Three degrees of graduation

At this year's summer graduation ceremonies, we met with a very unique family. Josh Byford became the third generation of his family to receive a degree from Bath. We spent the day getting to know the family by looking back on where this generation-spanning story began.

When Richard received his University of Bath diploma in 1966, he could never have imagined that decades later, both his daughter and grandson would follow in his footsteps. For three generations of his family, Bath has been more than a place of study – it’s been the backdrop to life-changing love stories, careers and friendships. 

Richard met his wife, Meryl Eynon, through a mutual love of badminton. They were studying at the Bristol College of Science and Technology at the time, which would later become the University of Bath. “We met at university, got married, and the rest is history,” he says with a smile. “We were very happily married until Meryl passed in 2019.”

Meryl’s path was pioneering. “She was always one who would take on a challenge,” Richard remembers. “She was one of the first graduates of the Dip Tech and went on to have a varied career – first as a scientist, and later as a teacher. She taught chemistry, biology and maths over the years. She was always prepared to try new things.”

University wasn’t something Richard had planned for. “It came to me really,” he remembers. At 16, he started at Bristol Aeroplane Company as an apprentice. At 19, there was an opportunity for high achievers to progress to further study. That included Richard. “I got told I was going to study for the Dip Tech and off I went,” he says.

Years later, Richard’s daughter Christine would follow in her parents’ footsteps. She headed to Bath to study pharmacy, where she met her future husband, Adam – also through badminton. “We’re from similar areas and had known of each other for years through our sport,” Adam says, “but it was Bath that brought us together.” 

For Adam and Christine, the University became the launchpad for successful careers. Christine remembers, “Boots were coming to Bath to recruit and that’s how I got the job at the company I stayed at for 32 years.” Engineer Adam adds, “Professionally it helps that you’ve got a good institution behind you to get your foot in the door.”

Looking back, they’ve witnessed how dramatically the campus has changed. “When I lived at Eastwood Green, it had fields surrounding it – now it’s all accommodation,” Christine says. “We have pictures of the lake where all you can see is the water and the amphitheatre. Now it’s all beautifully landscaped.” At the time, Bath had just 5,000 students in total; today there are over 21,000. 

Despite their fond memories, Adam and Christine insist they did not steer their son towards Bath. “We didn’t push him here,” they laugh. “We knew the University was good and it was nice for him to come somewhere that we’d both had such a great time. Our advice was just to make the most of all the opportunities.” 

For Josh, who has gained a degree in Civil and Architectural Engineering, Bath represented both a strong academic choice and a meaningful family connection. “I chose Bath because it was one of the top universities for engineering,” he says. “Knowing we have that family connection is special. I know to my Gramps it means quite a bit.”

Josh has made his own mark during his time at Bath, taking part in a placement year which led to him securing a graduate role. “Knowing I was going into this role really took the pressure off during final year.”

But it’s the people he’ll miss the most. “All the little moments where you’re just having fun with all your mates and being silly,” he reflects. “Being able to see friends whenever you want was great.”

For Richard, watching his grandson succeed at Bath has been a source of joy. “He’s matured an awful lot, I’m very proud of him,” he says. “I’m pleased to see how he’s progressed and happy that he has a job to go to.” 

We concluded the day with the family by walking them to Bath Abbey, where they donned their gowns to watch Josh graduate. His time at Bath has written a new chapter in a story that began with Richard and Meryl in the '50s and continued with Christine and Adam in the '80s. Across three generations, Bath has remained a constant thread in their lives.

Do you have a similar story to tell? Share it with us at advancement@bath.ac.uk.