The University of Nottingham

Photographed at University Park with the Portland Building as their backdrop, Ian and Anne Wragg look as happy in 2010 as they did back at the Graduation Ball of 1958.

In the half century in between came love and life, three children, six grandchildren, successful teaching careers at home and in Nigeria and a lifelong association with The University of Nottingham. Ian (History 1957) and Anne (English 1958), née Wright, celebrated their golden wedding on campus with friends and family.

Back in 1958, as President and Secretary of the Methodist Society, Ian and Anne walked hand in hand around the Highfields Park Lake.

“We genuinely loved our time here,” said Ian. “The University was little bigger than a large comprehensive school and things tended to be focused on the Lower Trent Corridor in a very intimate and informal way. Coming back on campus as I regularly do, I’m overwhelmed at the number of students and how cosmopolitan the student body is.”

Anne remembers life in Florence Boot Hall under the watchful eye of warden Miss Spellman. “We had shared female bedrooms at the time and the rule was that you could have a man in your room up to 6pm but then you had to have a chaperone. By 10pm all men had to be out!”

Did you meet at the University? Our appeal for stories of couples who met here had a great response – but we’d like more. Our aim is to get together as many couples as possible at an event in September. If you’d like to tell us your story, please email: simon.heath-harvey@nottingham.ac.uk or call +44 (0) 115 951 3690. To express an interest in the event, please contact Sue Daley at: susan.daley@nottingham.ac.uk or call +44 (0) 115 846 6940.