Architecture alumna graduates from the University 100 years after her great-grandfather

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Lotti on her graduation day and her great-grandfather George just before beginning his studies at Liverpool

This summer, exactly a century after her great-grandfather George Merchant graduated with a BA in 1926, Architecture alumna Lotti received her degree from the University of Liverpool.

Lotti’s mother, Ashley, and grandmother, Victoria, shared their reflections on the life and career of their grandfather and father, George.

Born in Southport, George received a scholarship to study for a BA at the University of Liverpool. Victoria recalls that her father: “loved his time at Liverpool and remembered his university days with pride.”

George and his wife Margaret (centre) on their wedding day 23 December 1927 

After graduating in 1926, George married Margaret the following year, and together they had two children, George and Victoria.


Margaret and George with their children George and Victoria

George’s career led him to a position as a language master at Ludlow Grammar School in Shropshire, where he spent four decades before retiring to Torquay. Even in retirement, he continued teaching English as a foreign language until he was 80 years old.

George outside Torbay School in Devon where he worked

Victoria with George outside his home in Torquay

George with his granddaughter Ashley

Reflecting on her having her granddaughter graduate from the same University her father did, Victoria shared that she: “couldn't be more proud.” Ashley added that George would have been “immensely proud of Lotti too”.

Lotti on her graduation day in 2026

Speaking about her graduation day, Lotti said: "I have loved my time at Liverpool and feel honoured to have graduated 100 years after my great grandad, a very special moment of which mum and grandma tell me Popa would be very proud. Sadly, I never got to meet him, but I would have loved to share my experiences of Liverpool with him."

A huge thank you to Ashley, Victoria and Lotti for sharing their Liv Uni family story with us.

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