Some of our alumni have left Exeter not only with a degree or postgraduate qualification, but also having fallen in love. It was lovely to catch up with these four couples to find out why the University is so close to their hearts.
Nick and Barnaby
Nicholas Pegg (English Literature, 1990) is an actor, writer and director and Barnaby Edwards (French and Fine Art, 1991) is an actor, director and artist. The couple met at Exeter in 1988 and shared a love of the theatre. They’ve been together ever since.
Nicholas: “I vividly remember the day we met. It was in the old Devonshire House coffee bar, in the spring term of 1988. No doubt we were both rocking some questionable eighties fashion choices, but Barnaby was very handsome. We quickly bonded over our shared love of theatre.
We still act together when the opportunity arises. We’ve played the Ugly Sisters in Cinderella, and the Mechanicals in A Midsummer Night’s Dream – and we’ve just clocked up our third decade as the two principal Daleks in Doctor Who.”
Barnaby: “I was in my first year, and a little in awe of Nick. He was a year above me, and he was already a leading light in the Student Theatre society.
After university we both ended up applying for the same postgraduate course at drama school in Guildford, so we rented a house together. We graduated from drama school in 1992, and both became professional actors. We’ve been fellow Daleks for almost as long as we’ve been fellow humanoids. The two things go hand in plunger.”
Chris and Rachel
Rachel (Music, 1994) and Chris Moody (Economics and Politics, 1992) met at Exeter in the early 90s and realised that they were destined for each other. Chris tells us their love story:
“I graduated in 1992 with a BA (Hons) in Economics and Politics with European Study. I studied for a year in the ERASMUS scheme at the University of Chambery in the French Alps. And it was only because of that extra year that I was still in Exeter when Rachel (née Kenny) started her first year. Rachel graduated in 1994 with a BA (Hons) in Music.
We met in The Lemon Grove in November 1991 when we were introduced by fellow musicians from the University Symphony Orchestra. I play French Horn, Rachel plays Oboe. We’re still friends with them today, even with our children now at various UK universities (including Exeter). This year we celebrated 25 years married, including a trip to The Lake District where we took this photo on Cat Bells.”
Henry and Rosemary
Henry (English and Drama, 1973) and Rosemary Beltran (English, 1973) met at Exeter and will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2024. Henry shares their love story:
“Before going to university, I went to the Barber’s shop in North Finchley and asked for a severe ‘short back and sides’. Rosemary saw me for the first time, by the English faculty notice board, trying to understand which lectures we had to attend as 50% content English Literature students.
Apparently, she thought to herself: ‘Keep away from him’, but some weeks later, my hair had grown, I was trying out some contact lenses and Rosemary thought: ‘Oh well, let us see what happens!’
From Exeter, we did our PGCE at Leeds University, married in April 1974 and started working in September 1974 at Wispers School for Girls. We remained there for 34 years until it closed in 2008. After Wispers, I worked for 10 years as Box Office Manager at a small independent cinema in Chichester. I retired during Covid. We now live in West Sussex.”
Nicoleta and Alex
Nicoleta Crauciuc met Alex Tirb (both Medical Imaging, 2018) as they started their course at Exeter. They got married and graduated on the same day in front of their family and friends. She tells us about their love story.
“In October 2015, I said hello to Alex after being told by other colleagues that we were both from Romania. We started talking, studying together, and enjoying university life as mature students with great joy.
After Alex proposed, we decided that getting married on the morning of our graduation in 2018 would mark the day for our new family as well. My sister and Alex’s mum flew to the UK from Romania and we had other friends present as well to celebrate. It was a very emotional day, lots of happy tears from everyone. We look forward to many more happy years alongside people we love and respect.”
