Discover love in Dundee

Anne and Simon, class of 1972

Dundee students, Anne Kendall and Simon Rogerson met in 1971 at the 21st birthday party of Anne’s flat-mate, Denise Dent (neé Land). They graduated in 1972 (Anne in History and Simon in Computational Science) and married in August 1974.  Two of the bridesmaids were also Dundee graduates; Christine Arnold (neé Thomson) and Margaret Bridgewater (neé Arbuckle).  

Anne enjoyed a career in teaching, for the last few years as Headteacher of a Warwickshire secondary school. Simon worked in computing within industry, before moving into academia. He became Europe’s first Professor of Computer Ethics in 1998. Since retiring, they have lived in the Derbyshire Peak District where they are involved in many activities and voluntary work.  

They have a daughter Jemma, married to Andrew; who have three wonderful children, Austin, Faye and Amber. On 3 August 2024, Anne and Simon celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at a party with family and friends.

Livv and Neil, class of 2013

Livv says, "In 2009 I moved to Dundee having never visited Scotland before. Neil was born and bred in Dundee, so starting university was less of a shock to the system for him.   

"Neil studied Sports Biomedicine, and I studied for a joint Honours degree in Physiology and Sport Biomedicine. There were only a handful of us taking modules in Sports Biomedicine, so we became a close group of friends quite quickly, heading for a pint and a game of pool after our lectures.  

"We graduated in 2013 as an inseparable group of pals, but after leaving university, the group had to split up and I moved back down south to start an amazing job in spinal injury rehabilitation. Neil went off to do a master's degree in Sheffield. I think it was only a month or so later that he asked me on a date! I got the train up to Sheffield and couldn’t understand why I felt so nervous about going on a first date with one of my best pals. So nervous, in fact, that I was sick! Neil was then nicknamed ‘King of the Long Game’ by our pals.  

"The rest is history. Eleven years later and we’re married with a toddler and a dog, pretending to be adults and not just two kids partying in the Student’s Union." 

Rikke and Ian, class of 2019 and 2020

Rikke says, "Ian and I met in 2015 during our first year of university, at the volleyball club. Ian studied Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at undergraduate and postgraduate level respectively, and I studied BSc Psychology and MSc Psychological Research Methods, graduating in 2020. We were friends at first! 

"In our second year of university, we were both part of the volleyball committee and spent a lot of time together. I was the social secretary, and Ian was the district league captain. Our first kiss was eight years ago on the 17 February 2017, at one of the volleyball socials.   

"After we had both completed our master's degrees in 2020, we moved to Denmark where I am originally from. Now, we live in Greater Copenhagen where we have a house, and our ten-year-old cat called Cille. We got married on 3 June 2023 in Copenhagen, with guests from all around the world in attendance due to the amazing connections we formed in the volleyball club.  

"We were lucky enough to make the trip back to Dundee earlier this year to attend the volleyball club's alumni weekend on campus!" 

Suzanne and Dave, class of 1995

Suzanne says, "I am from Belfast, Northern Ireland and my husband Dave is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina in the USA. 

"Dave was on a junior year aboard with his university, Tulane in New Orleans, and he was studying Civil Engineering. I was a history major so had no interest in mathematics whatsoever! We were in the same history class. 

"At the time of my matriculation in 1991, roughly two thirds of the University’s student population was from Northern Ireland. We could be considered the 'brain drain'; the population of youth who left Northern Ireland because of the Troubles. 

"Dave and I both lived in Belmont Hall; I was in the old building, and he was in the new tower block. 

"We met in the local pub called The Tav one night in October 1991, when I was in first year and Dave was in his third year of study. I was with some friends, and we heard he was American and jokingly decided that Americans were rich so he should buy us a drink. He said no and I went on with my night! 

"Later, I saw him in the TV room at Belmont. It was a Friday night, and he was watching a USA show called 'Cops'. I sat beside him, and we started chatting. Apparently ‘Cops’ was a popular show in the USA at the time, and he was homesick. 

"Our first official first date was on Thanksgiving, later in November. Since he was not home to celebrate the holiday, he wanted to celebrate by taking me to Garfunkel's. We dated for the rest of the year, before he had to leave and go back to the USA. 

"We were not sure what would happen, but we took turns to visit each other over the Christmas holidays, and I went over for the summer breaks. I went through the British Universities North American Club to get a work visa and the first summer, I worked at a Girl Scout camp in Maine and then went on to stay with Dave for six weeks. 

"The following summer, we stayed together for three months, and I worked at a shop in a mall. On the Christmas holiday of my fourth year, Dave proposed. Of course, I said yes! Six months after I graduated, we were married. We married in Northern Ireland and then left for our new life in the USA. 

"29 years later and now with two kids, who are 22 and 20 years old, we still laugh at how we met. I had originally planned to go to the University of Glasgow, and he had originally planned to study at Newcastle. Somehow, we both ended up in Dundee; isn’t it funny how things work out?"

Wendy and Bill, class of 2001

Wendy says, "I originally met my now husband, Dr Bill Lynch, in 1997, and we got married last year!  

"I attended the University of Dundee as an undergraduate student, studying BSc with Honours Environmental Management, from 1997 to 2001. 

"At the time, Bill was a lecturer and the programme director for the degree path I was on. He was married at the time. His wife sadly passed away 18 years ago.  

"After graduation, we met up a couple of times for a coffee and a catch-up even though I had moved back to Northumberland after I graduated and Bill had continued to work for the University of Dundee, the University of St Andrews, and Teaching and Learning Scotland. 

"Let’s fast forward to 2021; the Alumni Relations team contacted me in relation to my PhD research and as a result I enquired if they were still in touch with Bill Lynch and another couple of lecturers that I remembered from my time at Dundee, David Rice and Barbara Illsley. Within a few days the Alumni Relations team got back to me with Bill's contact email (with his permission, of course!), and we started chatting! As this was during Covid times, we took a while to arrange a face-to-face meet, but by then we were getting on so well and knew that a relationship was possibly on the cards. 

"We met up in Edinburgh on 22 February 2022; a day we'll never forget. We had a wonderful weekend together and that's where it all officially started. 

"We got used to a long-distance relationship with Bill living in Arbroath and me in Northumberland, meeting up every two weeks. After enjoying many holidays together, we decided we were ready to get engaged in September 2023. 

"We set a date for our wedding, the 11 May 2024, at Jesmond Dene House Hotel near Newcastle. Bill made plans to move and live with me in Northumberland. 

"After months of planning, we had the most wonderful wedding day; the sun shone all day, and we celebrated surrounded by our family and friends. We also had a famous gatecrasher; top cricketer Joe Root turned up to join in the party later in the evening and enjoyed chatting to guests. We honeymooned in New York and sailed back to England on the Queen Mary 2, which was wonderful. 

"Bill and I now both work for Northumberland County Council, in strategic transport and waste management respectively. We enjoy every day we spend together, and we are embracing the opportunity gifted to us by the Alumni Relations team who helped us to get back in touch!" 

Alastair and Natalie, class of 2019

Our story began in September 2016, amidst the buzzing energy of our second year at university. I was engrossed in the intricacies of Mechanical Engineering with Renewables, while Natalie was creating her visions in Architecture. Our paths crossed, and from that moment, a new chapter unfolded. 

After graduating, our journey took us south to Bristol, where we both embarked on our graduate careers. We spent several fulfilling years there, building our professional lives, but the call of home eventually beckoned. We made the move back to Scotland, finding our perfect spot and buying a house in the charming Falkirk area. 

Then came September 2023, a moment that would forever be etched in our memories. On the eve of our seventh anniversary together, I got down on one knee and asked Natalie to marry me. The answer, thankfully, was a resounding yes! 

Finally, on Saturday, May 24th, our dream wedding day arrived. We exchanged vows at the beautiful Macdonald Inchyra Hotel & Spa in Falkirk. The entire day was nothing short of perfect, a true celebration of our journey. We've just returned, refreshed and full of wonderful memories, from an incredible two-week honeymoon, adventuring across the breathtaking landscapes of Western Canada.