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When Paul arrived at Loughborough in 1968, he recalls:
“I had never been in a sports hall before, then I arrived at the College for my interview and saw the gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis courts, vast playing fields, and a full athletics track, all within walking distance. Wow, what a place!”
The College of Education was then a small institution, and in Paul’s words they were split into three distinct disciplines, PE students, nicknamed ‘jocks’, Technology students, known as ‘chippies’, and primary school teacher trainees.
Paul’s memories span long walks from The Grove residence to lectures near Towers, and even a year living 10 miles away in Lockington, commuting daily with his fellow students. He fondly recalls shared meals at the now-demolished refectory, Friday nights watching Monty Python in the common room, and the warmth of hall life, complete with cheerful cleaners and the student who was on phone duty laying out toast each evening.
He credits inspiring lecturers such as Robbie Brightwell, Colin Hardy, and Eric Blackadder for shaping his teaching career and instilling a lifelong passion for physical education.
Fast forward 57 years, Paul said the campus was:
“unrecognisable, it’s a magnificent place and I was so privileged to tour it this summer”.
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