Maya Bewley We caught up with three generations of the Vickers family who have all studied at York. Follow their story from a dance in Heslington Hall almost 60 years ago, a Vanbrugh College romance thirty years later and finally to a proud graduation ceremony at Central Hall.
The Grandparent’s story: Margaret and John
“I worked in the bursar’s department in Heslington Hall. I met John 58 years ago at a staff dance. It was the end of term and John was putting on the records…
John: “We had stayed up to play these records because my friend was social secretary for Langwith Junior Common Room.”
Margaret “My friend and I were just jogging to the music that the students were putting on and then John and his friend came over to us and asked us to dance, splitting my friend and I up. Two marriages came out of that!”
John: “I was interviewed in King’s Manor. I came here in 1965 to study English and education, so I graduated in 1968, followed by a PGCE so I came back in 1969. It was Harry Rée’s Education department that really stimulated my career. My time at York opened up a lifetime commitment to education.”
Margaret: “I loved my time spent in Heslington Hall and I loved the magnolia tree by the gazebo overlooking Derwent College, sadly it’s no longer there.”
John: “My favourite memory of York is probably the Saint Patrick’s night dance, where I met Margaret.”
The parent’s story: Michael and Sarah
“I remember noticing Sarah as she walked to her lectures: the window of my room in Vanbrugh X block faced towards the Biology department. Then we later met in my neighbours room and around Vanbrugh bar. We would hang out in the common room with friends. I certainly remember a lot of darts and pool”
Michael: “I came to York in 1993 to study Chemistry, 30 years after my parents were here. My older sister Rachel also came to York in 1991 to study Chemistry, so we overlapped for a bit! Sarah and I graduated exactly 30 years ago.
Sarah: “I also arrived in York in 1993, graduating in 1996 and my brother also graduated with Biology from York after me. My favourite memories of York include making great friends, trips to the college bars or into York clubbing in the first year whilst still making it to lectures.
In the second year it was meeting up with friends at The Gimcrack, our local pub in Fulford along with enjoying Sunday roasts at The Deramore Arms, ‘the Derry’, which was legendary.
I enjoyed completing the Duke of Edinburgh gold expedition with University friends. ‘Woodstock’ and the graduation ball completed our University time.”
“Being here for Rohan’s graduation, campus feels massively different now. The whole of East Campus wasn’t here when we were students. It’s really nice to come back and do little walks around campus and the walk into York. West campus still has lots of familiar features from our time as a nice trip down memory lane. It felt like coming home when we dropped him off the first time.”
Michael: “It’s strange because today obviously we have memories of 30 years ago when we graduated. I remember our graduation so well and today, being able to celebrate Rohan’s achievement is like coming full circle.
“It’s been lovely returning to the University over the last three years. There’s a lot that has changed, but a lot that seems exactly the same. Certainly, the lake, the ducks and geese and Central Hall are as they always were! Rohan lived in James College in his first year, but I seem to recall that the college was only just built when we were students. It does always feel a bit like coming home.”
Sarah: “If I had to sum up my time at York, I think it was just a really positive time where I got to grow up and become independent, with really fond memories.
Michael: “It’s been a massive part of all of our lives really. It’s been kind of a constant all the way through with Mum and dad being here and then us spending time here and then being able to spend time as parents with Rohan. It’s a very special place.”
Rohan’s perspective
“I didn’t like the idea of a really busy city, so I thought York would suit me in that sense. I guess subconsciously I was influenced by the fact that so many people in my family have been here!
My favourite memories have definitely been the sports. My housemate from first year introduced me to volleyball which I’d never played before, and that’s probably the take home memory, getting to James Ones playing in varsity. I’ve played some football as well and darts, so socialising and sports have definitely been the highlights.
If I had to sum up my time at York I’d say busy, but in a good way. It’s been so welcoming, my coursemates were really nice, and it’s taught me a lot about learning to live alone and gaining more independence.
It’s strange because obviously I wasn’t around my family all those years ago when they were here, but, I guess that’s what kind of led me to be here. Without York, my grandparents and parents wouldn’t have met each other. It’s a great place.”
Lovely to read this story of three generations at York. I knew Jon very well during my time there and still have a copy of William Golding’s The Spire which he gave me as thanks for lending him my bike one term when he had more need of it than I! I also went into teaching but was not really temperamentally suited to it and eventually went on to other things. best wishes, Jon, Margaret and family from John Dearing