Connections: Angela Carless

What’s your standout memory of Warwick?

It was love at first sight when I arrived on campus in October 1978. Everything about it seemed so fresh and exciting. There was this wonderfully progressive Arts Centre, a cavernous Students’ Union filled with bars, and even a disco room!

I was in awe of the vast library with its little horse-box study cubicles and the modern multi-storey buildings which housed the various academic departments down long, winding corridors. Of course, I adored The Koan and 'I Toil' in Red Square. With only about 5,000 students on the roll, it felt like being in a small town filled with young people from all different backgrounds, and I felt lucky to be there.

How would you sum up Warwick in the time that you were there and your generation of students?

When I was there in the late 1970s–early 1980s, it was very much a time of optimism and opportunity where you felt you could be anyone you wanted to be. Not everyone shared the same politics, but you'd all still hang out and party together, and there were lots of parties – especially fancy-dress ones.

Student life was great fun and, although you had to study hard, there was still time to indulge your passions and try out new things. For me, that meant becoming immersed in student journalism and getting the chance to help start a new campus magazine called Vixen. I also helped found the 'Independent Journal Society' and got to edit the Student Union Handbook for 1981-82 - all things which helped kick off a long career as a journalist.

What was the student culture like at Warwick, and were there any annual traditions, societies, sports clubs, or events that you remember?

It was a must to attend the Students’ Union meetings held every Wednesday in The Airport Lounge, which had this distinctive orange-patterned carpet. The weekly edition of The Warwick Boar would be on sale to coincide with the meeting, and everyone would start reading the campus news stories and scurrilous gossip! With no internet, no social media or mobile phones – you got your University news at the SU meetings, from W963, the campus radio station and from the printed student publications.

On the social side, there was a very active Film Society which showed films in one of the big lecture theatres every night. As hardly anyone had a television, this was a big part of student life. There were plenty of live music nights in the Students’ Union and we looked forward to the annual President's Ball and The Hollywood Ball – both chances to get dressed up.

Angela Carless

BA English and European Literature, 1981