Read all about the reunion of the Applied Biology class of 1973 group below, written by alumnus Richard Clubley.
In September 2023, fifteen Brunel University Applied Biology graduates from the class of 1973, plus partners gathered to celebrate not only 50 years since graduation but also a deep and enduring love and friendship that sparked into life in the autumn of 1969, was kindled for two years at Acton and smouldered through Uxbridge.
That love has burned brightly ever since. There have been seven whole group reunions and many small holidays and visits over the years. There are Christmas cards, too, of course. There have been a few ‘Get Well Soon’ cards, condolence cards and two funerals.
At the outbreak of COVID-19, we discovered Zoom and commenced to chatting most Friday nights for an hour or so. We call it The Broom Cupboard (Brunel Zoom, geddit?). At Christmas of 2021, we invited staff from the biology department to join us in the cupboard. Expecting one or two, we eventually squeezed in double figures to enjoy a seasonal game of virtual sardines – and also to compare and swap notes about life in 1973 and 2021.
After dinner on the final night of our recent reunion, we each took a moment to say ‘What a degree at Brunel has given me’. The answers were fairly simple, including education, self-confidence, experience on the world stage (most of us came from quiet backwaters) and, top of the list, was this friendship. One or two people mentioned some great bands, at the start of their careers, that had performed at Brunel, including Pentangle, Curved Air, Deep Purple and the first-ever public performance by Elton John of Your Song.
Thank you, Brunel. May it please you to know you have not been forgotten and are still much loved.
Written by Richard Clubley.
Photo Caption
Names underlined and bold are the Brunel biology graduates. Partners in standard type. Jude Philpott graduated in chemistry at Brunel at the same time.
Back row (left to right): Robert Hales, Grahame Hall, Phil Everett, Wendy Hales (nee Langley), Fred Philpott, Rob Jones, Anne Richards, Jacky Jones, Bernard Marett, Malcolm Percival, Mike Pritchard, Christine Hall, Robert Beaumont, Lois Beaumont, June Wainwright, Ray Wainwright, Richard Clubley, John McAleely.
Middle row, (left to right): Ann Humphrey, Marion Hayes (nee Smith), Neil Richards, Clare Pritchard (nee Rowlett), Josie Taylor, Angela Percival (nee Walker), Jude Philpott (nee Lowe).
Front (left to right): Bev Clubley, Margaret Everett, Rita Sawrey-Woodwards (nee Rutt).