YSJ Families: A multi-generation connection
When Pam Beck (nee Waye) arrived at St John’s College in 1966 to study our Primary Education Course with a specialism in music, she wasn’t the first person to study with us, or the last. When we asked our alumni to tell us about their family connections to us, Pam told us that her connection to us was multi-generational, and across both of our historic campuses! We couldn’t resist asking her to tell us more…
Betty Waye (nee Edgar)
Originally from Otley in West Yorkshire, Betty studied at Ripon College from 1935 to 1937. Perhaps teaching really is something families inherit, because Betty’s mother and uncle were both teachers! Pam can’t remember if her grandmother was a certificated teacher or not, but at the time it wasn’t uncommon to have teachers who were trained ‘on the job’ and teachers who attended a College. Betty’s father was an engineer, fitting Wharfedale Printing machines around the country, and occasionally around Europe. You can find out more about Wharfedale Printing in the Wharfedale Observer.
In Betty’s second year, she was made Senior Student, a position she maintained for the rest of her life as her year correspondent for the alumni association. She wrote and dispatched newsletters and made sure to attend College reunions every year, even when they were held in York after the creation of the College of Ripon and York St John.
College life
At College, Betty took an active part in everyday life. She enjoyed playing sports, especially hockey, rounders and tennis which were core sports at Ripon College. Betty also swam and danced, and enjoyed termly tea meetings with the Dean of Ripon Cathedral because of her position as Senior Student.
In Betty’s testimonial from Miss Lett, the principal, completed at the end of her second year, Betty received a glowing review. She had reached a good standard in all subjects, but especially in History which she took to an advanced level, Needlework and Handwork. As a Senior Student she was a key part of College life, and she secured a teaching position immediately after completing her course. Her first position was in an infants and junior school in Leeds. Married in 1942, she continued teaching whilst her husband was in the army during World War Two, and only left in 1947 when Pam was born.
Fond recollections
Later in life, Betty remembered her two years at Ripon College fondly, but called them hard work to fit so much in, in so little time! When Pam was still at school, Betty took her to an open day at Ripon College and showed her all of her favourite spots, including the chapel. The lawn outside the main building where she spent many hours when she wasn’t studying or playing sport was a particular favourite. It was also a spot she returned to year after year during annual reunions, and which will have been well remembered by her year mates. As her year correspondent, Betty kept in touch with her year mates through letters and newsletters, but remained particularly close with two of her College friends for the rest of her life.
St John’s College: a triple connection
When Pam started studying with us in 1966, Ripon College and St John’s College retained only the loosest of associations. But Betty’s teaching career influenced her considerably to consider it as her own profession. So why did she pick St John’s? Pam chose to study with us after a positive recommendation from a former student at her secondary school, and because it met two important personal requirements: Pam wanted to attend a Church of England College and be able to continue studying the church organ.
In 1966, women had only been accepted at St John’s for 4 years. Despite this, Pam says:
“I did not feel in a minority; all the newer accommodation blocks (and Upper and Lower New, where I was in my first year) were occupied by women, so it felt well balanced.”
At the time, St John’s accommodation for men and women was separate. Pam spent all three years of her course in the women’s accommodation, eventually becoming Executive Member and then Women’s Hostel President! In many respects, following in Betty’s footsteps with her position of trust and authority within the College. Since then, Pam has remained close to the other seven girls who lived on Lower New in their first year together.
“When our children were younger, we used to go and stay at each others’ homes, one was our bridesmaid and godmother to our elder son. We meet up in York, usually once a year and when it was 50 years since we started (in 2016), we arranged a proper visit with the Alumni department and had a tour of the campus.”
A birthday surprise
When Pam turned 19 in November 1966, they held a small gathering to celebrate. It was at this gathering that Pam first met Heavy Craft and Secondary Education student, Tony Beck. She didn’t know it, but within her first term, she’d met her future husband.
Since completing his course with us, Tony has also completed a Diploma in Special Education with Leeds University.
A tale of two Tonys
But it wasn’t just Pam and Tony who studied with us. Pam’s brother started his first year at St John’s College when Pam was completing her third. Pam doesn’t think she influenced her brother, Tony (Anthony) Waye to study with us, especially as he rarely visited her before he started his course. The most memorable occasion was when the College choir was struggling to find a soloist for their requiem in the chapel. Tony stepped up and sang the solo, but never did again when he was an actual student with us!
Considering both Waye siblings attended around the same time, their experiences were fairly similar. The one major difference was Tony lived at Heworth Croft for his first year, then lodgings for his final two. He also chose PE as his main subject, rather than music which will have impacted his timetabled activity.
After completing his course, Tony taught for two years at a Church of England Middle School in Otley before moving, and eventually running, the family Travel Agency.
From one generation, to the next
Chris Beck didn’t originally apply to study at the College of Ripon and York St John, but sometimes fate has other plans! After applying to study PE and Business Studies through clearing in 1995, his rugby skills helped earn his place and later provided some fun as a student with us.
For his parents, Pam and Tony, who had both studied with us, dropping him off for his first term was:
“Quite nostalgic for both Tony and me and we really enjoyed having a connection again and visiting.”
But it was also quite a different experience from the one they had shared when they studied with us. Students had more freedom, no curfews and no visiting restrictions – all things Pam and Tony had contended with as students. The College had also developed with a wider student population studying a variety of subjects. Even the way of learning was different: independent study was encouraged compared to the more directed workflow Pam and Tony had experienced.
Accommodation on campus was also different. Chris spent his first and third year in a shared house, with his second year in the Groves. With more independence, no teaching practices and a wide range of accommodation options, Chris’s experience was far less formal than that of his parents, or his grandmother, Betty. But some things remained the same: like his Uncle Tony and grandmother Betty, Chris enjoyed playing sport with us and made lifelong connections:
“[Life at College was] still similar in the camaraderie and long-lasting friendships which are established.”
From a bus trip to alumni reunions
Not only did Pam meet her husband whilst studying with us, Chris also met his wife, Zoe, whilst studying with us too.
“He went on a College bus trip round some pubs in the Dales called “The ales in the Dales” and Zoe was hosting the bus that Chris was on – he didn’t know her before that.”
Zoe had also chosen to study at our York campus, but was studying Occupational Therapy rather than Business or PE. It’s safe to say their academic circles hadn’t crossed before that fateful bus trip, but since then, they haven’t looked back!
Likewise, although Betty regularly visited campus for reunions after the Ripon campus closed, Chris was never there at the same time as the term would always be over by the time a reunion was held in summer.
After completing his degree with us, Chris looked for a job in business before securing one as a rep with Whitbread in the Nottingham area. Since then, he’s remained in the beer trade and worked for Punch Taverns, Greene King and Hawthorn Leisure. Now a commercial manager for a large wholesale distributor, he’s come quite far from that ‘Ales in the Dales’ trip!
Reflections
After Pam completed her course with us, she predominantly taught in Primary and Middle Schools. After taking seven years out to have a family, Pam did supply work and then had permanent posts in various schools before retiring in 2007.
Pam also got her wish to continue studying the church organ, and has been the Assistant Organist at Otley Parish Church since August 1966! When she’s free, she also lends her talent to other local churches and remains involved in local music at a school level. Despite retiring in 2007, Pam is still involved in the church school’s orchestra as a pianist, and also plays for the school productions and the school church services. She is also Vice-Chairman of the Governors there.
Living just 30 miles from York, both Pam and her husband Tony enjoy visiting campus. They were able to watch the creation of our new Creative Centre despite the nostalgia it caused when the original residences were removed to make space for it. Pam also enjoys visiting York with the friends she first met during her College days and seeing the changes on campus.
“My husband, especially, cannot visit York without calling in at Reception – I think they see him coming now!”
Another generation?
Pam and Tony have four grandchildren, but as all of them are still at school we’ll have to wait and see if they continue the tradition of studying with us!
If you have a family connection to York St John or any of our founder connections, we’d love to hear from you! Please email alumni@yorksj.ac.uk.
