A lot of my student life centred around the Students’ Union. I don’t think there wasn’t a sport or activity that wasn’t catered for, from the standard rugby, hockey, football, and netball clubs to the more obscure such as octopush (underwater hockey played on the bottom of the pool with a lead ‘puck’), paintballing, and the “Let’s Sit Down, Drink Beer and Talk About Whales” Society (yes it really did exist and I still have my t-shirt). I have great memories of the BPSA days (British Polytechnic Sports Association) where eight or nine coaches packed with students from all the sports teams would break free from Devon and head up the M5 to play against other polytechnics; Bristol and Pontypridd being most memorable.
I made some great friends in Plymouth through the charity fund raising RAG committee, where we’d put on events and do RAG ‘Hits’ to nearby cities to collect for various charities. The highlight of the Autumn term being the annual trip to Ottery St Mary for the Pagan Fire Festival to collect donations and try not to end up in the burns unit of Derriford.
After three fantastic years living in and around Mutley Plain in Plymouth, I just didn’t want to leave, and in 1992 as the Polytechnic became the University of Plymouth, I was elected President of the Students’ Union. It was an incredible sabbatical and a chance to give something back to the organisation which helps, supports and entertains so many campus students each year. There was always something special about the Union building, entering the foyer, passing the SU Shop, STA Travel Office and the SU Executives offices (picking up a copy of ‘Fly’ on a Friday) and then heading down the stairs into the subterranean bar and cafeteria with its glass pyramid roof light, pool tables and laundromat. This was also the early 90’s when the National Union of Students was under political pressure regarding its funding with ‘Voluntary Membership’ being frequently campaigned and demonstrated against.
I graduated with honours in 1992 attending the awards ceremony in the Plymouth Pavilion. I have so many fond memories of my student days in Plymouth, far too many to try and recount.
