Alumni contributions | 25
Photos courtesy of Steve Goldthorp
John and Sarah Davnall with daughter Ellen
Sarah moved employers a couple of times before settling into her career at Manchester University in 1976 and I retrained as a teacher in 1979 / 80 . My first teaching post moved us to Derbyshire where we had our two children . Neither child wanted to hang around after graduation so , with thanks for small mercies , myself first , then Sarah , took slightly early retirement , since which we have downsized by house but upsized to the largest and most challenging of our gardens .
We used Keele Hall as the venue for our golden wedding lunch in August 2021 . Over 40 friends and family members came together with more than 20 staying at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel on campus for the two nights either side , so turning a four-hour lunch into a 40-hour do .
Of the friends , 12 are Keele graduates who spanned 1963 to 1976 . Those unfamiliar with Keele were impressed by the Hall and its Old Library and Salvin Room where the buffet lunch was served . Sadly , the weather was rather dismal so the estate could not be seen to best effect . In lieu of gifts , donations were made to designated charities , including the Keele Student Hardship Fund .
I took advantage of the trip to visit Dr David Cohen , Registrar Emeritus , who had been my tutor in organic chemistry and later , when I was Student Union Secretary , I had frequent conversations with Dr Cohen who was the Senate ’ s student liaison official .
A strong thread throughout our marriage has been friendships with Keele contemporaries . There have been frequent gatherings of 10 or so for house parties and we have holidayed together as well as having all manner of shorter encounters . The closeness of the ties has been commented on – most strikingly by an Oxford graduate who attended one group event . It was with some measure of envy that he said , “ You Keele b …. ds have got it made .”
Amen to that .