Guest Writer Across three decades and two generations, the Laynesmith family have experienced different aspects of York – from late-night essay crises and chaplaincy soup lunches to archaeology seminars in King’s Manor and tabletop gaming societies. Their experiences span a York that has grown and changed, yet still offers the same blend of academics and community. This conversation between parents Joanna and Mark, and their sons James and Matthew, traces how one university can shape careers, friendships, and family across the years and what it means to walk the same paths in very different times.
The parents perspective: Joanna & Mark
- What first drew you to the University of York, and what was your experience like as a student here
Joanna: I’d fallen in love with York and Yorkshire on a family holiday so when I came across a leaflet in the school library about a joint History and English Literature degree (when joint courses were much less common) it sounded perfect. It was fabulous – finding ‘people like me’ for the first time in my life; being taught by some amazing tutors (although I found the pressure of tutorials with just one other student each week quite stressful initially); I was so happy that I stayed as long as I could (for an MA and a DPhil).
Mark: I was drawn to York having taken a year out in India as a school friend of mine was already there. It was nearer to home in Kent than Durham (my second choice); larger and more vibrant; the city was charming: the Minster, the walls, little snickleways, bicycling…
- What are some of your fondest memories of student life at York?
Joanna: Mostly just the friendship and sense of community in college and all the shared houses, as well as in the various societies I joined. The Outdoor Society walks in the moors and dales were wonderful and we had some great History Society trips. Not long after arriving there was a welcome service for students by candlelight in the Minster crypt and at Ascension every year there was a service up on one of the towers which felt rather special. Learning to play croquet in front of Heslington Hall and the Vanbrugh Christmas dinners. We also got to hear amazing speakers in Central Hall – I especially remember Seamus Heaney and Tony Benn. And, of course, first meeting Mark in More House during one of the chaplaincy soup lunches!
Mark: Sharing a student house for 2 years which had a juke-box; being part of the superb Methodist-Anglican community; writing for Christis magazine; being part of Heslington Church community and studying theology with the Ecumenical team of Chaplains. Meeting my future wife and marrying at Heslington at the end of my MA year!
- How has your York education shaped your career and personal journey since graduating?
Joanna: The approaches to studying the Middle Ages that I learned at York CMS have remained really important as I’ve continued to do medieval research over the decades since. It’s wonderful how many of us who studied together at King’s Manor are still connecting at conferences. I turned my DPhil thesis into a book which is the work most people still connect with me, I think. Some of the friends I made back then are still among my closest, even if we live rather far away from each other these days.
Mark: I retained contact with the History department, stayed on for an MA in medieval studies. I began training for the priesthood in Oxford, but returned to be ordained in York and worked nearby in Tadcaster for 3 years. Then, following the example of the then York chaplains, I became a University Chaplain at Reading. About 10 years ago my former York tutor, Dr Katy Cubitt invited me to give a conference paper, which re-opened the door to study and led to me studying a doctorate (alas, not at York!). A part-time academic career as a medieval historian followed. Last year I was invited to conduct the funeral of one of my former History tutors, Peter Rycraft, at Heslington Church, and I used it as an opportunity to pay tribute to the first generation of historians who I knew as they came to the end of their careers in the 1990s.
- What does it mean to you to see your children following in your footsteps at York?
Joanna: It’s lovely that a place that mattered so much to us is very much part of their story too now, especially that as archaeologists they were at King’s Manor where Mark and I were as medievalists. It’s great to have an excuse to keep visiting York so often and also interesting to see the differences in their experience.
Mark: Strangely proud! We have friends in York who never left, so it has always has a second-home feel.
- In what ways has York changed since your time as a student and what has stayed the same?
Joanna: The city’s a lot busier and it’s harder to be spontaneous when you even have to book to go to the Minster’s Advent carols. But it’s still my favourite place for Christmas shopping. The university is, of course, so much bigger, with extra buildings all over the place, and the trees are bigger too – my friends in Vanbrugh A block used to put a large T in the window so that I could see it from my room in C block when they took a tea break from work and I’d walk round to join them, but you couldn’t see that now. The colleges are more like halls of residence these days – I remember it felt very special to be invited for drinks at the provost’s house: that was Allen Warren, whose old house is called The Warren now. There were sufficiently few students that the Yorkshire Evening Press printed the names of everyone who graduated each year – I recently found I’d saved a copy.
Mark: The city is much more touristy; once it was common to live within the city walls, but that’s far less common now, I suspect. The campus has lots of new buildings and a whole new campus which I don’t know.
The sons’ perspective: James & Matthew
6. What inspired you to choose York, especially given your family connection?
James: I was mainly drawn to York as my first choice for University because the staff and past students at the department of Archaeology were really friendly and excellent at sharing their enthusiasm for the course. Another major factor was that York was far enough away from home that I felt I could have a real sense of independence, but I still had local family connections so I knew that if anything went wrong I had people I knew who could help.
Matthew: York was one of the best universities I knew of for my desired course, confirmed both by my parents and others that I talked to. Furthermore I had visited the city before and knew it was a nice place to live in.
7. How does it feel to be studying at the same university your parents attended?
James: It almost feels nostalgic in a strange way, as I can be walking somewhere on campus and realise that my parents walked in the exact same place when they were my age doing pretty similar things to what I am doing today.
Matthew: Mildly amusing and also reassuring as they are familiar with the city and could offer advice not available just through university sites
8. Do you ever compare notes with your parents about student life, and how does your experience differ from theirs?
James: We’ve talked about our different experiences of student life several times, and I think the main difference is that they engaged more in societies and events related to Christianity and faith whereas most of the social events I attend are to do with tabletop gaming. However, one way our times have been similar is that both me and my parents have engaged in peaceful protests against various issues such as environmental damage and human rights violations during our time here.
Matthew: Often, it’s usually just advice about cooking and food prep but occasionally about what societies they went to and what their houses were like.
9. What are your hopes for the future after York?
James: I am currently hoping to go on to work in museums as a curator or archivist.
Matthew: Hopefully a career related to my degree though I expect to need to live with my parents for a couple years before I can afford my own place (as I am not currently intending on applying for an MA).
10. What’s one thing you love most about studying here right now?
James: My favourite thing about studying at the University of York is getting to be taught in King’s Manor, the fifteenth-century building in the heart of the city of York that used to serve as the Archaeology department.
Matthew: The people, hanging out with friends either on my course or who I only meet at societies that would have been too niche to attract enough size to sustain themselves at home.
The whole family
11. How special is it to share this York connection across generations?
Joanna: To me, very.
Mark: It’s unexpected!
James: It definitely feels very special, like we’re a living part of the history of the university and an example of its academic achievements.
Matthew: I wouldn’t call it “special” but it is a nice point of familiarity
12. Do you have any “family traditions” linked to York (e.g. favourite spots in the city, graduation photos, campus visits)?
Joanna: I think there are so many places we love visiting that you can only do a few each time. Friends who were at York with Mark and I recently gave us a beautiful painting of King’s Manor that’s up in our kitchen now – we took a picture of James in his graduation robes there and hopefully we’ll be able to take one of Matthew too even though it won’t be part of the university by then.
Mark: Joanna and I still visit the old student house we lived in from time to time (‘Sandy’s Farmhouse’ off the Fulford Road). Thomas the Baker…
James: Not really. The closest we have is that King’s Manor is very important to all of us as we have all studied there.
Matthew: A couple of historical sites or favourite shops most of us enjoy visiting (e.g Barley Hall).
13. What advice would you give to future generations of York students?
Joanna: keep trying new things each year, find time to explore beyond the city (they call Yorkshire God’s own county for a reason!)
Mark: Find something to fall in love with: a person, a subject, a student community/society. I had the great privilege to have all three…
James: Make sure to get involved in as many societies as you can (you can always leave some if you join too many) as that’s the best way to meet new people who share your interests as well as to try out new skills in an environment that is safe and welcoming.
Matthew: Engage in more than just one society at one event a week, be outside doing things with people rather than doing nothing all year.
