on all night.
“I was also part of the Reading University Society Change Ringers – which is the practice of ringing a set of tuned bells in the bell tower of a church in continually varying order – alongside Pete Spall which I enjoyed. While Dave Messer was an enthusiastic member of the rowing club.”
Dave Messer reflected on how lucky the group had been to be at Reading during the early 1970s. He said: “It was a different world in terms of financial student support, pressure to succeed in exams, and seeking employment after graduation.”
The reunion
Richard shared that Neil and Andy had kept in touch over the years, while others exchanged Christmas cards. When Neil suggested it was about time they had a reunion, Richard was only too happy to be a part of it.
He said: “We weren’t able to contact everyone that used to meet in the communal area, but those of us who had kept in touch arranged to meet at a hotel in Reading for an evening meal on 17 April 2024. The following morning we went for a nostalgic stroll around Whiteknights Campus.
“This was the first time we had all been together since the early 1970s.
“We all felt comfortable in each other’s company even though there was this enormous chasm between then and now – during which we had led our lives, had families and careers, and were now enjoying retirement. So a considerable amount of the conversation was focused on catching up on each other’s lives over the past 50 years!
“As well as much laughter and reminiscing about our University days, we observed how many things we take for granted today – like the internet, social media and mobile phones – these things would have seemed like science fiction in the early 1970s.
“For me, reuniting almost felt like time travel; where had the previous 50 years gone?
“It was lovely to see the campus again, but we were sad to see that Whiteknights Hall had gone. We recognised many of the 1960s buildings that still remain – although physics is no longer taught at Reading, Pete and I had a brief look around the JJ Thomson building, while the Faculty of Letters building [now Edith Morley] and the Library brought back memories for Neil and Andy, despite looking a bit different now.”
Finding lost friends
Since meeting up, the group have been trying – with the help of the University of Reading Alumni Team – to get in touch with other friends from their time at University. So far they’ve made contact with Keith Darwood (history), Brian Capper (physiology and biochemistry of farm animals), Jeff Gennings (physiology and biochemistry) and Mike O’Neil (history).
If anyone remembers socialising in the top floor communal area, in A Block of Whiteknights Hall during the late 1960s and early 1970s, this group of alumni would be delighted to hear from you.
Please email alumni@reading.ac.uk if you would like to be put back in touch.
