17/09/2026
1970s alumni reunite on campus
Edge Hill alumni who studied between 1974 and 1977, with some staying on for an additional year and graduating in 1978, returned to campus this week for a special reunion.
The group has been meeting annually for the past ten years, travelling to locations across the country including Bristol, Stratford, Cheltenham and Matlock. This year, they chose Liverpool as their meeting point, taking the train from the city before making their way to Edge Hill.
For two members of the group who visited campus, it was their first visit back since leaving, while others were returning to familiar surroundings after many years away.
Their visit to Clough and Stanley halls brought back memories of student life in the 1970s, including rooms with metal beds and shared shower facilities on one floor, with a communal bathroom area and bath on the other. The group shared stories from their student days, including one particularly memorable tale of a student taking his motorbike into the lift and riding it up and down the Stanley/Clough corridor!
Malcolm Lyon recalled seeing The Stranglers and Shakin’ Stevens perform in the Students’ Union, offering a reminder of the live music and memorable experiences that were part of student life at Edge Hill.
With no students around, Malcolm Lyon was delighted to be able to visit his former room. Although it looked very different from how he remembered it, stepping inside brought back many fond memories.
The alumni group enjoyed exploring the Hub and seeing how the original buildings remain visible alongside the University’s modern developments. Sages, in particular, still looked much as it did in the 1970s. They also visited the western campus, where they caught a glimpse of teaching taking place in the Clinical Skills building, revisited the Rose Garden and finished at the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine (FoHSCM).
The visit to FoHSCM offered a chance to see where graduation ceremonies take place today. In their day, Edge Hill’s graduation ceremonies were held off campus, before the University received its degree-awarding powers.
Following their visit, the group continued exploring the campus, taking in more of the changes before heading back to Liverpool.
It was lovely to meet you all and hear your stories of Edge Hill in the 1970s. We hope you enjoyed your visit and the rest of your time together in Liverpool!
The reunion group: Jean Fitzgerald (organiser), Josephine Cownley, Jane Moore, Malcolm Lyon, Elizabeth Lodge and Elizabeth Harding.
