University is often a life-changing period in a person's life, whether that's through laying the foundations of a future career or discovering a hobby that will last a lifetime.
But it's frequently the friendships we make during our time at university that truly change the course of our future; connections that will carry us through the good times and the bad.
To celebrate this, we reached out to our alumni community to hear their uplifting stories of friendships forged at Bath.
"We now have monthly zoom meetings where we talk about memories of our lecturers, antics and much more."
Mike Novels (BSc Engineering Metallurgy 1970)
“In October 1966, I took a train to Temple Meads from Paddington. I missed Freshers’ week so turned up at Ashley Down to register for my honours degree in engineering metallurgy at Bristol’s School of Materials Science.
“I was sent off to York Road, Montpellier to find my digs where I met two other students on my course. I became firm friends with one of them, Charlie Foulkes, who was eventually responsible, in a way, for me meeting my future wife.
“After two years in Bristol, we both transferred to the new University of Bath. It was here that I met my wife, Sheila, on a blind date. Charlie wanted to go out with Sheila’s friend, but I was the only one with a car!
“Charlie and I went on various university trips playing football, basketball and ten-pin bowling against other universities and we made many other friends along the way.
“While some stayed on to do PhDs, most of us graduated in 1970 and went our separate ways.
“In November 2019, I decided it was time for a reunion since it was almost 50 years since we all graduated. I tracked down my friends from Bath and started a WhatsApp group. We now have monthly Zoom meetings where we talk about memories of our lecturers, antics and much more.
“It’s been wonderful to catch up and we’ve since had dinner together, a reunion on campus and I have even made a book from a collection of our life stories since graduation.”
"We've supported each other through life's milestones including marriages, kids and significant professional changes..."
Jono Hey (MEng Innovation and Engineering Design with French 2002), Tom Pellereau (MEng Innovation & Engineering Design 2002) and Rob Bell (MEng Mechanical Engineering with French 2002)
“We met while studying engineering at Bath in 1997. Stand-out memories together include a year in industry in the Alps, Wednesday evenings in The Venue [Students’ Union] comparing results and performances after playing sports on Bath's hallowed sports pitches, and, strangely, the hours spent helping each other study for exams.
“After graduating, we spent time as lifties in Whistler, road-tripping across the US West Coast and working in Europe. We even stayed in touch when Jono moved to San Francisco for a PhD.
“Back in London, we would get together for a workout in a park on Tuesday nights and did so for ten years with other friends – many of whom are Bath graduates.
“We've supported each other through life's milestones including marriages, kids and significant professional changes or successes – like winning The Apprentice in Tom's case. However, nothing brings us together more than when we're outside being active and having a good giggle.
“We still talk weekly, co-hosting the Sketchplanations podcast – based on Jono's project explaining the world in sketches – which is perfect for anyone who's ever been curious about... well, anything!
“We're probably still such close friends because we've shared so many experiences in the past – including those precious few years at Bath together – and continue to forge ahead, planning new ones each year.”
"It's incredibly rewarding, and somewhat unbelievable, to connect with so many Bath alumni in this way."
Rebecca Beesley (BSc Business Administration 2000)
“I met Richard in 1996 when living in the same student accommodation. We quickly became friends and, before our time at university came to an end, we got married.
“I have suffered with arthritis since the age of ten and we were devastated when our third child also received this diagnosis at the age of just two years old. Richard decided to go back to his roots in biology and find out why, in the three decades between mine and our daughter’s diagnosis, so little had changed in the research world when it came to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). We discovered many families facing this diagnosis alone and founded the Juvenile Arthritis Research charity to help make a real difference.
“When a new volunteer applied to join us, we were amazed to discover that she too had studied at the University of Bath. Suruthi Gnanenthiran [MChem Chemistry with Drug Discovery 2020] joined the team and has been making a huge impact in supporting families as someone who has the condition herself. We have a giggle about some of our Bath memories as we recall the challenge of attending a university situated on the top of a big hill when you have arthritis! We’ve also discovered that England and Team Bath netballer, Summer Artman, also has JIA. Her story is incredibly inspirational to the children and young people we support.
“It's incredibly rewarding, and somewhat unbelievable, to connect with so many Bath alumni in this way. We always welcome support from anyone – Bath alumni or not – to help us reach our goal: a world where no child has to suffer with arthritis.”
We'd love to hear your stories of friendship so drop us a message or comment on Facebook.
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