1970s Alumni reunions in focus
By: UEA Alumni team
Left-to-Right for above group photo: Michael Marriott (CHE 72), Andy Dunkerley (CHE 73), Martin Howard (CHE 72), Debbie Hays (née McCloughlin) (EUR 73), Hilary Talbot (née Smith) (EAS 72), Teresa Marriott (née Collins) (EUR 73), Nigel Davis (CHE 72), Andy Oliver (CHE 72), Jane Oliver (née Palfrey) (BIO 72), Rob Thorpe (MAP 72), Pete James (CHE 72), Richard Skegg (CHE 72), Stuart Cottam (MAP 72), Les Thelwall (CHE 72), Geoff Stuttard (CHE 72), Terry Clough (MAP 72), Ed Bennet (MAP 72), Lilian Hodgson (née De Souza) (CHE 72), Ian Chapman (MAP 72), Gary Hays (CHE 72)
We are delighted to share more from two groups of alumni from the 1970s.
Firstly, the group pictured above is a collective of alumni from the 1972/73 intake of students. Leslie Thelwall of the group would like to share the following message:
"In August 2024, 23 UEA alumni (20 in the photo) largely from the 1972/73 intake came together for a reunion in Norwich. It was not our first as we have been meeting in Norwich for several years. It’s over 50 years since we first met and are still going strong! If you know any of us and would like to make contact and/or be part of the 2025 reunion, please get in touch via the Alumni team. We would love to hear from you.
Thanks,
Leslie Thelwall (CHE 72)"
The second group featured represent students who studied in our School of Environmental Sciences starting in 1978.
Left-to-right: Stefan Bort, Nick Allen, Petra Brown, Graham Bunn, Robert Brown
One of the group, Petra Brown (nee THOMAS), had the following to share about their recent meetings:
"Although our lives and careers have taken many different paths (from earth observation, data management, GIS, law, teaching, Information technology, to name but a few), the glue that continues to stick us together is our love for all things “ENV-Y”!
A group of ENV78 alumni met in northern Spain, not far from the location of countless geology and soil science field trips, to enjoy the spectacular natural environment of Asturias – Spain’s green paradise in the lesser-known part of the country. A province full of mountains, rivers, forests, wild coastal landscapes and great cuisine!
Since graduating in 1981, our ENV studies have become so much more relevant and significant, now commonly reported in mainstream media. Our ENV lecturers prepared us well to observe, appreciate and interpret the world around us and the impact that we have as human beings. Moreover, taking careful note of the creatures in the air and on land, diversity of plants and forest life, geology and surface processes shaping the earth, and changes in our climate – a topic prominent in global governmental discussions, although not prominent enough. An amusing debate was had on interlocking spurs that no-one could clarify!
We were privileged to spend three days together, catching up on many missing years which had been absorbed by the busy-ness of life. Only now with many of us on the cusp of retirement and still with loads of energy (!), do we have time to revisit activities from those ENV days – so many field trips, rendering so many unforgettable memories!
For three days, we immersed ourselves in Asturian rural life. We hiked in mountain scenery dominated by limestone, marvelling at formations such as blow holes (‘bufones’) by the sea, tilted bedding planes and intrusions, waterfalls and underground caverns. We visited an underground coal mining museum, offering deeper insight into a bygone era when coal mining was prevalent in Asturias. Today, much like in Great Britain—where coal once formed the backbone of industry and shaped the cultural landscape—mining has nearly disappeared. And to top it all off, we can't overlook the excellent Asturian cuisine, along with its renowned local cheeses and wines that had to be experienced.
The pioneering School of Environmental Sciences at UEA equipped us with a solid foundation of scientific knowledge which is crucial to tackle the mounting environmental challenges of our time, and continues to do so for others who follow.
If anyone from ENV78 - or those from shared courses - wishes to make contact, please get in touch via the Alumni Office. We’d love to hear from you!"
If you would like to contact either group please first email alumni@uea.ac.uk