YSJ Love Stories

by · February 14, 2022

There are a lot of things to love about York St John, including our picturesque York campus, our community ethos and, of course, our fantastic alumni. But, for some of our former students, York St John was also place they found love, and not just for York!

For Valentine’s Day, we asked you to share your YSJ love stories, and you didn’t disappoint!

Twenty years and counting…

Me and my husband James first met in The Limes residence in our first year, 1996. We became good friends and finally got together as a couple in 1999. 

Last year we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary and have 3 amazing kids! Needless to say York holds a very special place in our hearts. ❤

– Lynsey Radford
  • The Radfords from their student days. They are dressed for an event - she is wearing a purple patterned dress with elbow length black gloves. He is wearing a grey suit with a striped tie and black shirt. They are both smiling at the camera.
  • A more recent photo of the Radfords. They are on holiday and both smiling at the camera. She is wearing a pair of sunglasse and they are stood in front of a body of water.

A tale of two disciplines

I met my husband Ian Hird in Freshers week in our second year (2006).

I was studying Occupational Therapy and he was studying Music. We were introduced through my housemate at the Students’ Union. 

Fast forward 15 years we are both exceeding in our chosen careers and have two amazing girls, Martha (5) and Aubrey (1).

– Vicky Hird
  • A photograph of the Hirds getting married. They are seated, on the left she wears a strapless wedding dress and veil. On the right he wears a grey suit and purple tie. They are both smiling.
  • The Hirds taking a selfie. They are sat by a fire adorned with festive lights. They are both smiling at the camera.

From flatmates to spouses

I met my wife (was Emily Cutts, now Emily Grieve) on the day we moved into halls in 2010. We both lived in Gray’s Wharf, flat 31! We had a rocky start to our relationship but by the end of third year we were in the throws of our romance. 

Due to financial constraints, I moved home at the end of Uni and we spent 1 year travelling to meet each other every other week. She ended up moving to Berwick Upon Tweed to live with me, until we relocated to Rotherham. 

In 2018 we married at the Principal Hotel in York and had our wedding photos taken around the beautiful city that we met in. 

In 2021, we welcomed our first child William into the world! I owe YSJ everything, because it has given me my whole world!

– Evan Grieve
  • A wedding photo of the Grieves in front of York Minster at night. She is wearing a wedding dress, veil and has her hair up. He is in a dark blue suit. It's night and the Minster looms over them dramatically.
  • A black and white photo of the Grieves on York Walls, the Minster in the background. It is a wedding photograph, so both are in their wedding clothes.
  • A more recent photo of the Grieves with their son. They are in a church, stood in front of a stained glass window. They are dressed semi-formally and their baby son wears a flatcap.

Not love at first sight…

Matthew Hill and I (was Katie Waring now Hill) met in 2010 on BA Honours Education Studies course. It wasn’t love at first sight though. Fast forward two years later to our final year on the course and this is where our story begins. After we graduated together, I continued to study at YSJ completing a PGCE in Primary Education and Matthew supported me through this by working full time. In 2015 I finished my PGCE and we moved to Kent.

In 2016 Matthew proposed and in 2017, we were married. In 2019, our first child was born, Zachary and in 2021 we had a beautiful baby girl named Lily-Jane. This year we will be buying our first house together where we will share many more happy memories. We will also be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary and 10th anniversary of being together. Here are a few photos of our life together so far.

– Katie Hill
  • A graduation photo of the Hills. They are in front of the Minster in their black robes, hats and turquoise and blue hoods.
  • Katie is in her PGCE graduation robes. They are stood in front of the Minster celebrating. They are both dressed in blue.
  • The Hills in front of our Lord Mayors Walk campus entrance. It's summer and they are smiling at one another.
  • The Hills during their wedding. They are outside, turned to smile at one another. She is wearing a white wedding dress and veil and is carrying her bouquet. He is wearing a grey suit with pink tie.
  • The Hills family photo from Christmas 2021. They are sat in front of their Christmas tree, all in matching tartan and blue pyjamas. Sat with them are their young son and baby daughter.

A recent engagement

Me and Dale met in 2015 when we began the BA Drama and Theatre programme, and we became good friends after working with each other on several modules. But it wasn’t until the end of our second year when we finally got it together (with help from a few cocktails!) in Pop World at a friends’ birthday night out. The rest is history – we’ll have been together 5 years in May, and we got engaged in December 😊

– Holly Sloan
  • A photo of Holly and Dale in their graduation outfits. They are both wearing black graduation caps, black robes and the turquoise, blue and gold hoods. They are in front of a glittery backdrop.
  • A selfie of Dale and Holly together. They are both smiling, and Holly's new engagement ring is clearly visible on her left hand as it sits on Dale's chest.

A pandemic romance

Joe and I met on our PGCE at YSJ in 2019. Despite the programme being cut short due to a little thing you might of heard of called ‘the pandemic’, we are still going strong! My absolute best friend – we laugh every single day, and I am so blessed to know love like this and I owe it all to YSJ ❤️

-Chloe Gray
  • A selfie of Joe and Chloe outside. Chloe is wrapped in a white blanket and is the centre of the image. They are both smiling.
  • A selfie of Joe and Chloe outside in the dark. They might be on a beach. Joe wears a hat and a dark grey coat. Chloe is wearing a coat and a spotty outfit. They are both happily smiling.
  • A graduation photo of Joe and Chloe together. They are in the quad with an expanse of grass and ivy clas walls behind them. They are both wearing black academic robes and hats. Joe is in a blue shuit. Chloe is in a grey-blue glittery dress.
  • A selfie of Chloe and Joe taken inside, in what look to be cinema style velvet seats. They are both holding drinks and smiling up at the camera. They both have glitter facial designs around their left eyes.
  • A selfie of Joe and Chloe taken inside what could be a bar area. They are sat at a table, smiling at the camera.

A festive wedding

Recently we noticed a fantastic news story about two of our alumni. Jenny Cochrane and Jonathon Strachan met whilst they studied with us and recently tied the knot in a unique and intimate Christmas wedding.

Following a five year engagement, Jenny and Jonathon got married in the Lake District in an intimate ceremony with less than a handful of other people. Including a picnic by the fire, wedding photography in wellies and beautiful festive decorations, you can find out more in The Mail’s article.

Please join us as we wish them all the best going forward as a married couple!

A staff love story

It’s not just students who have found love at York St John! In 2010 Louise and Kev first met. Louise worked in our fantastic Events team and Kev was a visiting Media lecturer. By 2013 they were extras together in one of Kev’s students’ films called Hobgoblyn.

In 2016, Louise and Kev got married in a venue heavily associated with us. Having already graduated there, and organised several graduation ceremonies there, Louise and Kev tied the knot in York Minster!

Today, Louise and Kev are still working at York St John. Louise now works in our Alumni Office and Kev is a Senior Media lecturer. Together, they have 2 sons.

  • A screenshot of a YouTube video of Hobgoblyn. There are four people dressed as medieval peasants in dimly lit conditions. They are sat at a table. Kevin and Louise sit to the right.
  • A wedding photo of Louise and Kevin from inside York Minster. The black and white image shows the height of the ceilings, the tea-length of Louise's dress and the joy of the occasion.
  • A photo of Louise and Kevin outside. Behind them are various trees and greenery. They are holding hands facing each other but turned to other people. Louise is laughing at the camera, Kevin is laughing towards the right of the photo. They both look very happy.

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