As we approach Valentine's Day, we are back for a second year celebrating the love stories that started right here at Lincoln!
For some, it was love at first sight in freshers' week but for others, their time at Lincoln was when women had not yet started studying at the College so it was a case of trying to sneak people in over an 8-foot wall... Take a look below at the love stories and anecdotes submitted by our alumni.
Anne Perry née Whittick (2001) and Guy Perry (2001)
By Anne Perry: "My husband, Guy Perry, and I met at Lincoln in fresher's week (2001 matriculation). I looked after him when he broke his arm playing rugby! My name was Anne Whittick. We are about to celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary - we got married in Lincoln College Chapel in December 2009. We haven't gone far - Guy is a Fellow by special election at Keble College, still teaching and supervising doctoral students at Oxford, and is the principal of Middlebury CMRS. I worked in education for a long time, but have recently had a career change and work as a Parish Development Adviser for the Diocese of Oxford.
"The photos are of us getting married in the chapel in 2009 and of us at a gaudy a few years ago".
Sarah C Turner née Tapp (1984) and Simon C Turner (1984)
By Simon C Turner and Sarah C Turner: “We met on our first day in Oxford (10 October 1984) at our engineering tutors' sherry party. After the shock of realising that we had exactly the same initials, we quickly became inseparable and got engaged in second year; we were a well-recognised couple around college and were voted college mascot in third year, although not everyone knew which of "Tapp and Turner" was which!
“We settled in Oxfordshire and married in 1989. We both still work as engineers (albeit mostly software these days) and for a few years had the pleasure of working in the same office for a small Formula 1 team (Simtek).
“We love coming back to college and always celebrate the anniversary of our meeting with a glass of sherry; the College put on a special bash at the Tate Modern for our 40th (spinning some yarn about a new rector and launching the 600 campaign!)”.
Deb Tripp Budden (1985) and Phil Budden (1985)
By Deb Tripp Budden: "Phil and I met when we both came up to Oxford early in 1985, Phil for rugby training and I as an international student. We were just friends for a year, and then made our romance official at a Guy Fawkes bonfire night party at the Bartlemas Sports Ground November 1, 1986. We married in 1992.
"The first photos are of us heading to Worcester Ball 1987 and at some party in a Lincoln College student room! The second is us headed to a work gala event in 2025!".
Michael Robinson (1959) and Dizzy
By Michael Robinson: "Back in the 1960's, the window of the visitor's room in the Turl was traditionally left open when the college was closed at night. This allowed students to climb in. However, one night a climber trod on the visiting Archbishop of Canterbury. Thereafter, climbing in at night was performed by using the 8-foot wall to the Rector's garden.
"The second floor of student accommodation had a bathroom at one end opposite my bedroom, overlooking a rear quadrangle. My then girlfriend, now wife of 75 years, Dizzy, remembers it was the night of the College ball and she needed a bath before dressing and ran the bath with warm water. Next, my scout Frank, knocked on the door, shouting, "Sir, sir, turn off the tap! It’s overflowing and flooding the ballroom!" Dizzy called back in a gruff Australian accent, "Right-O!"
"Thank goodness Frank did not reply, and the ball went on. I had met Dizzy, a Sydney University graduate, previously at a party in London, and that was the first time we met. She came up to Oxford to see me, and we fell in love.
"The photos are of myself from then (rowing number 7 in the college 1st Torpid 1961) and recently on my 90th Birthday."