Alumnae celebrate graduation diamond jubilee

Morag Clark (nee Worboys), Betty Jeffries (nee Walker), Margaret McKenzie (nee Trounson), Patricia Morton (nee Crimmins) and Ann Jenkin (nee Trevenen) decided to mark the special occasion with a reunion in Devon. The five friends all studied at Exeter between 1949 and 1953 when the University was University College of the South West, which offered University of London degrees. They now live all over the country but organised a group trip to return to campus and the city.

Morag said of the changes to campus, “There are a lot more buildings now. When we were studying it was only Washington Singer and the Gandy Street buildings. If you had a morning lecture in Gandy Street you were always hungry by the time you got back for lunch as you had to cycle back up the hill.”

Even though they studied in Exeter 60 years ago – some parts of the student experience are still the same. The ladies were key members of the popular student societies at the time; Ann was founder and secretary of the Celtic society and a member of the Cornish language study group. Most of them were members of the Student Christian Movement (SCM). Sport was a key part of Exeter life with Betty, Morag and Ann all playing for the University hockey team.

Some traditions have disappeared over the past 60 years: “There was a formal lunch on a Sunday and you knew that if the Principal came to lunch on a Sunday you were assured of a good soup” said Betty.

Since leaving Exeter the five have remained in contact and have returned to visit the University a couple of times, the last in 2002 being a special reunion to mark 50 years since graduation.

If you studied at Exeter at the same time and would like to reconnect with Morag, Betty, Margaret, Patricia or Ann please email alumni@exeter.ac.uk