Valentine’s Day: Celebrating our alumni’s #LivUniLoveStories
For many of our graduates, the University of Liverpool wasn’t just the place to pursue their ambitions – it’s also where love stories and lifelong friendships began. This Valentine's Day, we’re celebrating those unforgettable connections by sharing some cherished #LivUniLoveStories from our alumni.
Steven Edwards (BSc Hons Botany 1975, MSc Behavioural and Evolutionary Ecology 1993) and Jackie (Pharmacy 1977 at LJMU) (pictured in the featured image)
Steve and Jackie in 1975
“After forty-eight years of marriage, we continue to be the soulmates that we were from the start.”
“Thursday 10 October 1974 was the day of a general election, so my flatmate and I decided to throw a party. There were several freshers at the party, amongst whom was Jackie, who had just begun a pharmacy degree course at what was then Liverpool Polytechnic (now Liverpool John Moores University). We hit it off immediately and the rest, as they say, is history!
Steve and Jackie on their wedding day
Being in our forty eighth year of marriage, we continue to be the soulmates that we were from the start and look forward, hopefully, to continuing to share our time doing what we enjoy so much.”
Steve and Jackie in Hawaii in 1996
Following his graduation, Steven went on to teach on the Wirral and in Chester whilst Jackie managed several retail pharmacies in the area. Their work, along with their love for travelling has taken them all over the world and as avid bird watches they’ve seen 38% of the world's avian species. They plan to visit Asia this year for their second attempt to see and photograph a snow leopard.
Steve and Jackie in Madagascar 2013
Steve and Jackie, Lake District, 2024
Listen to Steve and Jackie's Liv Uni Love Story here:
Nigel Pope (BEng Electronics 1974) and Christina
Nigel and Christina’s wedding in 1975, alongside their friends from the University of Liverpool and Sheffield Polytechnic Amateur Radio Societies
“This year, we will celebrate our Golden Wedding thanks to a chance encounter and Liverpool University.”
“In November 1970, I was 17 years old, and I had an interview at Liverpool University. On the train to Liverpool, I noticed a girl in a black plastic raincoat, but we did not speak and when we arrived, I went off for a tour of the Electronic Engineering Department and for my interview. The interview went well, and I was pleased to get an unconditional offer. So, University place secured, I went back to Liverpool Lime Street to get the train home.
The platform was crowded but I found a seat on the train, and as we set off, I realised I was sitting next to the same girl in the raincoat. She had in her hand some university papers and I could see that she had also been for an interview. So, we got talking and found we lived only about 10 miles apart. Then, she asked me if I had any hobbies, and I replied that I was a Radio Ham [amateur radio]. To my astonishment, she replied that she was also interested in Ham Radio.
So, we started dating.
I took up my place at Liverpool University, but Christina went to Sheffield Polytechnic. In those days there were no mobile phones or the internet, so keeping in touch was not easy. However, the Liverpool University Amateur Radio Society had a powerful transmitter on the top floor of the Old Union Building. So, we would chat on the radio bouncing 80m radio waves off the ionosphere to get them over the Pennines between Liverpool and Sheffield. Mind you, it is not a very private way of talking to your girlfriend when any licenced Radio Ham can listen and even chip in.
When our student days were over, Christina and I got married. This year, we will celebrate our Golden Wedding thanks to a chance encounter and Liverpool University.”
Following graduation, Nigel and Christina moved to London, where he worked in telecommunications industry and Christina worked in Biomedical research and later in computer networks. They have two sons and two grandchildren and are now enjoying their retirement in Norfolk Broads, where Nigel continues to pursue his passion in Scouting.
Julian Daley (BA Hons Economics 1976) and Margaret Warby (BSc in Geography 1979)
Julian and Margaret at Dettifoss Waterfall in Iceland in 2008 celebrating their Silver Wedding anniversary
“All our friends realised we were a couple long before we did!”
“We met at a Friday evening Barn Dance in the Catholic Chaplaincy on 28 October 1977. I had already graduated and had become a management trainee with British Rail, but still had many friends at the University who kept me involved socially. That evening Bernie, one of my friends, introduced me to the tall, blonde girl she had brought with her, her friend Margaret, and we talked and danced and had a good time. We met again at the next Barn Dance, and I found the courage to ask her out; much to my surprise she said yes, and we started dating. All our friends realised we were a couple long before we did!”
After Margaret graduated in 1979, she tried teacher training before working with the civil services in London. Margaret moved back to Liverpool in 1983, and the couple were married that same year.
Margaret enjoyed a career in the library sector, working in Speke Library and Central Library, where she specialised in local history and map collection. Whilst Julian gained a job at Merseytravel rail team, where he spent the rest of his career. Their daughter, Rosemary also chose a railway career and now works for Network Rail in Glasgow.
Margaret retired in 2023 and took ill. She sadly passed away 4 June 2024, aged 66.
Andrew Wharfe (BSc Geography 1980, PhD Geography 1984) and Maggie Wharfe (BA Geography 1983)
Maggie and Andrew on his PhD graduation day in 1984, pictured on University campus
“I met my wife way back in 1980 and we started dating in 1982. My wife was doing a Geography degree and I was assisting in practical demonstrations while doing my PhD. We married in 1990.
Andrew and Maggie on a recent holiday in the Maldives
After a career in the energy industry, I have now retired. My wife was a teacher for several years but moved to part time working and finally stopped after we had a family.”
Molly Dowling (International Politics and Policy) and Ollie
Molly and Ollie celebrating their engagement
“We got engaged in 2024 and are tying the knot where it all began in Liverpool.”
“Like many other people who studied in Liverpool, we both worked as Match Day staff at Anfield Stadium for the 3/4 years that we lived there. We didn’t actually meet until the last few months of our degrees despite being connected weirdly in other ways - one of Ollie’s close friends that he met at Anfield and who was part of the Tennis Club with him studied my degree so I already knew her, another I was in Dance Society with! We also realised that we both went on the same ski trip to Val Thorens two years before we met, so had likely been stood right next to each other before!
We got engaged last year on the top of Arthur’s Seat and are tying the knot where it all began next year in Liverpool.”
Ollie’s career as a pilot has seen him live all over the place but the couple now live in Edinburgh. Molly works in the construction industry in a supply chain sustainability role focused on sustainable procurement.
Jaimie Richardson (BSc Physics with Medical Applications) and Mikey (MPhys)
Jaimie and Mikey at her PhD graduation
“We are now approaching 13 years together and are expecting our second child in August this year!”
“My future husband and I first met in 2012 when we were assigned into the same group during the Physics course ice breaker week in our first year. We became friends and would often sit next to each other in lectures or problems classes.
Our first kiss was a Physics society night out in the November of first year; superheroes and villains. I was super girl, and he was Captain America. Out in the Krazyhouse club after he spilled his beer all over me! A week later and he asked me out on a date. We had a meal at Bistro Franc and watched Skyfall in the cinema. We have been together ever since.
We are now approaching 13 years together and will celebrate our third wedding anniversary in October. In November 2023 we welcomed our beautiful daughter and are expecting our second child in August of this year!”
Jaimie continued her studies and gained an MSc and PhD in Nuclear Physics. They both work in the medical and nuclear fields respectively.
Chloe Hayward (English and Communications & Media) and Matt
“Matt stood me up on Valentine’s Day because he got concussion from playing American Football the day before, but we eventually met, and the rest is history!”
“Me and Matt met online in 2016 and then arranged to meet up at The Font Bar on campus. We were meant to meet up on Valentine’s Day (neither of us realised!) but Matt stood me up because he got concussion from playing American Football the day before. Eventually we met on the 27th of February and the rest is history! He was an American Footballer, myself a cheerleader. We moved in together after I graduated, bought a house in 2020 in Liverpool, and got engaged 25th December 2023. Our wedding is in Crete on 11th May this year!”
Life-long friendships made in Liverpool
Samuel Rhydderch (Politics) and Christy
“We are opposites, much to our delight and collective chagrin.”
“Me and Christy met during a first-year introductory debate on the state of democracy, manifestly quite a complex topic, at the Rendall building I believe, and we both started bickering about the definition of democracy itself. We are, full disclosure, located at opposites of the political and socio-economic spectrum much to our delight and collective chagrin. Once we got bored of whisper arguing we properly introduced ourselves outside and from then on, our friendship never looked back.”
Christy now studies in Freiburg, Germany, whilst Samuel began his consulting career in the Netherlands, before moving back to London. They’ve promised they’ll meet up again soon.
Suha Canaan (MBA 2006), Roque Clement and Phyllis Loochong
“I feel blessed with my two University of Liverpool friends, and I know our friendship will last forever.”
“I had my MBA online and graduated in 2006. I have two unforgettable friends with whom I still share messages of wishes every season.
Roque Clement, from India, who lives in Saudi Arabia. He got his degree with distinction, and he soon sent me an email telling me, knowing that I will be very happy with him. I never forget his kindness, when in one of our classes I was not able to receive my book in time, he scanned the first chapters for me, despite his tight time, being an employee and having a family. He is still as kind as he was.
Phyllis Loochong, from Singapore. We were in one class or two but kept writing to each other. Phyllis was always kind and caring. She helped me in growing my spiritual life and would always support me in this.
I feel blessed with my two University friends, and I know our friendship will last forever - already around 20 years!”
A heartfelt thank you to our alumni community for sharing their memories of love and friendship. If you liked this article, you can find similar content on our Instagram channel.