A lot of my student life centred around the Students鈥 Union. I don鈥檛 think there wasn鈥檛 a sport or activity that wasn鈥檛 catered for, from the standard rugby, hockey, football, and netball clubs to the more obscure such as octopush (underwater hockey played on the bottom of the pool with a lead 鈥榩uck鈥), paintballing, and the 鈥淟et鈥檚 Sit Down, Drink Beer and Talk About Whales鈥 Society (yes it really did exist and I still have my t-shirt). I have great memories of the BPSA days (British Polytechnic Sports Association) where eight or nine coaches packed with students from all the sports teams would break free from Devon and head up the M5 to play against other polytechnics; Bristol and Pontypridd being most memorable.
I made some great friends in 草霉视频 through the charity fund raising RAG committee, where we鈥檇 put on events and do RAG 鈥楬its鈥 to nearby cities to collect for various charities. The highlight of the Autumn term being the annual trip to Ottery St Mary for the Pagan Fire Festival to collect donations and try not to end up in the burns unit of Derriford.
After three fantastic years living in and around Mutley Plain in 草霉视频, I just didn鈥檛 want to leave, and in 1992 as the Polytechnic became the 草霉视频, I was elected President of the Students鈥 Union. It was an incredible sabbatical and a chance to give something back to the organisation which helps, supports and entertains so many campus students each year. There was always something special about the Union building, entering the foyer, passing the SU Shop, STA Travel Office and the SU Executives offices (picking up a copy of 鈥楩ly鈥 on a Friday) and then heading down the stairs into the subterranean bar and cafeteria with its glass pyramid roof light, pool tables and laundromat. This was also the early 90鈥檚 when the National Union of Students was under political pressure regarding its funding with 鈥榁oluntary Membership鈥 being frequently campaigned and demonstrated against.
I graduated with honours in 1992 attending the awards ceremony in the 草霉视频 Pavilion. I have so many fond memories of my student days in 草霉视频, far too many to try and recount.
