Be our Valentine with campus couples through the decades
- By:
- University of Bradford
- Published
Love is all around us this Valentine's Day, with our alumni sharing stories of how they met their spouses at Bradford.
University is a place to learn more about yourself, find your purpose and figure out your place in the world.
And you might even find the love of your life!
We reached out to our alumni from decades past to collect heartwarming stories of meet-cutes, weddings, children, milestone anniversaries, and the lives they've built together.
The lesson? You never know when you'll find your new favourite person and it might just be on our campus.
Emily, BioArchaeology, and Rich, Cybernetics and Virtual Worlds
I met my husband, Rich, in 2003 at Bradford. I was studying BioArchaeology and he was studying Cybernetics and Virtual Worlds. We started uni in the September, met in the October and started dating in the November. We got married in 2012 and now have two daughters (11 and 8).
We only met because a girl on my course called Frankie lived in the same halls as Rich. Frankie and I were pulling an all-nighter to get an essay done when Rich walked into the kitchen and said ‘hello’. The rest for us is history. We both have fond memories of our time at Uni and still bring up memories from Rock Sox and FND!
Rosalind, Biomedicine and Niall, Electrical and Electronic Engineering
I met my husband at Bradford in 1991 in our second year. I was studying Biomed and he Electrical and Electronic engineering! We have been married 30 years in June and have two fab kids.
Ian, Archaeological Sciences and Julia, Bradford College
My wife and I met at the University of Bradford in May 1988. Julia was a student at Bradford College and I was studying Archaeological Sciences. Soon after meeting (through a mutual friend) Julia moved to London, so we had a long-distance relationship for a while – without any internet to help – we used to write to each other every week.
Long story short is that we celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary this September, have three lovely children (who each have lovely partners) and one lovely grandson.
Even after having met 38 years ago we are still devoted to each other.
Sharon, Business Studies and Andy, Business Studies
I started at Bradford in 1988 and was staying in Revis Barber Hall. I had noticed a guy who always came down to dinner late after playing tennis. One evening he was sitting on a table in the Link Bar and my friend introduced us to each other. It turned out we were both studying Business Studies and as he had a car, he kindly offered to give me lifts to the Management Centre with his friends.
One day he asked if I would like to go on a day out to the Forest of Bowland. I agreed thinking that a group were all going. When we met at his car that day, I was shocked to discover that I was the only person he had asked and that was our first date.
We stayed together, even through a year when I moved to Norwich for work and Andy stayed in Bradford to complete his Master’s degree. We returned to the Forest of Bowland seven years later where we got engaged. We have now been married for nearly 29 years and have two wonderful grown-up sons!
Michelle, French and Spanish, and Barry, Chemistry
We met at the University of Bradford in 2001. He was studying Chemistry; I was studying French and Spanish. One of my classmates lived in the halls opposite me (I was in M Block of Longside Halls before they were knocked down, he was in G Block), and my husband was on his floor.
We became friends first, with a great group of people from both our halls, and we eventually got together in February 2002 at a Gaudi's R&B night. In 2006, he drove a circuitous route back to G Block to propose where we first met so I wouldn't guess what he was doing!
We've been married 18 years and have two beautiful children. Thanks, Bradford!
Rosina (Nina), Modern Languages 1969, PhD and MBA, and Anthony (Tony) BSc Business Studies, 1971
We celebrated our Golden Wedding in 2023. We attended a reunion in Bradford in 2015 and still have an active group chat of Bradford graduates. This year, we're keenly following Bradford’s City of Culture 2025 from our home in southwest France.
Do you have news to share with our alumni community?
We’re always proud to hear your stories and achievements. Get in touch with us, and we’ll share your stories with your fellow Bradford alumni. Contact us by email at: [email protected]