Westminster College was founded by the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1861 and is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. It was to become one of the first post-war, purpose-built, teacher-training colleges in Britain, when in 1959 it moved from London to North Hinksey, Oxford. In 2000it merged with Oxford Brookes University and is now called the Westminster Institute of Education. The Wesley and Methodist Studies Centre, which promotes research into the study, history and practice of Methodism, and the Methodist 20th century art collection are both based.

I was extremely fortunate to spend my student days at Westminster in the 1960s. The newly-built college was on the hillside overlooking Oxford, and nearly all the students were accommodated on the site. We were looked after very well in those days: all of our meals, apart from Sunday tea, were provided in the college dining room; our bedding was washed regularly and our rooms were cleaned weekly. All the students had to do was study!! Rev. Trevor Hughes was the Principal and he was adored by everyone; there was a very friendly, family atmosphere. Westminster had a wonderful Christian tradition, the Chapel was the focal point of the campus and there were short services twice a day.

Obviously I have numerous memories of my three years there but here are just a few!

The long journey by train from Grimsby via London took a whole day; steam trains were still in use then; a trunk containing clothes and books had to be packed and sent in advance; lasting friendships were made and I am still in touch with many of my fellow students; every year we had a special fund-raising week when studies were abandoned: one time Ken Dodd came to cut the biggest jam butty in the world!

Taking part in "Pirates of Penzance" was a fun experience. In my last year I was the treasurer of the Union and I can remember writing a cheque for over £1000 for a new minibus; that seemed an enormous amount of money then.

We were actually in the Chapel when the news broke that President Kennedy had been shot. I can still hear the footsteps echoing down the aisle as the student came to tell us, and then followed a stunned silence.

The Westminster "spirit" continues. When we first came to Preston we went on a midnight hike with the Youth group, and I discovered that the leader from another church had also been at Westminster about 10 years before me. So I had a big hug in the middle of a field at 3 a.m. from a strange man, just because we were both Old W’s!!

There are several events planned for the 150th anniversary. Steve and I have already attended the 1960’s Decade dinner and hope to go to the Foundation Day Service in October at Westminster Central Hall, which is close to the original Westminster College.