Love at Leeds

Love through the years

A summer stroll across Woodhouse Moor, a rendezvous in the Brotherton Library, a dance in the Union building – Leeds has seen it all.

This Valentine's Day, read 100s of heart-warming stories of love at Leeds.

Search by graduation year: 1960-69, 1970-79, 1980-89, 1990-99, 2000-09, 2010-19, 2020-2024, 2025

Or perhaps it was Leeds that stole your heart. Explore how our alumni fell in love with the city in our love for Leeds section, and enjoy their love letters to the city.

And it's not too late to add your own story by completing our short form.

Keep an eye out for our student newspaper clippings through the decades - including the Valentine's Chart of 1986, and a secret recipe from 2001.

Give to Leeds

If Leeds still holds a place in your heart, explore how you can give back to help our students and future graduates to succeed.

You might volunteer to mentor and advise students, or give financially to support students and research – make a difference to those following in your footsteps.

Your invite to the 1964 Houldsworth Valentine's Ball:

Michael Rex (Electrical Engineering 1960)

Met my future wife Gillian (Spanish 1959) in 1959. we were both Leeds students. Now we have been married for 63 years.

Roger Bentley (Chemistry 1963)

In 1965 whilst studying for a PhD I met Kathie Waterhouse who worked in the Fees Office in the Parkinson Building. We had both grown up in Leeds, though attended different schools, but found we had lots of friends and interests in common. We regularly met for lunch, on pleasant days it was usually a pie from Ainsley's on Woodhouse Lane that we took up to Woodhouse Moor.

We married the following year, so this year will be celebrating our diamond wedding anniversary.

One of our sons Justin ""JP"" Bentley read physics at Leeds, and more recently his daughter Amber Bentley graduated from Leeds in aeronautical engineering.

John (Physics 1963) and Pat Bowers (née Eccles) (Geography 1963)

We met in the Riley-Smith Hall during the Freshers' Conference in 1960. Just celebrated our 61st wedding anniversary.

Geoffrey Clarke (Law 1965)

I read law. I met my wife on a holiday trip to Spain in 1962. As she lived in Derby and I lived in Tonbridge Kent it may have been just a holiday romance. However, with my place at Leeds we continued meeting, married in 1966 and were married for 52 years before she passed away.

Christopher Clark (Chemical Engineering 1966)

Sue and I met at a midweek party put on by a student from the Russian department. At that time I was a postgrad student and had been working late in the lab with a couple of friends. We debated whether to go to the pub or the party , but as the party beer was free we decided on the party. Little did two of us know that the girls we met there would later become our wives. We are all still very good friends after all these years.

Leeds has stayed very much part of our family history as our son graduated from Leeds and is now a doctor working in Yorkshire.

Sue graduated with BA Hons in Russian in 1970.

Stephen Porter (Physics 1967)

We met in 1965, while we were both students at Leeds. We were married in 1967 and have enjoyed life together ever since.

Ian Gatfield (Chemistry 1967)

It all happened in the breakfast queue in the Charles Morris Hall of residence in the first week of term in October 1966 with the key phrase "smoked haddock"!

I was just being served when I heard a voice immediately behind me asking "what is that yellow thing on your plate?" Being polite and inquisitive, I turned around and saw a tall, blonde and very attractive girl immediately behind me and I explained to her what it was. Namely, something she had never seen before and was very willing to try out. We sat down and ate and talked and I almost missed my 9 a.m. lecture!

It transpired that Regine was an exchange student from Tübingen University in West Germany and would be in Leeds until Easter 1967. Well, one thing led to another and just before she left Leeds at Easter, I invited her to stay for a week at my home in Douglas / Isle of Man. After my finals in June 1967, I went to Germany to meet her family and spent 10 weeks on the Continent with Regine.

The departure in late September was hard but we kept in very regular touch by letter and I went back to Leeds for postgraduate work in the chemistry department , where I stayed for another two years. During this time I shared a university flat with another postgraduate student who had met his future wife, also from Germany, just as I had and at the same time, in the Charles Morris.

Regine finished her studies in 1968 and then trained to become a grammar school teacher.

We got engaged in Vienna in the summer of 1968, married one year later and in October 1969 I left the UK for Germany and have been living here ever since. We have three children and seven grandchildren. Our two sons live in Switzerland, both studied biochemistry in Tübingen and work in the pharmaceutical industry in Basel and at Lausanne University. Our daughter studied medicine and works in a large private hospital in Erfurt in former East Germany.

I worked in the food and also in the flavour/fragrance industry in Germany. My training at Leeds and also at the chemistry department at Tübingen university, where I studied for three years for my PhD were ideal for my career in the flavour industry where I worked for 30 years in the area of flavour-active natural products.

Well, our life-long relationship began in our very early twenties with food in Leeds and here we are almost 80 years old and fortunately still going strong ! We both have quite regular reunions, both school and university, and are still fit and healthy and hope things stay this way for quite some years still!

Barry Stoddard (Chemical Engineering 1967)

I met Lorelie Harris (Pharmacy 1968) later to be my wife at Freshers' Week in 1965. I was president of Leeds Ballroom Dancing Society that year. Lovely memories of our time at Leeds and social dances in Weetwood Hall.

We started the Intervarsity Ball - now a huge event but back then just four universities competed!

We were invited back in 2014 to a splendid reunion dinner dance in the then more modern union. There were many past committee members from over the years and around 80 in all.

Happy memories indeed.

Stephen M D Day (Textile Industry 1967)

They say nothing lasts forever. However, one of my first true loves, Ann, was simultaneously taking a degree in Textiles - so we attended numerous lectures together. At the time, I owned a clapped-out convertible 1952 Morris minor, but since she had no transportation, I offered to drive her home outside Leeds, post classes.

She was from Yorkshire and I was a southerner, and over time we wove and knitted a slow burning passionate joyfully fun relationship - particularly when my car broke down unintentionally of otherwise. Both of us got good jobs at Courtaulds, as the result of Leeds Uni; she in London and me in Rochdale at the bottom of the Pennines.

We knew distance ultimately would create a problem. And so it did. With the recommendation of the head of the Textile faculty, I applied for and won a post-grad scholarship at Georgia Tech in America.

Ann emigrated to New Zealand and I to America. The rest is history, but a time in life I shall always treasure. We stretched time together at Leeds.

Michael Ashley (Chemical Engineering 1967)

I was a resident of Sadler Hall and met my wife Kay at a joint coffee party in Tetley Hall in 1965. I played my classical guitar. Kay had figured I was the best of the bunch and to start conversation she said “that was lovely - can you play Greensleeves?” Every one laughed saying “oh Kay - he just has!” We’ve now been married for 55 years, despite the fact that I missed our 50th anniversary as I was playing in a concert. Love endures all!

Michael Newman (Chemical Engineering 1967) and Hilary Newman (née Walters) (Physics 1967)

It was 9 October 1965 and I was beginning my third undergraduate year. I went along to the first Student’s Union Saturday night dance, disco, hop – call it whatever, to try my luck with the new girls; my efforts to get a girlfriend during the first two years having met with dismal failure. I was an only child – therefore no sisters; I had attended an all boys Grammar School; I was studying what was at that time an almost 100% male degree (Applied Science) and girls were a closed book to me.

Anyway, I spotted this girl half hiding behind a pillar. Perhaps she’s a bit shy like me, I thought. Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained, so I asked her to dance. She agreed and we jigged around as you do for a few minutes to the music and then she said: “It’s desperately stuffy in here; I need to step out for a minute.” “Good idea” I said and led the way out of the dance hall. Then I stopped and thought to myself: you fool that was a brush off. Still I plucked up courage to ask if I could buy her a lemonade in the bar and she accepted.

Then somehow we spent the rest of the evening together exchanging names and personal histories, even doing the occasional bit of dancing. She told me her name was Hilary and she was studying physics. I asked if could walk her home. I think she was rather relieved about that because she was in digs up on Hartley Avenue; not the nicest part of Leeds then (is it now?) and the time was after the last bus had gone.

People talk about love at first sight. I think in my case it was more a question of love at first hearing. I thought: I shall never tire of hearing that voice; that lovely soft, lilting Welsh voice. And would you believe, I never have done? Lots of things about people change: appearance obviously, but also interests, tastes, beliefs, attitudes and so on as life changes them. But voices never really change.

Well we went out together in and around Leeds. We were both in digs that first year so we visited just about every cinema in Leeds and by the following June at the end of the summer term we were still together. Now this was a world where ordinary folk like our families didn’t even have landline telephones, much less personal mobiles or email addresses. During the long summer vacation we communicated would you believe by letters delivered by postmen? How ancient is that?

But we survived the separation and the following spring, I asked Hilary to marry me and she accepted. We were married at Brunswick Methodist Church in Leeds on 7 September 1968. We think it was the last wedding held there after which the church fell victim to Leeds Inner Ring Road. The wedding itself was not without incident. The ceremony was to commence at 12 noon and the coach bringing up my people got stuck on the newly finished section of the M1 due to an accident and didn’t move for more than an hour. They finally arrived at church at the same time as the bridal party. My mother was going frantic: she never properly recovered on that day and that is why she looks so furious on all the wedding photos: fates had conspired against “my poor son”.

This September Hilary and I celebrate 58 years together. We have been blessed with four children and 10 grandchildren, the eldest of whom are themselves entering University. One of them, Harry is at Leeds studying History and is much enjoying life. We will come across and visit him when the weather gets a bit warmer. So life goes in its merry circle and we feel so grateful for our time together at Leeds. We are still in touch with some people from that time, in particular a couple who we take credit for bringing together; but that’s another story.

Mike Warren (Medicine 1967)

Spring 1966 - counting drips to control the dose of labour inducing hormones in a lady on the antenatal ward at Hyde Terrace maternity hospital a student midwife walked down the ward and smiled at me. I was completely smitten.

A few days later at a medics' party in Croft Hall residence I saw that smile again and plucked up the courage to ask her out.

We went out for a couple of months and my excitement at finding such an amazing, beautiful and elegant woman caused me to propose marriage before she moved on, although I did not feel much of a match for someone so special and I was third in the queue!

She sought a break to consider her options and went elsewhere to complete her training for six months. I saw her only once. No change or decision – bereft and heartbroken with finals on the horizon. One day in early 1967 in the common room at LGI on student duty, my friend came in and said, "I've just seen Jean Cooper on ward 2". I immediately rushed up there and she had come back for me without a word!

We took up our relationship again with vigour and passion, married six months later after my first house job and soon moved to South Cumbria, had four wonderful children (a condition of getting married), an amazing life together for 58 years and counting – I am still besotted and she remains as loving and lovely as ever, albeit ravaged by Alzheimer’s disease which has so far not taken away those initially attractive characteristics.

Neville Richards (Mathematics 1967)

I met my wife to be at a hop in Bodington Hall in the third term of my first year. She was amongst a group of education students who were bussed in from Doncaster College of Education. We got married two days before Christmas the year we graduated. Our new house had a cooker, a table, a few garden chairs, and of course a bed. We brought up three beautiful girls, and sadly my wife died three years ago, just before what would have been our 55th wedding anniversary.

David Harris (Electrical & Electronic Engineering 1969)

We first saw each other across a crowded dance floor at a Union Hop in 1968. After dancing together, love was confirmed when I offered to take her home in my car, and ancient Morris Minor. We got married in 1969 and are still and going strong, and still in love.

Gail Brown (Dentistry 1970)

I met my late Husband, Stephen Brown ( Metallurgy 1967) in my first year (1964/65) at Leeds, I was in Ellerslie Hall.

We married in 1969, had two girls and now have two grandchildren. Sadly, he died last April, aged 80 years but we were happily married for 56 Years. I travelled with him to the USA for his work and we lived in Beijing for a year whilst he was working in China.

We drank in the Union Bar, went to HOPS in the Riley Smith and to Balls in the Union. We saw The Stones performing in Refec, they had been booked by the Union before they became famous but honoured the booking.

Latterly we used to return to Leeds to Events supporting the Footsteps Fund in December. We always enjoyed our return trips.

Frank Hayward (Ceramics 1971)

I met Eileen (Colour Chemistry) at a party in 1969. We were married in our final year (1970) and we celebrated our emerald anniversary (55 years) in 2025. We have two daughters, one of whom also went to Leeds (Fine Arts) and four grandchildren.

We still live in Yorkshire and will always retain fond memories of our time at Leeds University.

Margaret Coleman (English 1971)

I met my husband Colin in Freshers' Week in 1968. He was a post-grad in the English Department and he had been given the job of handing out grant cheques to new undergraduates. He handed me my grant cheque and a little later asked me out. We were married in 1971 and we're still together, living in Yorkshire 58 years later. I stayed on at the University for a further three years doing research and served on the University Council in the early 2000s.

Barry Bray (Agricultural Botany 1971)

I met my wife at a Boddington Hall Hop in October, 1967. She was a student at Wentworth Castle teacher training college near Barnsley.

Late in the evening she asked me the way to the ladies, but by that time I had consumed a fair amount of beer and directed her to the gents by mistake. She emerged very embarrassed and told me off. We obviously hit it off straight away and after graduating from Leeds University in 1971 we married and are still together, although she still regularly tells me off. Things never change do they?

Sue Matthews (Modern Linguistics 1970, PGCE 1971)

This much faded photo is us in May 1971. We met in October 1970 on the Education course, both Modern Linguists. Things developed rapidly, resulting in our marriage at the University Chapel.

At the time I lived in a university flat opposite the Theological College, which is just about visible in the background.

And yes, still married, busily retired in Malvern.

Kevin Griffin(Chemistry 1972) and Sue Griffin (née Barratt) (Chemistry and Earth Science 1973)

Sue and I probably met shortly after arrival in Leeds in 1969 as we were both members of MethSoc, but it took us a while to discover each other. We married in 1974 (gosh, nearly 52 years, how's she put up with me?) and have three sons (one of whom is a Leeds medic), three daughters-in-law and eight grandchildren. After a working life spent down south in and around the big smoke we're now happily retired back to Yorkshire.

Paul Baker (History and Religious Studies 1972)

Friday 13 February 1970. 7.00 p.m. I left the Fine Arts Library on the fourth floor of the then New Arts Block, now the Michael Sadler Building, as I always did, as it closed and descended the four flights of stairs to the exit. As I reached the ground floor, emerging from the basement was a bemused looking blonde girl. “Can I help?” I asked. “I have come to see a French play,” she replied. “It’s on in the studio theatre in the basement, but here is no one there.” “I’ll have a look for you,” I offered, and we descended the stairs in search of the missing play.

The basement was deserted. We checked the notice boards. No notice about a French play. “You must have the wrong night,” I said. “I have not!” she replied with a look which threatened to turn me into a pillar of salt.

We climbed back to the ground floor. “You must be wrong,” I insisted. “I am not wrong!” the withering reply. “Well, there is no one down there,” I tried to explain. “I can see that,” the rolled eyes reply. I tried a change of tack, “Do you fancy going to the bar?” “Might as well.” Not knowing what we were about to get ourselves into, we toddled off to the Union bar.

Then a date to see ‘Royal Hunt of the Sun’ at the cinema.

Then, five weeks later, over a bag of chips in a car park behind the amphitheatre in York, “Will you marry me?” “O.K.”

And now, on Friday 13 February 2026, we will celebrate the 56th anniversary of our meeting. We couldn’t send each other a Valentine’s card in 1970 because, until we met again at the cinema, we didn’t have each other’s address and, in any event, the last post had long gone before we left the bar. Not giving each other a Valentine’s card is a tradition we have maintained ever since. However, 13 February we celebrate every year and celebrate it more than our wedding anniversary, which we know as ‘the other one’. 13 February must be the easiest night of the year on which to get a restaurant booking, at least when we don’t celebrate with chips. As to our argument over whether that French play was supposed to be on that night, that is still live, still unresolved, and the prospect of the pillar of salt still looms.

Oh yes, her name is Susan, although she now insists on being called Sue. As to the photo, that is a photo of a photo of a photo taken at the wedding of two friends c.1973. We haven’t changed a bit since then, although, for the moment, I don’t seem to be able to put my finger on a current photo to evidence that.

Dave Marsden (Geophysics 1972)

What gorgeous long wavy hair, how lovely. “Excuse me, do you have a light?” I ask waving an unlit cigarette.

It was a week or so before Christmas in 1971 and I’d met up with an old acquaintance from Halls, having returned to Leeds two years after graduating. We went to The Bricklayers Arms, now long since demolished, midweek for a catch-up chat and found it almost empty. It was a small pub with just one bar, benches round the sides of the room and a handful of small tables occupying the centre of the room. The couple to whom I addressed my question were sitting at one of these tables. It transpired that my friend knew by sight, through regular attendance in the University computer terminal suite, one of the people at the other table, so we soon started up a conversation.

After that initial encounter we got in touch in the January for a much longer getting-to-know-you chat, at which point it transpired that we had much in common. We started seeing each other with increased frequency and by early June we went to Paris for a few days. That gorgeous long wavey hair was cut before the trip to Paris where a paper was presented at an international conference, and we jointly typed the PhD thesis for submission in July. We got engaged soon afterwards and married in the August.

It really had been love at first sight. We moved into our first home after the honeymoon and had both taken up our new posts by early October.

After over 50 years of Marriage, Dave still feels like Prince Charming when he puts Anne-Marie’s shoes on.

Bob Thomas (French 1973)

We met at students flats in Hunslet, now long demolished when I knocked on her door the day before the autumn term started in 1970. I was instantly smitten but at the time she was spoken for. It took until November that year before we got together.

We married in 1973 and stayed together until she left this world a week after our 50th anniversary in 2023.

Alison (Textiles 1973) and Peter Hill (Economics 1972)

Our first official date was to go and see the famous “The Who Live at Leeds" concert on Valentine's Day in 1970! You can’t get a better start than that.

And here we are still together 56 years later living in California (for 40 years now) with two wonderful grown up daughters and four granddaughters. Leeds University was a great launching pad for a wonderful life.

The picture, taken at a reunion in the Cotswolds in 2025, shows from left to right - John (Psychology 1973) and Sarah Rockcliff (Zoology), Chris (Biological Sciences 1977) and Patricia Gregory (Textiles 1976) and Peter and Alison - all three couples met at Leeds and we have all been together for 50 years plus!

Michael Norton (Civil Engineering 1973)

I met my Shirley Amos at a party in Headingley in late 1971. It was a good party and we met under a table! Shirley was at Leeds Poly and living at Highfield House on Headingley Lane. I was in digs with the amazing Spencer family in Horsforth. I used to catch the 55 bus on Headingley Lane. From October 1972 I shared a flat with Tony Teperek and Adam Lomas at Woodsley Terrace, and Shirley was living in Headingley at Welton Mount. Great times in Leeds with our circle of friends! The photo is from one of our Sunday afternoon get togethers in Woodsley Terrace.

Hazel Greenwood (Librarianship 1973)

I met my husband when he was studying Dentistry at Leeds. But we met again two years later when he was working for Alex McGregor as a house surgeon.

After two weeks we were engaged on 14 Feb 1973. He worked a an associate dentist until he was 65 and I was 63. Married 51 years.

Unfortunately on 28 January 2026 he died of pancreatic cancer. My beautiful warrior. This photo brings back lovely memories of holidays shopping for food in Brittany when I was pregnant and not wanting to prepare food.

John Hilton (Education 1974)

It was September 1969 when I started at the City of Leeds & Carnegie College specialising in Physical Education. I lived in Carnegie Hall during my first year and it was in January 1970 that I started dating my wife to be, Helen Johnson whose main subject was History.

We got engaged in our second year and planned to get married in August 1973 at the completion of the three year teacher training course. The plan was for me to get a teaching position whilst Helen was going to continue for a further year at Leeds and gain a degree.

All good plans can change! I was persuaded by the Director of Carnegie to also stay on and complete the degree course, however, despite having little to no money (apart from a student grant), and thanks to our parents we still went ahead and got married in August '73. We lived in a rented ground floor flat in Headingley Mount which certainly was a different way of spending our first year of married life. Both of us gained our degrees before moving to Chester (where we still live) to take up teaching positions.

We loved our four years at Leeds and will never forget the wonderful time spent there making great memories and friendships. So, it's now 50+ years married, and we have been lucky enough to have three children (Vicky, Chris & Mark) who have all gone on to have their own families, and it's currently seven grandchildren with the oldest 22 and the youngest just four months.

Leeds will always remain a special place in our lives, we just can't believe how quickly the time has passed!

Anthony Teperek (Chemical Engineering 1975)

I was part of a group of lads who first met in Garstang Flats and became friends. We befriended a group of ladies from the Poly and met up regularly in the Union Bar - purely friendship though. A year on and three of us guys are now in Woodsley Terrace and one night we were in our flat with some of the girls after an evening in the bar and I realised I had eyes for Gillian who apparently had had eyes for me for a while - I was too dumb to notice.

That was March 1973 and we married July 1975. We put roots down in the area for many years until my job took us to rural Leicestershire where we still live and last year celebrated our Golden wedding anniversary. I still love her to bits!

Incidentally most of that group, men and women, still keep in touch and meet up from time to time. Attached is a picture of us at the front door of Woodsley Terrace from June 1973.

Adam Lomas (Mining 1975)

In 1971 I went up to Leeds and stayed for the first year in Garstang flats, where I met friends who have shown over and over again that friends made at Leeds are "friends forever". On the 50th anniversary of our being together we all met up, as we had done over the previous years.

Anyway back to the Valentine's story.... I shared a room the first year with Tony (Teppo), he was the son of a Polish miner and lived in Mansfield, I was a public school boy from London and the South East never been north of Watford... we hardly understood each other but we became firm friends and it has lasted all these years. We all went in those days to the Polytechnic disco on a Wednesday night.... It's now part of the Uni but in those days it was a Polytechnic. At my first poly I met someone and fell instantly under her spell, I won't mention her name, but she was a friend of a friend of Janie, who became one person I will never forget.

Anyway I was one of the only guys who had a car, a souped up mini WOO 606.... Janie's friend only liked me for the car, and she had a boyfriend at home anyway. That first year passed, we had a wonderful time, Janie and I became friends, I understood Teppo eventually. He loved football I loved rugby. We all went one time to my home in Essex, and Janie got to know my father and they got on so well, my mother loved her too, and eventually I recognised that LOVE was staring at me in the face.

We were together through most of the remaining three years, she organised my 21st birthday party in Woodsley Terrace where we lived for two years (No 6). I wasn't entirely correct but Janie forgave me...we all graduated in 1975.

By this time Shirley and Michael were already married and had their first son Graham. Teppo married Jill in Oakhampton in the summer of 1975. In September 1975 I accepted a job with Shell International and left UK, by this time Janie was seeing Gavin and we both knew she didn't want to go abroad, I didn't want to stay in England, but we have remained the very best of friends until now and always will be.

In May we are all meeting up again. Both of us have been married, had children and grandchildren, both divorced/separated. But I have a very special place in my heart forever for Janie (née Roper), and all my friends who graduated between 1971 and 1975.

Anonymous (1975)

Was it just a fling, or was it the real thing,
that first found love of a seventies' spring?
Which eventually led to the buying of a ring,
though we never saw it through, to a marital do?
I had walked you back to campus
from that far out hall,
as we locked our steps together through the leaves of autumn's fall.
And as autumn turned to winter and winter became spring,
we fell in love in harmony, our hearts a song to sing.
By the summer of our leaving
there could have been some grieving,
but we chose to stay together as we went our separate ways.

Jim Greenwood (History 1975, MPhil 1980)

I was in Devonshire Hall on Friday 26 January 1973, planning to work on an essay. A friend called in and suggested in forceful terms that there would be other days for work on the essay. At the disco I met Anne (then Anne Storm). We met up on the next day, Saturday, to buy tickets for Wizzard who were supported by Silver Head in the Riley Smith Hall. We married in 1976.

53 years after that first meeting we are still together living in Leeds and continue to have so many interests in common as well as three children and four grandchildren.

Michael Robson Physics 1975

I met the love of my life whilst in my final year at Leeds in 1974/75. She was in her first year. We married in 1978 and have been together ever since.

Alan Nicholsby (Physiology/Biochemistry 1978)

I met my wife, Marie, who was staying in the old Charles Morris Hall through a mutual friend who was also staying at the hall. Initially we were just friends, with Marie introducing me to the delights of Greek Cypriot food and culture and I helped her with her chemistry. The friendship grew into true love and we were married in 1979 whilst postgraduates at Reading University. Now, some 47 years later we are very much together, have two fantastic but grown up children and I am very proud of the charity, Alkionides, she founded and that we continue to run in the UK.

Anne Hughes (née Litherland) (Physiology 1979)

Mark and I had our first dance at an Astbury Flats (on top of the Biophysics Department, Roger Stevens) party in 1977 and we have been dancing together ever since.

Pauline Lenney (Chemistry 1979)

Peter always tells me that it was love at first sight...

Some story about seeing me through the window of a lecture theatre. Given my attendance at lectures in my first year wasn't that great, I think this was highly unlikely!

He was in the year above me - one of those keen and ambitious students. To be honest, the sort of student I tended to avoid. Our paths didn't really cross until I was in my final year, and Peter had started his PhD. He always seemed to be in the coffee bar when I arrived.

And in the coffee bar, one Wednesday afternoon, when we were discussing the difficulties of statistical thermodynamics, the story began - sealed with a kiss. To be honest the kiss was a get out of jail card as I most likely would have otherwise fallen asleep from boredom!

So here we are today, 2026 and soon to be fifty years since the supposed 'viewing through the window'. He still talks about thermodynamics and I still feel the need to distract him. Maybe that is the definition of longevity in a relationship - chemistry!

Leeds Student compiled your perfect Valentine's soundtrack with the 1986 Valentine's Chart:

Nigel Simpson (Civil Engineering 1980, MSc Transport Planning & Engineering 1981)

My wife Mary Simpson, who studied Economic History, and I have just celebrated our Ruby Wedding Anniversary having met at Leeds University in 1978 at the Medics 'Lipman' Disco.

We settled in Wiltshire some 30 years ago and have three children and one grandchild. We are both retired and enjoying some travel around the globe. It is hoped we will be in Leeds later in 2026 to do some running in the Jane Tomlinson family run.

Peter Robery (Civil Engineering 1977, PhD 1981)

I blame the Leeds University Union's Canals! Society...

It was through this, and a most unusual set of coincidences, that led me to meet someone in January 1979 who became my future wife. We are still happily married, living in the Midlands.

The Canals! Society organised a "New Year Trip", only that year the canals soon froze over and we were welded to the side of a pub in Northampton. Four intrepid students set off for London, went into a pub, and met two Swiss au pairs... the rest is history...

Gillian Maskell (Political Studies 1983)

I met my husband in Freshers' Week 1980. Someone thought it a good idea to partner Mechanical Engineering with Politics students for their first few days of orientation around the campus and the city. One of those Mechanical Engineering students had come up to university with a school friend (Andy Maskell) and he introduced us standing in the queue for entrance into the refectory to see the Son of Stiff Tour. We never looked back and this year will be our 40th wedding anniversary.

We keep in touch with lots of friends we met in our student days and had a great reunion in Leeds a couple of years ago revisiting our haunts in Headingley and around the student union building - all very nostalgic.

Kate McIntyre (Russian and German 1985)

Mark and I first set eyes on each other through a chance meeting in 1983. I was dropping off some books for a fellow Russian student in Cliff Mount, but he was out and the house mate who answered the door was Mark...a physics student. One thing led to another and here we are, over 40 years later, still living very happily, as man and wife, in Leeds. And a wonderful addendum is that our niece Daisy is now in her final year of a maths degree at Leeds, and loving every minute too!

Andrew Hartle (Medicine 1987)

No-one can say we rushed! I’m only six weeks older, but we were in different years at Leeds, and didn’t meet until his third (my fourth) year; Phil was (in)famously already ‘out’ and I was in the RAF and deeply closeted.

After graduation we bumped into each other at exams in the ‘90s, then met again in 2000 after I was outed. Even then we didn’t become a couple until 2002. We’ve now been married for 18 years.

Read our alumni feature with Andrew. He discusses his dismissal from the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the British military’s ban on LGBTQ+ service members, and how he advocates for others dealing with the fallout.

Joanna Dunn (née Stacey) (History 1989)

Nick was a Leeds student too - but two years ahead of me. We met when he came back to Leeds to visit "grown-up" friends to whom, it turned out, we had a mutual connection. My first glimpse was of him sitting underneath a baby grand piano in a very crowded living room: soft brown eyes and a significant beard! He noticed me, made enquiries, found I was going out with someone else and exited the picture.

BUT, a year later the grapevine said that things had changed. He wrote to me out of the blue, invited himself to supper with my house mates. On 14 Feb 1989 I returned to my student house on Ash Road after lectures to find 24 red roses in the kitchen sink! After many train journeys and dashes up and down the M1 ,many trips to Ilkley Moor and the Pennines and walks in the Meanwood Valley, we got engaged at Strawberry Fields Bistro on Woodhouse Lane (place of our first formal "date") and were married in August 1991. 34 + years on we are enjoying our three children and first grandchild...and the hope of more time to get back to the Pennines on retirement.

Helen Matthews (Geography 1989)

I met Johnny Matthews in the first week at Leeds - though it took a night at the refectory and a field trip for us to get together. Now 40 years later we are still making each other laugh - and still going on field trips - love ya Mr M.

Douglas Robinson (Ibero-American Studies 1989)

I met my wife in October 1985 during Freshers' Week. She was standing at the front of a seminar room exhorting us to join the Portuguese Society - or else. We were engaged in December 1986, which was mildly controversial because she was my lecturer, and married after my graduation in 1989. We will have been together for 40 years this year.

Frank Lyden (English 1989)

I first met my wife in 1986, when climbing through a friend's window at Lupton Flats! We used to leave our windows slightly ajar, to avoid having to go round to the main entrance. It was quite a shock for both of us, when I climbed through the window to find an unknown female, rather than my friend, Roy. We both obviously made a good impression, as we have been married for 35 years!

Jenny Scarborough (History 1989)

I met Paul in the very first term when we were both living in Grant House at Boddington Hall, which sadly has since been flattened to become a housing estate. We enjoyed chatting and discovered we both loved tennis. He shared a Toblerone with me, which in those days was quite an upmarket chocolate bar. We eventually became romantically involved at a vodka promotion at another hall of residence. With vodka at 20p a shot, we both became very inebriated and I had to physically support him home.

You may think that is no way to start a meaningful relationship but we started going out, moved in together in 1991 and have been married since 1994. We live in the Thames Valley now, with two kids and a dog. We both have immensely fond memories of our time at Leeds and visit from time to time.

Monika Nagy (English and French 1989)

My Greek husband and I met at a Brazilian party on campus in 1987. A few days later, we bumped into each other in the Student Union building and he told me he'd just entered a competition to win 2 free plane tickets. He said, "If I win, will you come with me to Greece?" I laughingly said "Yes!" thinking 'Honestly, what are the odds he'll actually win?'... And what do you know, he won!

We had a dream holiday that summer visiting Athens, Crete, and Santorini, and have been together ever since.

Helen Sutcliffe (IT Data Processing 1992)

We first crossed paths on Red Route during our final year. I would be in the Level 10 coffee shop before the first lecture of the day and would notice Ian come in at the last minute; he'd then usually arrive last to class with his coffee in hand. We became an item on Valentine's Day 1992 and have been together for the past thirty four years.

During that final year in Leeds we enjoyed many curry evenings at Nafees while getting to know one another; Ian would walk me home afterwards, with both the vindaloo and his arm around me keeping me warm. On Saturdays we'd head into Leeds city centre for a cappuccino and a slice of pizza at Pasta Romagna, hopefully with then owner Gilda serenading us with her operatic renditions.

Graduating with degrees in Information Technology has taken us on an amazing adventure; we've been fortunate enough to work and live in London, Paris, California and now Switzerland. We have three wonderful daughters, who are now on their own college journeys.

Happy Valentine's Day! I'm so glad you made it over to the right side of the Pennines all those years ago.

Tamara Graham (Geography 1994)

Jim and I met in 1992 at Tetley Hall Residence (so sad the residence is no longer) as the two Canadian students in residence. We were both on exchange from the University of Waterloo but had not met prior to sitting together at the first foreign student get together on campus. It felt like love (or a keen interest at least) at first sight.

We have fond memories of the events at Tetley Hall such as the Strawberry Social, playing pool before the residence dinner where everyone ate together family style, and walking through Headingley on our way to our classes on campus. Our exchange trip to England was filled with travels, new experiences like Saturdays at the Corn Exchange and downtown market, pubs and hikes in the countryside, and the time to fall in love and create a deep bond with each other!

Finding someone who loves to explore and travel as much as I do was a dream come true. While on exchange at Leeds we travelled to throughout Britain, Ireland, and Europe to see amazing historical sites, scenery, and culture. We were able to visit family at Christmas in Switzerland, go on a field trip to Spain, spent Easter in Ireland staying at an old castle, and many weekend walks through the Dales with our English friend Kerry. We loved taking the train from Leeds to the many small towns nearby including York and Ilkley to lunch at Betty's Tea Room. This was one of the best years of our lives!

Our years together since have seen many travels, pets, and two wonderful travel-loving children, Teagan (who also went on exchange to Leeds in 2022) and Declan. We celebrated our 30th anniversary in August 2025 and hope to enjoy at least 30 more years together, as we have both now retired! Love you Jim! Thank you Leeds for "Leed"ing us to each other!!

Maria Stokkou (MA Hospital Management 1996)

Me and my husband Michael travelled from Greece to Leeds, each pursuing a different path. I was diving into the world of Hospital Management while Michael was exploring the wonders of Geography. Despite our different fields of study, fate brought us together on campus where we found something more important than our degrees : a lifelong partner.

This February we celebrate 30 years of being together as a couple. Our journey, which led to marriage in 2003, has been defined by love, resilience and the joy of raising three wonderful children. Three decades later, the spark that ignited in Leeds University remains aw bright as ever.

Jeremy Davos (Electronic and Computer Engineering 1997)

I met my future wife during Freshers' Week. We met as part of the Caving Society (ULSA) in the student union building. We spent some amazing years as Leeds University students. Two days after my wife graduated we got married! 26 years later, our eldest daughter is in her first year of studying at Leeds University, the very same degree as her mother!

Students in 2001 were provided with the secret recipe to Erotic Dressing on Valentine's Day:

Phillippa (Environmental Science 2003)

Met my lovely husband out dancing in Santanista, who would have thought it!
17 years later and two lovely children that keep us busy! Love Leeds such a special place!

Dimitrios Boundris (MSc Information Systems 2005)

During my taught degree I met Marianna who was a first year undergraduate and we started to go out and soon became pair. I still remember the day of St Valentine which was a day to remember.

Kim Rose (Italian and Management, MA 2006)

In 2001, we arrived in Leeds with very different plans. I had moved from Luxembourg to start my full degree at Leeds University. He had come from France for a one‑year Erasmus adventure, equipped with enthusiasm and… let’s call them “developing” English skills. Luckily, I was fluent in French, which came in handy at the international pizza and wine party at Boddington halls.

Ah yes — Boddington. The pizza was tragic. The wine was suspicious. But his eyes? Magnificent. And apparently mine made an impression too.

Throughout the year, we kept bumping into each other — mostly at international parties and on those long bus rides into uni, in that effortless way students do. Still, nothing happened. Not yet. He learned English and discovered British student life, I settled into my new routine, and we just kept crossing paths.

It finally happened at the end of the academic year. Perfect timing, really: he was about to return to France, and we decided this was the moment to be brave and get together (liquid courage did help). The following week we even had a very sensible conversation about “not getting attached”.

A flawless plan. Scientifically sound. Zero emotional risk. Three weeks later, we were both spectacularly attached.

At Leeds train station, there were tears (on his end) during our goodbye — a clear sign that our “no attachment” strategy was going brilliantly. And then, just a few weeks later, he was back in Leeds.

What followed was 4.5 years of long‑distance love, countless trips, endless (and expensive) phone bills — FaceTime, WhatsApp and the rest didn’t exist yet, which officially makes me feel old — and the kind of determination that makes you realise this was never a fling. It was the beginning of everything.

Today, we’re married, we have kids, and we still laugh about that conversation in 2001 where we promised not to get attached.

Clearly, we stuck to it perfectly.

Sarah Richardson (LLM International and European Human Rights 2010)

We both met not long after my husband graduated, but it turns out my husband was a fresher in Mathematics when I was at Leeds studying my Master's. We might have passed one another on campus and who would have known we would eventually be happily married with two kids. Life is funny.

Ashwini Duce (Engineering Project Management 2011)

After graduating from University of Leeds in 2011, I landed my first job at a manufacturing company in Leeds. On my very first day, there was a colleague who sat opposite me and honestly, I found him incredibly annoying!

A few months later, our helpful (and slightly mischievous) colleagues kept encouraging this “super annoying” guy to ask me out… and eventually, he did. We went on our first date on 29 August 2012.

Back then, he was rummaging through his sock drawer trying to find a pair without holes. Fast forward 12 years, we now have our own home, a wonderful little boy, and a lifetime of memories together, with many more to come.

What started as a one-year Master’s degree at the University of Leeds turned into something far more special. Fifteen years on, Leeds isn’t just where I studied, it’s my second home, and the place where a destined love story began."

Chike Mgbeadichie (MA English Literature 2011)

I met Joy on September 13, 2011 — just a day after my birthday (clearly the best gift I received that year.

I had just finished my MA at the School of English and was getting ready to move to Exeter in January 2012 to begin my PhD. Joy had just started her MSc in Business Management at LUBS and was house-hunting when she was told there was an empty room in my flat at Carr Mills Residence, LS7 2DG. That’s where our story began.

I moved to Exeter. She completed her MSc. Somewhere between lectures, dissertations, and long-distance visits, we fell in love. We got married in Lagos and started our life together in Exeter, where we welcomed our first child.

After I completed my PhD, we returned to Leeds and were blessed with our second child. We remained in Leeds until 2017, when we moved back to Nigeria — grateful for the journey that started at the University of Leeds with a single available room.

Ed Foster (Politics 2012)

Our eyes locked during a first year module on feminist theory and I immediately knew Hannah was the one for me. Although she did her best to ignore me on the long bus out to Boddington Halls, she soon was similarly unable to deny the undoubted chemistry.

The years post Leeds took a fallow turn but upon moving to London, the romance blossomed once more. After twists and turns aplenty, this year will be our first Valentines as a three, with our three month old Sadie joining the gang.

Xiaojing Pan (Rose) (TESOL 2013)

My story began at the University of Leeds Dancesport Society. From dance partners to life partners, we have built a family together. We have been married for 10 years now and are parents of two lovely children.

We met at the Give-It-A-Go session of the Dancesport society in October 2012. I spotted him in the crowd and decided to introduce myself. I reached out my hand and said, “Hi, I’m Rose.” “Marius,” he replied. It was a name I had never heard before, and it took me a while to remember it. As international students, life in the UK was not always easy, but Marius was always caring and helped me feel at ease.

Although we no longer live in the UK, Leeds will always be special to us. Thank you, Leeds Uni! Thank you, Dancesport Society!

Kaitlyn Nicholson (Sociology 2013)

I met my husband in Oceana on Valentine’s Day - this Valentine’s Day will be 13 years since we met. We’ve been together ever since, married for eight years, have two beautiful children and are currently expecting our third baby.

Ettore (Management 2013)

I remember the first time I saw my wife as if it were yesterday. I was heading up to meet a friend in Charlie Mo; she was rushing down, late for something important. She dashed by, leaving me breathless. Knee-high boots, a proud gaze, long brown hair. After meeting through mutual friends, we had our first date on Valentine’s Day, 2011. Kitsch, yet hopelessly romantic.

From then on, we became inseparable. Life unfolded almost inexplicably as the student union gave way to work, marriage, and two beautiful children. Yet my mind often wanders back to Leeds, to that fleeting moment that changed my life forever. Thank you, Leeds. I will always be grateful for my Lili.

Joanne Marsh (Social Work 2013)

I met Stephen Marsh in Freshers' Week at the James Ballie Ball. We spent many nights at Mission nightclub with DJ Tango and we are still friends with everyone we lived with in Block C and D of James Ballie Halls. We have now been together for 14 years and married for four. Thank you Leeds Uni xx

Christopher Jackson (Electronic Engineering 2014)

We met in Oxley Halls, as freshers in the same flat, in the next rooms to each other. A month in we started dating and that was that, we’ve been together for 14 years, married for seven, blessed with a little boy and looking forward to many more years together.

Clare Calder (Politics and Parliamentary Studies 2015)

We were both studying PPS at Leeds. Connaire was in his second year and I was in my first. We met at the bar Mook on a cross-year social. We now live together in Brighton and are getting married in April.

Cherechi Ndukwe (MSc Electronic and Electrical 2015)

During the orientation in 2014, I sat in the foyer admiring this beauty of an African queen. It turned out we became class mates and from then became lovers. I was sent to Leeds to study, Leeds added the love of my life to my certificate.

Marta (PhD Psychology 2015)

I met Jay on my first day in Leeds, when on a snowy afternoon I arrived at our shared house in Headingley. Our connection was undeniable, we used to talk about Gershwin and watch old films, we shared passion for art, coffee and good food! My favourite days together were at the Union pub watching the Six Nations, drinking coffee at the Opposite cafe and playing boardgames at the Nation of Shop Keepers.

We shared so many wonderful memories of those first years together in Leeds. We lived and travelled in the Netherlands, Southampton and Oxford, but we still talk about Frankestein’s wedding at Kirkstall Abbey like it was yesterday. I remember my black leather jacket on that long March walk, the paintings at the Art Gallery, the walks in the Victoria Quarter. We have two wonderful boys and this year we will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary!

Tiffany (PhD Ecology 2015) and Joe Hicks (PhD Ecology 2015)

We met on the first day of our PhD induction week in 2011 and have been together every since - we'll celebrate our ten-year wedding anniversary this summer! We also share a firm love of Leeds and have continued to work at the University since graduation.

Will Clark (International History and Politics 2016)

Our love story began on day two of Freshers' Week in Charles Morris Hall in 2013 - we lived on the same corridor and soon found each other properly on the dancefloor on Halo club.

We have been together ever since and in September 2025 we got married with over 35 of our Leeds friends celebrating with us. Leeds will forever be a special place for us!

Safiya Rebaica (MA International Communication 2016)

In 2016, Leeds became more than just a university for us - it became the place where we grew up together.

He was at the Business School, I was in Media and Communications, both navigating a world that was new in every sense. It was our first time living away from family, our first time calling another country home, and our first real lesson in independence. Somewhere between lectures, deadlines, and cold Yorkshire evenings, we learned what partnership really meant. When everything felt unfamiliar, we became each other’s constant. He was my home away from home, and I was his.

When our degrees ended, we returned home, carrying Leeds with us in quiet ways. A year later, we got married. Today, we have two children - a girl and a boy - and a lifetime built on those early years of learning, growing, and dreaming together.

Romey Norton (MA 2017)

This is a story of friendship that has now lasted 10 years.

Jordan and I met on our course a Leeds University. A girl from Wakefield and a boy from Hull, with big ideas and big dreams. We bonded over our love of writing and wild nature. Safe to say we had plenty of drinks at the famous campus bar to overcome our writers block.

Jordan working in TV, and myself working in communications and critiques, we’ve supported one another for the past 10 years in our difficult but wonderful careers.

Love comes in all shapes and forms , and this friendship is one I am so grateful for. And it all began at Leeds University. Jordan, here’s to another ten years my friend!

Rachel Ireland (History 2018)

Me and my partner Luke met in our first year at Leeds, whilst we were living in Henry Price. We bonded initially because Luke had quite a strong Liverpudlian accent and I think I was the only one in the flat who could understand what he was saying. We also had a shared love of the indie room in Fruity, where we spent most Fridays throughout our four years living in Leeds. After graduation we moved to the Lake District and have been together for 11 years now (and are finally getting married this year too!).

Edward Morrison (History and Theology 2019)

On the same Theology course as Chantelle for three years and our paths never crossed. We finally spoke on our leavers Otley run and I was heading back to Ireland the next day. Had our first date on my graduation day and nearly 17 years later, 10 years of marriage and two children later we're still as happy as that first Otley run.

Melissa Harvey (History 2019)

Joe was my flatmate in Henry Price on our first day at Leeds in 2015. He studied Environmental Science, I studied History.

We got along well with our flatmates so we all lived together again in second year, 2016. That was the year Joe and I got together and have been together ever since. We've lived in Aberdeen, Bristol, and now Manchester, where we've lived since 2020.

Weird to think that my life would look completely different if someone hadn't decided to put a girl from Chesterfield and a boy from Manchester in the same flat 11 years ago. Whoever that was, I owe you one.

Sagal Arboshe (English Literature 2019)

My Leeds love story is with my best friends, Abiha, Mel and Molly. We met in autumn 2016 on English Literature, English and History, and History courses and have been in love ever since.

Our days in Leeds were marked by nights out at the Faversham (with a free Morrison’s doughnut guaranteed with entry), countless Bakery 164 sandwiches, dissertation writing in stacks and Hyde Park house parties.

During our first year, we frequently had sleepovers at each other’s accommodations and knew we’d make the best housemates when we moved into off-street housing. This proved to be true and we weathered many interesting experiences together during our days living LS6.

It has now been 10 years since we met and despite living in different cities, we make time for regular FaceTimes, summer and winter socials, have expanded secret Santa to include a secret Easter egg swap and plan to mark our 10th anniversary with a holiday abroad.

Leeds remains close to our hearts, and we often reminisce about picnicking in Woodhouse Moor.

Yasmin Filali (French and Linguistics 2019)

During the May of my first year, I headed out on a last minute Fruity Friday; I wasn’t planning to go but as was always the way then, I found myself there. At some point during that night, a VK bottle hit me in the head. In a drink-fuelled, semi-serious outrage, I walked over to the group of guys whose direction it had come from. I was expecting a short fight; what I got was a drink offer. Two shots of tequila and two VKs later, and me and Ben were set.

From there, we spent the rest of our uni days and beyond together and have been inseparable in Leeds, France and Manchester for the last decade. And this April, nearly 10 years after we first met in the sticky-floored, much beloved Fruity, we’ll be getting married. Grateful to Leeds always for the VKs, as it led me to my forever best pal.

Shahana Thevendran (Chemistry 2019)

I met Strasun in 2017 at a friend’s party at Park Plaza, only to realise our paths had crossed long before. He was studying Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering at Leeds, often in the very buildings where I had lectures. As we spent more time together within our friendship circle, we discovered how much we had in common, despite everyone insisting we were complete opposites.

We fell in love quickly and deeply, and even faced two years of long distance across different countries during Covid. Today, we’ve been married for over a year and are excitedly awaiting the arrival of our sweet baby. Leeds played a special part in our unexpected connection and became the beginning of our beautiful love story.

Charlie (MSc Environment & Development 2019) and Eddie

We met at Cosy Club after I (Charlie) cycled straight there from a lecture for a Hinge date with a local Leeds boy (Eddie). After graduating from my Master's - I got a job in Manchester and Eddie moved to be with me. We’ve since travelled, lived in Canada and got married in May last year. Back where we fell in love, Leeds.

My year in Leeds was one of the best of my life - not only meeting my husband but some of my closest and dearest friends who I still talk to daily.

Lucy (Psychology 2020)

I came to Leeds in 2016 and met my partner in my halls. We were next door neighbours with the same music taste and would often listen through the walls! I was 19 at the time, and we've now been together for almost 10 years.

Xinran Zhao (MSc International Marketing Management 2021)

He is a kind, responsible and responsible person. At the age of 22, I met him in the winter at Leeds. At the age of 27, I married him in the autumn in Shanghai. From Leeds to China, we studied and worked together. This is the fifth year that we have been seeing the world together. We are willing to go on adventures to experience life beyond the ordinary life together. Leeds is the place where we met and fell in love. Our eternal love.

Jinhang Xu (MSc Global Supply Chain Management 2020) and Yaqi Zhang (MA in Communication and Media)

Jinhang and Yaqi first connected as neighbours at the Unite Student Accommodation Plaza, and a friendship soon developed into a relationship. During lockdown, daily walks through Hyde Park became a comforting routine, helping them manage uncertainty and stress while strengthening their bond. After graduating, the couple returned to China and settled in Shanghai – where, by coincidence, they started working at the same company.

On 19 December 2025, during a return visit to the UK, Jinhang brought Yaqi back to Leeds University Business School for a surprise proposal in one of the Maurice Keyworth lecture theatres to bring their Leeds love story full circle.

Read the full love story - A proposal where it all began

Carrie Cipkiene (MA Professional Language and Intercultural Studies 2021)

Who would’ve imagined that when Alistair Brownlee signed an autograph for me at an Ironman event in China back in 2018, I’d one day marry his cycling mate Dovy (Physics) in Leeds? I came here to study, and somehow along the way found my "domestique". Now, years into our marriage, we’re happily settled in our Leeds home, just us and our 12 bikes, riding through life together.

Owen Saunders (English Literature 2021)

I nearly didn't apply to Leeds at all and only did so at the suggestion of a friend, as I had a space left on my UCAS. I then went to a post-applicant open day and loved it. I met Lydia in my first English seminar and we became friends instantly. By the end of uni we were best buds and I knew she would always be in my life, even while so many other uni friendships and relationships faded. I didn't know back then just what that would mean.

Way after we graduated, we suddenly realised we were, in fact, in love - go figure. Instead of destroying a friendship (as I feared we might!), I actually found my soulmate. And it all started in a seminar room in the School of English with a copy of Heart of Darkness in front of us.

To think I nearly went to Royal Holloway... Can you imagine?!

Selina Segbefia (MSc Environment and Development Studies 2021)

I met my husband in 2020 at the University of Leeds while I was studying for my Master’s and he was completing his PhD. Our first date was a simple walk through Roundhay Park and we’ve been walking through life together ever since.

Today, our love story has grown into our greatest joy: our beautiful 11-month-old son, and a lifetime of memories that all began in Leeds.

Carolina Veloso Ferreira (Art and Design 2022)

Henry and I met each other in Lupton in our first year at Leeds. We were placed together because we were in the "vegetarian flat". Me, a Portuguese Art and Design student living abroad for the first time, and him, a sporty French and Politics student from Southampton.

We became friends and started exploring Leeds together before realising we were really quite a good match.

Six years and a civil union later we are living together in Barcelona and talk as much in Portuguese as we do in English.

Cheryl Fernandes (MSc Sustainable Food Systems 2022)

Our love story began at St Mark’s Residence, around the table tennis tables in the common area. Like many others in those early days of university, we were both trying to make new friends. When I first saw him, he seemed shy but keen to make conversation. One evening, we found ourselves talking at length under the bus stop opposite The Eldon pub, sheltering from the rain. We covered various topics ranging from sport to politics. Our shared interests and views led us to many more walks and talks around Leeds.

We soon began our relationship in December 2021. The following year, we graduated with our Master’s degrees — him in Data Science and Analytics, and me in Sustainable Food Systems. Over four years later, we have held on to each other across cities and countries.

Incredibly, we now have a date set and are looking forward to getting married at the end of this year. Forever grateful to Leeds for bringing us together!

Eve (Spanish 2023)

I met my now boyfriend during 2019 Freshers' Week at what was then Liberty Dock. After losing touch during Covid, we bumped into each other again in 2022 at sports night in The Warehouse - the rest is history!

Hazel Borkar (MA International Journalism 2023)

I met my now partner at Leeds in the same class, in the same course. We both did not have dating as our priority but something clicked and we decided to date and see where this goes. Despite countless visa ending scares, parents not approving of us, exes trying coming back in our lives, not having enough money to eat, living pay-check to pay-check, scrounging up last few bits of groceries to eat, we’ve stayed together as each other’s rock. I owe everything to my lovely partner.

This year we’ll be four years together and we live happily together with no financial worries (we pulled each other out of being broke and now have stable jobs) in our house with our foster cats (he was never a cat person but I made him one).

Another fun fact, my partner almost did not attend his year at Leeds. He was going to come in the year after but something told him he should so he took the risk and came to Leeds. If he had not chosen to come, this amazing relationship would not have happened.

So Rameez Shihabuddin if you’re reading this, just know I love you more than Zayn Malik.

Josh Cartwright (Mechatronics and Robotics 2024)

A series of fortunate events:

I can't believe that helping a friend out by joining their society would be the start of a relationship so wonderful and loving and caring, with someone you've just been throwing balls at...

Being asked to join a new society in your fifth year of uni is always a tricky decision. Already busy with work, and the socials from the societies you've been a part of for four years means I was already cutting it thin on time, but I'm so glad I did, because it was there that I met my wonderful girlfriend.

Granted, it was her who made the first move, drunkenly, on a dodgeball social at Walkabout, but being as clueless as I was, took no heed to it. It wasn't until we got to chatting at a chill dodgeball social at the park did I realise that this girl is amazing!

From then on, the yapping has never stopped. Staying up till 2am just talking about God knows what, making the time after sessions and socials to stick around with each other and yap some more.

Here's to us spending many more years yapping away.

Ella Macartney (Psychology with Education 2024)

I met Dylan on my first day at university because, guess what… we were flat mates! At the time love wasn’t on the cards (due to one of us already being in a relationship) but after three months and a breakup, it was clear we had started to form a bond.

It all started with us watching TV together as a flat, late into the night. Then, it led to just Dylan and I watching it. We stayed up, despite needing to be awake for our online lectures at 9am, until the early hours of the morning together every night. At the time it was pure friendship and nothing else. That was as until it was clear that there was more to it. It got to the point that we would message each other every single day during the breaks. It often felt like something was missing if we went a day without talking!

One of the most defining moments before we became a couple was our walks to Aldi in Meanwood from Oxley Residences. We would spend the time talking and getting ice cream, and sometimes going in the park. It was the best time as we would be comforting our inner children. Then, summer came along and our flat had planned a holiday away. Dylan and I were joined at the hip and made our feelings clear when we were away. Since then, we have been together and lived together (with our friends) throughout uni and now own a flat together. It has been the joy of my life to spend it with someone so lovely and amazing and I can’t wait to see what the rest of our journey brings!

Dalton Harrison (Criminal justice and Criminology 2024)

When I was in my final year of my degree programme in criminal justice and criminology one of my long term friends started there first year in the same course. She started asking me tips and we loved studying till late on the Edward Boyle Library. We were both passionate about prison reform and would often debate and banter over ideas and theories. We fell in love with learning and each other and we have celebrate each mile stone since

Pralish Satyal (Mechatronics and Robotics 2024)

I met my partner at Key Club in Leeds. It was a random night out which I nearly didn’t go on, but I’m glad I did as it’s shaped my life going forward.

Shreya Tyagi (MSc Advanced Computer Science 2024)

Leeds will always hold a special place in our story. Although my partner, Akshansh, and I first met in India, our time in Leeds gave our relationship a beautiful new chapter. Supporting each other through academic challenges and everyday adventures made our bond stronger than ever. From long walks through the city to celebrating small victories together, Leeds became more than just a place of study, it became a place where our love grew, evolved, and created memories we will carry with us forever.

Arnau Anguera Rodoreda (English 2024)

I met Jessica in Sentinel Towers. We both were international students, she is from Sydney and I am from Barcelona. We are still happily together.

Utsa Das (MSc Sustainable Cities 2025)

We come from the same city, Kolkata, India, yet we never once crossed paths there. Fate waited until a Freshers' party at Popworld, thousands of miles away, to bring us together. That night, I lost my phone. One by one, everyone from the friend group left, but he stayed. For almost two hours, he searched for it until he finally found it. It might sound cheesy, but in that moment, I imagined him as a knight in shining armour, rescuing me, and I instantly knew he was someone I could trust a lot.

He was gentle and kind, two qualities that are so rare in this generation. His calm personality, his emotional availability, the way he never judged anyone and, of course, his elite gossiping skills with me, pulled me in instantly. What began as a simple friendship slowly became something deeper. I confessed to him on my birthday, and now we celebrate two occasions on the same day. Good for him, he says, he doesn’t have to buy two separate gifts. Just kidding. In a foreign continent, he became my constant, my friend, my anchor, my biggest support system. Our innocent friendship turned into love before we even realised it.

Our relationship didn’t come without its share of chaos; we managed to annoy our entire friend group by getting together, but somewhere along the way, we chose each other. We slowly isolated ourselves and built our own world. Evening walks around Burley and Kirkstall, endless hours working on assignments in Laidlaw and Brotherton, spontaneous trips, wandering the roads of Scotland together, navigating the madness of London hand in hand.

None of this would have been possible if we hadn’t both chosen the University of Leeds. This university didn’t just give me a degree; it gave me my life partner.

Tallulah (Theatre & Performance 2025)

When I started at Leeds way back in 2020, I never imagined what I’d leave with (nor that it would take me five years to graduate but, as you’ll read, life has a way of surprising you!).

I met Charlie whilst we were both working on a society production of ‘One Man Two Guvnors’. He was playing an 87 year old man called Alfie. It was far from his best look, but somehow I fancied him and I suppose I now know what I’m in for in sixty years time. After a few failed attempts as flirting, I made a bolder attempt at the society summer ball. By the end of the night, he’d bought me a 99p cheeseburger from the McDonalds on Briggate and kissed me. And so our story began.

We went on some proper dates and eventually he asked me to be his girlfriend. We spent the rest of the summer of 2022 being young, foolish and in love: it was everything any twenty-somethings could want from a relationship. It felt like every cliché was falling into place. I think lots of people perhaps come to uni expecting to meet their future spouse and parent of their children. We talked about having children, in many years to come, long after we’d graduated…

How life really worked out for us was that we celebrated our first anniversary in July 2023, Charlie finished his Master's in the September and our son was born five weeks later. I still had a year of my degree left to complete, but I took a year out as a kind of maternity leave…I told you life has a way of surprising you! It certainly did for us.

Charlie is the most natural father. I could blabber on about all the practical things he did and still does - a “hands-on dad” if you will - but those things are the least important things he does for our son. Charlie is a kind, curious, intellectual, affectionate, creative man. So, for me, the most important thing he does for our little boy is be a role model. They cook together, read together, dance together, play together.

Our son is two and a half now, and he too is kind, curious, clever, affectionate and creative. I have no doubt that Charlie being his dad means he will turn out brilliantly. However, what gives me most hope for our son is the way in which Charlie and I are a team.

He is my perfect other half. A trustworthy co-pilot navigating life with me. A supportive presence when it all feels overwhelming. We have gone through grief, long distance, an unplanned pregnancy, and parenthood together and our partnership has never wavered. It has been always us versus life.

I did eventually go back and finish my degree, even writing my dissertation about motherhood. I even managed to graduate with a First, despite doing it all with a toddler in tow. None of it would have been possible without Charlie.

Like I said, I think lots of people come to university wondering if they’ll meet ‘the one’ but how lucky am I to say I came out of it with not one, but two loves of my life.

Vickie Liu (Consumer Analytics & Marketing Strategy 2025)

Our story began in Leeds, a mere two weeks after I arrived in the UK last autumn. Our first date was at The Alchemist in Trinity Mall, but before we could head inside, I had a bit of a 'McDonald’s emergency'. Because I had been so busy, I arrived with a double cheeseburger in hand and made poor Martin wait outside the bar for ten minutes while I finished my meal. It was awkward then, but it’s a memory we cherish and laugh about now.

Fast forward seventeen months, and life has moved so fast. I’ve completed my Master's with excellent grades, thanks in no small part to Martin’s care. He was my rock during dissertation season, making sure I was fed every night after he got off work. As I navigate the challenges of the job market, his support keeps me going.

I’ve truly fallen in love with the lifestyle here in Leeds, and my greatest wish is to continue building my life and my future right here alongside him.

Gabriella Hrymajlo (Geography 2024, MSc 2025)

I met my girlfriend Izzy when she joined Leeds Women’s Rugby Union, when she was in her second year and I was in my third year. We have shared many nights out together in Fruity, lunch breaks outside Roger Stevens and studying together in Health Sciences Library. Leeds will always be a very special place to us, the best city in the world to be a student. Izzy is now completing her PGCE in Leeds and I am a Geography teacher at a school in Bedford.

Ceday (2025) - Leeds, Sunflowers and Pies

We were both staying at the same dorm floor at Monty B, our rooms next to each other. Although we met each other as dorm mates and cooked together a few times, I thought she had the vibes of an ice queen, and oh boy - could I be further away from the truth.

Our first real conversation was about her having the tattoo of the same character that I was wearing as a set of earrings at the time. Such a small random detail that maybe it wouldn’t even be noticed any other time, but we did notice it that day.
We became friends quickly, so quick that I was surprised - the easiest thing I have ever done was talking to her. Soon after our late night talks started to become whole-day conversations, and she started to occupy my mind more - day by day. Up until the day I saw a cloud that looked like a dog, and my first instinct was to go home running to tell her. Well that was the moment I knew I was cooked.

I remember the Valentines Day. I spent hours walking in the city streets, looking for the perfect bouquet for her - at the same time wondering if I would ruin what we had if I took a step this bold. I remember finding the sunflowers, which she loved, and I remember staring at them - menacingly - for half an hour, trying to decide what to do. Well, that awkward stare contest I had with the flowers ended when I realised I was running late for the baking event in the dorm. I had to drop the thinking - it was like the universe decided for me that it wasn’t a good idea to push ahead, to endanger this friendship we had.

Ironically, just a few days later, she asked me out.

I was utterly bamboozled. My first reaction was a real, unfiltered, without a single ounce of idea going through my mind: “m-maybe”. And I think that was the first time I genuinely hoped the ground could swallow me as a whole, end my stuttering useless existence at that moment.

Surprisingly, she didn’t take her offer back when she heard the silliest “m-maybe” (and my efforts afterwards to correct myself- which only made dig deeper into the pit I was in) and we started dating. When I still didn’t wake up after a few weeks, I had to come to terms with the fact that I wasn’t dreaming. That this beautiful experience was indeed the reality.

She taught me so many things. How to communicate clearly, how to prioritise yourself at times, how to truly be there for the ones you care about… oh also how to bake a killer apple pie, how to play computer games - this is some serious business - and how to be a true winner at air hockey.

But the most important thing she taught me was, something unintentional. Something I realised way after. She showed me how much I could love someone with my whole heart. And how much I could feel truly loved.

And that is a lesson I will never forget, how easy it is to love when you are with the right person. How much you want to become a better version of yourself, just because they exist next to you. And how much brighter you both glow whenever they are around.

We are not together anymore. We ended things on good terms, it was just too much to live in two separate countries, not knowing when we could see each other without a screen in the middle.

And even though what we had ended - and ripped my heart out in the process - I wouldn’t change a thing if I had the chance. She is my best friend still, my best memory. She is Leeds for me, and Leeds will always be full of her in my mind.

Hope you are doing well Liz, thank you for all the lessons - and the pies.

Hannah Birkenshaw (English Literature 2025)

We met at the start of second year when I auditioned for Pantomime Society and got engaged on the Riley Smith Theatre stage a year later.

Kimika Iijima (MA Communication and Media 2025)

I met my boyfriend during the pre-sessional English programme in the summer of last year. The programme was designed for students who were not yet familiar with UK education or a fully English-speaking learning environment. For two months, we had very intensive classes every day, from morning to evening.

My boyfriend, Yifeng, was one of my classmates during the first half of the programme, and we also lived in the same accommodation. I still remember my first impression of him very clearly. One day in class, our tutor asked us to prepare a piece of paper, but I did not have one. He was sitting in front of me at the same table, so I asked him, “Sorry, I don’t have any paper. Could you give me a sheet?” He answered, “NO,” and did not give me one. The student sitting next to me noticed this and kindly gave me some paper instead. After that, I had a very negative impression of him. To be honest, he has never given me a clear reason, and that remains a mystery to me.

Even more mysteriously, he seemed interested in me and asked me out many times. Because of that first experience, I kept refusing. Before the class change, he finally seemed to give up. Strangely enough, rather than feeling relieved, I felt a little disappointed that he stopped chasing me. After that, I started going on dates with him and joined parties he invited me to. I gradually realised that he was a very kind and lovely person, surrounded by wonderful friends. That was the starting point of my feelings for him.

He is an excellent chef. The photo here shows mapo tofu that he cooked. As I am not very good at cooking, his meals supported my challenging study-abroad life. Since he cooked for me almost every day, my photo folder is full of pictures of his dishes. As we come from different countries, I also cooked sometimes, and we enjoyed exchanging meals. I am a huge fan of his cooking, and I miss it so much now that we cannot see each other often due to the distance between Japan and China.

Through meeting him, my perspective has widened, and I have come to strongly feel that anywhere in the world could be my stage. I believe he is the best gift Leeds has given me.

Beth Robinson (International History and Politics 2024, MA 2025)

We had out first date at Victoria Social in Burley on the 12th March 2025. Despite having both been studying at the University of Leeds for the three years prior (and other weird coincidences such as our dads both working together and growing up 10 minutes apart), we had never met.

I developed such a fondness for Leeds during my time as a student but now it holds even more memories as the place where I fell in love! I instantly felt like I'd known Bertie for years and being with him feels so easy. Nearly one year in since that first date and I adore learning even more about him everyday.

Peiyao Wang (Musicology 2025)

The first time I met my boyfriend, Mingjun Li, was in a very large lecture theatre on my first day of language classes. He was chatting with an Indian classmate beside me, and I assumed he was a friend from another country, so I kept speaking to him in English. He was smartly dressed, clean-cut and fresh, and his style was exactly my type.

Later, by chance, my close friend introduced us properly. Yet my initial impression was that he was a rather aloof lad, with a touch of coolness about him. Since we shared many mutual friends, we often dined, shopped, and studied together in large groups. As my first flat in Britain was rather isolated, he would walk me home after classes every day, concerned for my safety. Later, he even helped me move house in Britain. I had an enormous amount of belongings, and he was the only one who helped me move them multiple times. I genuinely thought he was a wonderful person.

Before we became a couple, we explored every decent restaurant together and travelled with friends. Through prolonged time spent together and his constant care, it took us half a year to finally confess our feelings.

We confirmed our relationship beneath the Eiffel Tower, where he presented me with an expensive down jacket as a declaration gift – I was both deeply moved and utterly surprised.

Since then, we've travelled to numerous countries together in our free time, taking photos for each other. He often cooks for me too. Especially during my most academically demanding periods, when he himself faced significant pressure, he still looked after me with optimism, handling daily chores for me. With him around, I feel completely at ease. Both emotionally and practically, he's an absolutely wonderful boyfriend.

We've now been together for a year and a half. After graduating and returning home smoothly, we met our parents and are planning our future together! I believe we'll only grow stronger. I feel incredibly fortunate to have met such a wonderful, gentle young man in a foreign land. Our happiness will only deepen. Happy second Valentine's Day, Mingjun!

Voneat (Management Information System and Digital Innovation 2025)

We were in the same programme, but at first we were just classmates passing each other between lectures. It wasn’t until a school hiking trip that we truly started talking and slowly discovered who we were beyond the classroom.

Leeds gave me memories and love that I will cherish forever.

Emily Oliver (Law 2025)

I met a girl over TikTok before I came to uni. She invited me to her flat on my first night. Thank god I went, because this was the night I met my now boyfriend of nearly three years.

I was a sassy Northern girl from Sheffield, charmed by his posh Surrey accent!

I became his girlfriend in July 2023 and we have been inseparable ever since. We graduated together in July 2025. We are still long distance (Surrey to Sheffield) working on our careers in finance and law!

I can’t wait to see what the future brings us.

Durga Shanker Nagda (Mining Engineering 1973)

I loved Leeds University, Leeds city and most important of all I loved the residents and students of Leeds when I was there from October 1969 to December 1973.

First two years I was student then my professor gave me a job of research assistant. I admire my Professor Pater Alexander Young and my guide Mr Potts. These memories are precious.

Keith Simmons (Applied Mineral Sciences 1973)

The Who. Refectory. 14 Feb 1970.

Martin Islip Medicine 1974

I have recently completed a memoir, written as a novel, describing the life, love and loss of a medical student in Leeds (me) who, despite the excesses of a full and fervent social life, managed to qualify as a doctor and eventually a GP in Horsforth, Leeds. Managing a full time busy career as well as his relationship with his wife, three children, two dogs and three cats was sometimes a difficult juggling act at which he didn't always succeed. Retirement eventually brought peace and relaxation until his wife became seriously ill and he took on the role of carer. He didn't realise how much he loved her until he thought he might lose her.

Sadly, my wife of 49 years, Gillian, died in August 2025. My novel is dedicated to her and describes both 'Love at Leeds' and 'Love for Leeds', with many references to student life in Part One.

Michelle (French 1997)

Coming to Leeds in the 1990s from the suburbia of the Home Counties was a revelation!

I couldn’t believe all the shops, bars and clubs that were within a short bus ride of my student halls. It was great to meet such a diverse and friendly bunch of people and it’s where I discovered who I really was.

I haven’t been able to stay away - after a few years working in Manchester and Nottingham, I returned to Leeds and have happily called it my home for over 20 years now. My husband is from Leeds and my children are Yorkshire through and through.

Despite growing up ‘down south’ I know that Leeds is my spiritual home and where I was always meant to be.

Mark Tyrrell (Medicine 2000)

Love, it turns out, has many accents. Some whisper. Some shout. Some arrive wearing sensible shoes and carrying packed lunches. Others turn up at 2am, glittered, slightly regretful, and convinced they’ve found the one.

I fell in love with Leeds first.

It wasn’t dramatic. There were no violins, no cinematic rain. A room in Devonshire Halls, a map I pretended to understand, and the feeling that my life had finally begun. Leeds had that effect. It welcomed you in, it handed you opportunities, and said, “Right then, let’s see what you’re made of.”

As a student, love came thick and fast — and sometimes overlapping. There were people I loved deeply for entire terms, others for a fortnight. There were walks that mattered. Pilgrimages: terraces, takeaway smells, conversations about life that started profound and ended with kebabs and chips. You learned a lot about yourself on those pavements. Mostly that you were colder than you thought and very easily persuaded to stop for a drink or to conquer “The Pit”.

Late nights out dancing in the city were another form of love entirely. A sweaty, joyful, slightly chaotic love. The kind that existed only under flashing lights, where the music was too loud for doubt and everyone believed tomorrow could wait. Some nights were fuelled by Pepsi Max and Ritzy’s Monday music, others by beer, cocktails or snakebite and black. Some were sophisticated evenings, dressed in jackets, holding drinks that cost more than planned and others “Love Train” experiences - full of fun and laughter, disco dancing our life and exam worries away. It was perfect.

Then there was Leeds beyond Leeds. Trips up into the Dales and Lakes — green, vast, humbling. The kind of place that made you feel small in a good way, reminding you that exams were not, in fact, the centre of the universe.

We ate well too, for students who claimed to be skint: fantastic restaurants discovered accidentally, meals shared that stretched into hours, laughter that spilled out onto pavements and into memories.

Student life, I learned, is meant to be lived and loved. It is where you discover love for the first time — not just romantic love, but love for independence, for friendship, for the person you are becoming. And sometimes you fall in love with people who are never meant to stay, but teach you how to feel, how to hurt, how to hope and how to let go.

And somehow, remarkably, the love between friends endured. Twenty-six years later, many of those friendships remain — older, wiser, slightly stiffer in the mornings, but no less real. The love is quieter now, but deeper. It lives in shared history, in knowing looks, in stories that begin with, “Do you remember when…”

None of it would have been possible without the first love of all: family. The love that got me to university in the first place. The kind that packed bags, drove me miles, offered reassurance, and let go just enough. That love sat in the background the whole time, steady and constant, leaving me feeling safe enough to explore, to make mistakes, to fall in and out of love — with people, with places, with life itself.

Leeds gave me many loves. Some fleeting, some lasting, all important. And once you’ve loved a city like that — properly, foolishly, wholeheartedly — it never really leaves you. It just waits, smiling, willing you back...

Deblina Saha (MSc International Marketing Management 2010)

The University of Leeds challenged me, believed in me, and gave me a sense of belonging, while shaping who I am today.

Narmin Babayeva Mehraliyeva (MSc Exploration Geophysics 2014)

My fond memories of Leeds from 2013–2014 are wrapped in the remarkable friendliness of its people—where cheerful greetings from elderly residents blended seamlessly with the vibrant energy of the many young students who fill the city.

With its unusually high concentration of universities and colleges, Leeds feels like a sprawling academic ecosystem overflowing with diverse disciplines, creative paths, and intellectual curiosity. Nowhere was this diversity more inspiring than in the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds, where international students and researchers brought together perspectives from every corner of the world, turning lectures and field discussions into rich cultural exchanges. Those years remain unforgettable - a time when the city’s warmth, its intergenerational character, and its global academic community made everyday life feel both grounding and expansive.

Denise Woolford (MSc Water Sanitation and Health 2015)

I love diversity of the people you will meet and the beautiful parks available to share with those lovely people you meet.

Bianca (MA Communications 2017)

I came to Leeds as part of Erasmus in 2015 and little did I know I would stay for my Master's after falling in love with the campus, the city, the lovely people in supermarkets and restaurants always calling you “love”.

Coming from a small village in the Alps, it felt cosy like at home. After 10 years (yes, throwback 2016!), I am having my Leeds reunion in April with my university and Master’s friends, whom I kept seeing along the years, one of them even twice or three times a year (Matteo hope you read this, you’re a gem!)!

It’ll be a trip down memory lane of Yorkshire pudding, backroom dancing, visiting my amazing professor and mentor Antonio Martinez Arboleda, who made me a recommendation letter to stay for a Master's after the Erasmus. Leeds was growth, opportunity, friendship, family but mainly home. I have lived in three countries since, but nothing compares to the feeling in my little crooked flat in Woodhouse Lane, above the epic Saver Copy (that is not there anymore).

Thanks to Leeds, I serve today the European Union as a Communications Officer. You made me!

Hung Yun (MSc Marketing 2022)

Once upon a time, in 2021, during the quiet solitude of lockdown, a new chapter began in my life as I arrived in Leeds. The city, adorned with its rich history and vibrant culture, captured my heart from the very first moment. It was a time when the world was pausing, and in that stillness, I found a place where I could truly feel home.

As I explored the streets of Leeds, from the bustling Kirkgate Market to Hyde Park, I discovered a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The spirit of the Yorkshire people shone, and I felt an instant connection with the city. Close to the nature and have everything in one place but still peaceful and safe that made Leeds special.

During my time here, I also found love. In this city, I met someone who shared my passion for life, value of everything and adventure. Together, we explored the best that Leeds had to offer, from cosy cafes to gigs, ballet and pubs. Our love blossomed against the backdrop of the city’s stunning architecture and picturesque landscapes.

As our relationship deepened, we decided to put down roots. We bought a house in a neighbourhood that resonated with us. It was more than just bricks and mortar; it was a symbol of our commitment, a space where we could create memories together.

Looking back on five years of my life in Leeds. It is now not just a city; it’s my home, a place where I grew on my career, found bounding partner, built my dream home. My journey in this beautiful city has been nothing short of magical, and every day reminds me of how lucky I am to have found love in this city.

I have discovered not just a city, but a lifelong companion in both my love and my beautiful home we have built together in Leeds.

Eunice Kwallah (Learning and Teaching 2022)

I was born and brought up in Kenya. When we relocated to Wetherby which is 10 miles from the city, I became a regular at Leeds. Then I discovered the University. I first came to the University for a taster day in 2012 and that was it! I fell in love with Leeds and the rest is history. I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else in the world.

My husband used to say that I like going to Leeds so much so he didn't know why. It's once you love a place, or someone...it's hard to part ways. I have since been popping in and out just to feel the atmosphere. My love for Leeds will never die.

Kirti Peeyoosh (MSc Advanced Computer Science AI 2023)

Leeds was my first home after leaving my home country, India. and the place where I truly learned what it means to belong somewhere new. While many of my friends and acquaintances eventually moved away, I stayed, and in doing so, I fell even more deeply in love with the city, the campus, and the life I built there.

The University of Leeds campus holds some of my favourite memories: quiet walks past the pond near Roger Stevens, long days at Edge, and sunny afternoons playing tennis in Hyde Park. Summers in Leeds had a special warmth, relaxed, green, and full of laughter. Working as a student ambassador at LUU was a highlight of my journey. It gave me the chance to connect with staff and students, represent the University, and even share my experiences through interviews about student life at Leeds, moments that made me feel truly valued and heard.

Beyond the campus, West Yorkshire completely stole my heart. Hiking the Yorkshire Three Peaks, visiting Skipton, and exploring countless beautiful trails made every weekend an adventure. And of course, the food and community. Nothing beats a good meal followed by a pint of Guinness at Brudenell Social Club, Royal Park Pub, or Old Bar, especially when shared with colleagues and friends from LUU.

Leeds is the place I will always call home after my home. Even though I had to leave the UK due to visa issues, my heart never really left. If I could, I would have stayed for a lifetime. Leeds didn’t just give me an education, it gave me memories, friendships, and a second home I’ll carry with me forever.

I can proudly say I loved my time at Leeds and especially near by hiking places.

Mohyeeldin Kotb (Mechanical Engineering 2025)

Coming from rural Egypt and public Egyptian education at the age of 18, this is the story where Leeds became my home.

When I just arrived I was a naïve boy. Barely a man. I had very little in experience and rarely depended upon myself. Now all of a sudden all I had was an accommodation , £200 a month and a deep desire of self actualization.

I can't put the next four years into words. Early on, it was full of heartbreak, struggle, failure and homesickness. But whenever I felt fearful or anxious, I was met with cheap gym memberships, events in town and open green spaces. From the dockyard to Headingley you will see smiley faces, friendly expressions and open arms. Soon I made friends across the city. Leeds has never let me down. There's always something to do and always friendly people around.