Voices of Worcester - The Spirit of Worcester

From its earliest days in 1946, the fabled Worcester Spirit has been a central part of what makes Worcester special. In this collection of stories, staff and students from down the years talk about their own personal sense of the spirit of Worcester, from warm welcomes and life-long friendships, to journeys of self-discovery and the University’s place at the heart of the local community. 

David Morphy – 1960s – Brew groups and meeting his wife Anne for the first time 

In this clip David talks about brew groups, the Worcester Spirit, and the first time he met his wife Anne. David explains why he feels the Worcester Spirit is unique and unlike anything you would find anywhere else.  

Mary Wheyway – 1950s – Ned Peirsen & the rules 

Mary Wheway trained to be a teacher at Worcester between 1955 and 1957. She remembers being interviewed by the Principal Mr Peirson, who she says put everyone at their ease. In this clip she describes how she came to study at Worcester, the close family feel of student life in those days, and Ned Peirson’s golden rule about the grass.  

Sophie Caragill – 2010s – Inclusion at Worcester and the Road to Rio 

Sophie Caragill came from Leeds to study Sports Psychology at Worcester from 2013 to 2016. Sophie was paralysed from the waist down in a car accident at the age of 16, but was determined that this would not stop her living her life to the full. 

Here Sophie talks about what drew her to Worcester in the first place, the University’s inclusive ethos, and how she rediscovered her love of sport after the accident. She also talks about training hard to make the GB squad for the Rio Paralympics of 2016 - sometimes heading out to training as her flatmates were coming in from a night out, as well as her experiences at the games themselves.  

Brenda Sheridan – 1960s – Worcester’s relaxed feel & splendid lunches  

Brenda Sheridan was a lecturer at Worcester from 1961 to 1987. She came to Worcester as the result of a government directive. She’d just got a job at a government designated ‘PE Wing College’ in Durham, when it was announced that all new teachers at Wing Colleges should do an extra term’s training in their particular specialism. Brenda’s specialism was dance, and the place to go for dance teaching was Worcester. She came for a term and stayed for 26 years. 

In this clip Brenda talks about the warm welcome to be found at Worcester, the informal friendly atmosphere on campus, and the glorious meals. 

Swaroop Sampat Rawal – 2000s – the magic of Worcester   

Dr Swaroop Sampat Rawal studied for a PhD at University College Worcester (as it was then) between 2000 and 2005. As an actress, Swaroop was a big Bollywood star. She was crowned Miss India in 1979, but her life changed direction when she started using drama as a tool to help teach life skills. Her PhD from Worcester, on the use of drama in education, proved to be a launch pad for a very different kind of career. Today Swaroop is an internationally acclaimed and globally respected educator. 

Here, Swaroop describes coming to Worcester from India for the first time, the magic she felt in the air, and her attempts to acclimatise to central heating, as well as the joy of graduation and the legacy of her time in Worcester. 

Jade Haley – 2010s – why Worcester? 

Jade was the first person in her family to go to University so it was a nerve-wracking experience. Before the end of the Open Day at Worcester, she decided that this was the university she wanted to go to, and she accepted her offer from the car park! She arrived in 2013 to do a degree in Psychology. 

Jade settled in quickly and got involved in various activities including the Dance Society and Ladies’ Football.  In this extract, she talks about what she particularly liked about Worcester when she came here for the first time. 

Deb Cadman – 1970s – finding yourself at Worcester 

Deb Cadman came to Worcester to study Rural Studies in 1974. 

After enduring a difficult time at school, where she was repeatedly told she was stupid, it was at Worcester that Deb discovered her full potential. Worcester left Deb with a new sense of self confidence and friendships that would last a lifetime.

Professor Dawn Brooker – 2009 – enduring values  

In 2009, Dawn Brooker was appointed to set up a dementia research centre at the University of Worcester. She’d spent 20 years working for the NHS as a Clinical Psychologist before becoming a University professor, first at Oxford Brookes and then Bradford University. 

Here, Dawn talks about why she chose Worcester as the right place to establish the Association for Dementia Studies, and her admiration for the University’s core values, as well as her memories of one particularly special graduation ceremony. 

Professor Sarah Greer – 2010s – the University and the city

After a career as a barrister in London, Sarah Greer came to the University of Worcester to take up the post of Deputy Vice Chancellor in 2014. 

In this clip, Sarah talks about the central importance of the good relationship between the University and the local community.