A York Alumni Love Story: Louise & Chris

Over 20 years ago friends set up Louise and Chris on their first date in Goodricke bar. Today, they’re happily living in Swansea as a wonderful family of three. Louise (History and Politics, 2003) tells Alumni Voices the story of how she met Chris (Maths, 2003)…

The first time Chris and I met, I, who was recently heartbroken and very much not looking for another boyfriend, had just been to a lecture by the philosopher Jacques Derrida in Central Hall with my friend Olly. After the lecture, which was totally baffling to me, Richard suggested Olly and I went to The Postern Gate Wetherspoons to meet his housemates and friends.

I found it quite intimidating as two of the girls were having a loud argument about the Middle East, but I do remember I was introduced to Chris by his then nickname of “Fat Lad” – I didn’t get the joke that he really wasn’t. I know, not very funny is it?

After that Olly and I spent a lot of time with Richard’s friends, including Chris, and we started to chat more and more. Eventually, we were all meeting for a drink in Goodricke bar but no one else turned up aside from me and Chris – what a set up! At the end of the night he walked me home to Badger Hill and the rest is history…

Chris is wearing a suit and bow tie and has his arm around Louise who is laughing. They are indoors at an event with people in formal dress in the background.

We were all meeting for a drink in Goodricke bar, but no one else turned up but me and Chris – what a set up!

We now live together in Swansea. Chris is a maths teacher and obsessive, sorry, highly successful amateur cyclist.

I am a Councillor and our council Cabinet Member for Care services, and I am very involved in local community activities as well as an ardent supporter of Swansea RFC!

We have a nine year old daughter called Ffion who has inherited her dad’s mathematical ability and a bit of her mum’s interest in history – but sadly she’s more passionate about Pokémon than politics.

We have a nine year old daughter called Ffion who has inherited her dad’s mathematical ability and a bit of her mum’s interest in history – but sadly she’s more passionate about Pokémon than politics.