Welcome back to...

CastleLeazes

‘Promoting harmonious

relations between

humans and cows’

18 EXPLICIT CONTENT

The Development and Alumni Relations OfficeNewcastle University6 Kensington TerraceNewcastle upon TyneNE1 7RU

Tel: +44 (0)191 222 7250Fax: +44 (0)191 222 5905Email: alumni-office@ncl.ac.uk

Reunite!

2000s...It’s now been 40 years since the three halls of Castle Leazes flung open their

doors, and 2009 is set to see a new building added to the line-up. Here’s a

sneak peek of what to expect:

(Information from Newcastle University brochure, ‘Creating a campus for the

future’ – available online)

A new student accommodation block at Castle Leazes Halls of Residence

will provide an additional 98 study bedrooms over seven floors. Two self-

catered flats per floor, with en suite facilities and shared living spaces, will

house seven students each, as well as offering the potential to accommo-

date up to 14 students with varying disabilities.

The new block will be built in keeping with the architectural design of the

existing buildings at Castle Leazes.

Total investment: £4.8 million

Architect: Howarth Litchfield Partnership

Construction: June 2008 to September 2009

An architect’s drawing of the new Castle Leazes building, as yet un-named.

Castle Leazes has been the jewel in the crown of Newcastle’s student

residences since it opened in 1968.

For the University, it’s a great source of pride: A sign of friendship with the

Freemen of the City, who lease the land to the University for a peppercorn

rent. A symbol of brutalist 60s architecture. A fully autonomous unit where

students can be kept out of trouble... Well to a degree.

For its past and present residents, however, Castle Leazes is the embodi-

ment of a timeless, iconic era. It’s a place where legends never get old;

where hazy memories find their way back from the recesses of history;

where cows regret that they ever became associated with the human race.

How do you remember life on the Town Moor? With a warm sense of notal-

gia? Fear and loathing? Pride and smugness? Here is a collection of memo-

ries and photos, from the swinging 60s to the present day. We hope you enjoy

this little trip down memory lane...

Welcome back to Castle Leazes

1960sIn my day, we lived in Leazes Terrace, a block of large late Georgian or early

Victorian Houses built for the well-to-do and with some decidedly dodgy

occupants, as well as a few students, prostitutes and drunks. We had no

water at all on the top floor where we lived, but great views over the Park.

There was one bathroom three floors below and no hot water. We didn't

bathe often and when we did it was in the baths in the Union building. I'm

sure that we were very rowdy and badly behaved from time to time.

by Tony Morris (LLB 1960)

The first newsletter at Castle Leazes was called 'Once in a Blue Moon.' One

of the fiercest debates raging during the first year of the halls’ existence was

whether students going into their second and third year should be allowed

to stay there!

When Leazes first opened, we each had an individual cleaner for our rooms.

Mind you, that was in the days when on JCR night you had to wear your gown

and also attend tutorials!

by Howard Hoy (BA (Hons) English Language & Literature 1970)

LEAZES AIR SHOW: Because Leazes Moor is nice and big with a few flat

spots on it, it lends itself to a frequent landing site for the Air Ambulance and

sometimes the Army helicopter to pick up soldiers that come unstuck on

exercises. Through the trees this particular day I spotted some huge yellow

thing and it turned out to be the lads from RAF Boulmer with their Sea King

downed, waiting for spares. Spare parts arrived in the form of an RAF chop-

per landing in the field, and then the two helicopters flew off to pluck more

people out of the drink.

While people were busy looking at the impromptu air display, looking behind

revealed hundreds and hundreds of people (including the cows) staring agok

over the fence, numerous cars parked, Richardson Road gridlocked, police

everywhere. Beat the Sunderland Air Show hands down!

AGRICS: Finally, a nortorious agric by the name of D frequented the Castle

Leazes bar. Nightly so I heard. Consuming pints in double figures at least.

I must have done something right because this particular night had not gone

according to plan. My partner (now my wife) and I were partaking of refresh-

ment. D and a fellow group of agrics suddenly dove into their overdrafts and

lined up several pints. Neatly arranged into two lines, the now completely

sh*tfaced D and another lad proceeded to have a pint downing race. D cessated

through his third pint and went green – uttered ‘Oh fu*k!’ and violently spewed.

Bar staff furious. Agrics cheering wildly. My girlfriend not aumsed...;You live

here?’ she asked. I nodded meekly. ‘Look, you can move in if you want…?’

by Jonathan Bradley (BSc Genetics 1999)

One of the famous Castle Leazes helicopter landings. 1989

I started off in the old Eustace Percy Hall (now demolished) on Freeman

Road in September 1968. I remember the sound of rats scampering above

our rooms along the roof space at night, metal framed windows, huge metal

radiators rattling and bubbling and scalding hot pipes leading to them, so

moving to the new Eustace Percy Hall at Castle Leazes was a big excitement!

I was on the top floor of Coquet building and loved the view out of the window

and the memories of green fields and walks of home. What I hadn’t antici-

pated was the impossibility of getting any sleep once the summer came

since there were no blinds on the top sloping windows, and the sun streamed

onto my face at 4am in the morning.

The hall was organized with strictly girls and boys floors and the janitor at

the reception would ring up to check if we wanted to admit a particular

visitor. I had one particular guy who was giving me unwelcome attention and

I just asked the janitor to send him away – which he did! The janitor actually

checked everyone who came in and out and visitors had to sign in and out

and enter who they were visiting.

One bit of excitement involved a flasher who secreted himself in the woods

on the route to the University. I had spotted him one evening wearing a light

raincoat and he exposed himself briefly. I took little notice as I assumed such

events were part and parcel of city life! We had tramps and various odd char-

acters that were tolerated without comment at home too. I was surprised

therefore, to find the police much in evidence about a week later. They were

seeking a description of this individual who had accosted and greatly

distressed another female resident of the halls. I racked my brain and came

up with quite a bit of information which I didn’t realize I had observed and

also had to go through a police photo-gallery of likely suspects – a first for

me.

by Mrs Rosemary Prudhoe (nee Craddock) (MB BS 1971)

I was in Havelock Hall in 68–69. I didn’t enjoy it very much. I spent most of

the time at friends’ flats, though having seen the student accommodation

my daughter survived, I had it easy!

by Richard Parsons (BSc Botany 1971)

1990sI lived in Castle Leazes for three years between 1993–1996. In my second

year I was president of the combined EPH, Havelock and Freemen’s JCR. We

organised many memorable events during the year including a large

firework display on Leazes Moor with permission of the Freemen of the City

and various Balls and Tribute Bands etc. Before bonfire night we had a rota

to guard the bonfire 24 hours a day so that it didn’t get lit by the locals or

drunk students. In those days we had dedicated teams running sound and

lighting for discos, the cinema (every Sunday night) and student welfare.

Some member of our committee got elected based on a campaign to supply

every student with soft toilet paper rather that the razor sharp tracing paper

that was supplied. This proved very popular.

by Marek Bidwell (BSc Marine Biology 1996)

Castle Leazes cleaners,

Hilary and Joan,

featured in the Courier,

2 Feb 1998 (story by

Karen Kennedy)

I was resident in room H878, at the top of Havelock Hall, from October 1987

to June 1989. The peace and quiet of the early hours was often shattered by

the arrival of a big yellow helicopter, presumably airlifting a patient in to the

RVI. Peace and quiet? What am I saying – it’s a hall of residence! OK, so the

usual laughter, screams, squeals and sounds of drunken frivolity were often

drowned out by the sound of a helicopter landing

by Dave Newton (BSc Astronomy, 1990).

1970sMischief, bovine bothering, giant snowballs in the middle of Richardson

Road, a calf inside the halls of residence, cattle roaming along Richardson

Road… These are some of the TRUE legends about life at Castle Leazes!

Perhaps those directly involved with these legends came now come forward

to share their memories and re-live their Leazes days and great times on the

Moor.

by Dennis Saw (BSc Chemical Engineering 1979)

There was a shop near the main reception area run by a local ‘entrepreneur’

who seemed to charge at least twice as much for basic necessities as the

shops in the area. We christened him ‘the Shark’. One evening, after his shop

was closed, some enterprising students arranged to re-open the roller shut-

ter and put up a very large sign –THE SHARK– above the hatch of the shop,

and close the shutter. Since the shop keeper opened the shutter from inside

the shop, he spent virtually the whole of the next morning grinning out of the

shop, with the prominent sign above him, wondering why he was suddenly

the centre of attention!

by Michael Ashwell (BA Economics & Accounting 1976)

Residents rowing to Mungo Jerry's 'In the Summertime', 1976

ing, you could see pieces of bread plastered on the walls with butter as well

as spots of strawberry jam, and when it snowed, it was snowball fights all

over.

The naughty or shall we say ‘high spirited’ students would empty all the fire

extinguishers and throw snowballs at the lighted windows. The snowballs

invariably had stones inside which meant the windows would break and the

poor student inside would freeze the night away unless he had a cuddly

girlfriend to keep him warm. The lit windows were targeted because it meant

the student was inside studying instead of having fun. I was very careful on

such occasions to switch off my main light and just use my table lamp for

studying for my exams. There would also be an acute shortage of food trays

in the dining hall because the students would hijack them to use as impro-

vised toboggans on the snow covered slopes around Castle Leazes and also

on the Town Moor. Yes, high spirits was the order of the day, especially when

students had one too many Newcastle Brown Ales, and there were some

who could down 15 pints in one night!

The food in Freemen's hall was not too bad, not gourmet stuff by any stretch

of the imagination, but the Treacle Pudding was absolutely fabulous and I

always had second and sometimes 3rd helpings. The serving ladies were all

great pals of mine. Gooey, sweet and incredibly yummy with lashings of hot,

hot custard! The Rhubarb Pudding however was a culinary disaster, only to

be fed to prisoners to torture them for information you want. Some overseas

students, who could not adapt, suffered terribly and resorted to eating

instant noodles in their room with oily canned pork from China. They grum-

bled and whinged about the food a lot.

Formal Dining was a blast and I would work as a waiter at Eustace Percy

Hall. There were always empty seats and so I would get an extra plate for

myself and in between serving, I would sit down and eat too. Then it was back

to the kitchen to serve the next course. I was a guest and waiter at the same

time. It was great fun!

There were always these students what we called the God Squad. Instead of

studying and doing their work or even going to the disco or pub, they would

go from room to room to try and covert students to Christianity. One night

two of them came to convert me. After about 15 minutes, I realised they had

to be made to go away in a diplomatic way. I thought of a clever and cunning

plan and brought them to my friend who was a medical student. You see, he

was from Pakistan and was a devout Muslim. He told me the next morning

at breakfast that they had a big argument the whole night about their two

respective religions. I got to study my Dentistry and have a good night's

sleep.

Yes, there was never a dull moment in Castle Leazes!!

by Dr Michael Lim (BDS 1981 & MB BS 1983)

At Havelock Hall, birthday celebrations were never complete without the

birthday boy or girl spending the night sleeping with the cows on the moors.

Having plied the unsuspecting person with Newcastle Brown Ale and put

them to bed, they were wheeled into the large lifts and Sleeping Beauty woke

up surrounded by cows!

I do remember being fairly horrified by the size of the room when I staggered

from the station during Fresher’s week. After the first few days everyone put

up the same 'Athena' posters and things weren’t so bleak! Nothing could

improve the food though!

by Anne Hawkridge (MB BS 1983)

Helene Dolder (centre-left) and Nick Constantine at an EPH dinner, 1985

I lived in Room 202 of Freemen’s Hall for three years, and would jog around

Castle Leazes and the Town Moor to keep fit. One afternoon on a Sunday, a

big black mastiff escaped from its owner. It attacked me as I was jogging.

Luckily, my Karate and Hwa Rang Do training saved me. I chopped the dog

very hard on the left side of his jaw. It worked. I was the President of the

Newcastle University Karate Club and also the Captain of the Karate Team.

Our Warden, Dr A E Curral, was a very liberal and easy going gentleman

whose favourite response to student high jinks, vandalism and general

extreme misbehavior was, ‘Just student high spirits...’. This, of course,

meant life in Castle Leazes could get very exciting. Sometimes in the morn-(r-l): Stan Calvert, Ken Dolder, Gwen Calvert and a Leazes resident at a do.

I was a student at Newcastle University form 1968 to 1971 and like many of

that generation of students lived at Castle Leazes for three years. If nothing

else, it was convenient for the university and the city. It was not the quality of

the food that kept you there!

Castle Leazes were one of the first mixed halls for the University albeit men

and women were meant to be on separate floors unlike today at the universi-

ties my daughters have attended! There were the occasional formal dining

nights when gowns were required. These were helpful in protecting one's

only suit from the stray food that appeared to fly until the warden intervened.

Sherry was available before the meal. The sherry was rumoured, never

proven though, to be from South Africa despite students vocal resistance to

apartheid. The junior common room used to organise a film show every

Sunday evening which most of us went to before cocoa and an early night

because of 9am lectures on a Monday. The bar only opened for an hour at

9.30pm, but never sold real ale.

The halls were conservative and safe although sadly there were the occa-

sional violent incidents on the moor on the walk from Richardson Road.

Town and Gown they called it. It was quite frightening when Scottish fans

descended on the city in the year when Newcastle United won the then

Inter-Cities Fairs cup. Was that in 1970?

by Stuart Holliday (LLB 1971)

Alan Johnson (left) entertaining a friend, 1976.

I was a resident of Eustace Percy 1973–74 and have fond memories of the

1973 Havelock Hall Christmas Party, which was a pyjama party. We all

danced the night away to Slade and 'Merry Christmas' and tried to pull the

boys pants down!

by Christine Tyrie (MB BS 1978)

I was social chairman of EPH in 1976 – we hosted Sting each term with his

band at the time Last Exit and I organised the first (and probably last) strip-

pers night at EPH.

by John Pain (BSc Agricultural Economics 1978)

I was in Freemens Hall for my first three years from 1969–72. In my second

year, I edited the hall newspaper, ‘Inmate’ as it was then called, and in my

third year, was President of the JCR. I am in regular touch with my Secretary

for that year, Ivar Rachkind, who now lives in Texas, and with the then

Warden, Dr Arnold Currall, who now lives in Carlisle and is in his 80s

by Paul Mercer (BA Architectural Studies 1972)

1980sI was in Freemans Hall in my first year in 1984. I was in the tower on the fifth

floor looking towards the TA drill hall. You could often hear them practicing

their marches. I had one of the rooms with the bay window (and a proper bed

not a camp bed like some of my friends!) so I could see over towards Leazes

Park. It was a great room. High enough to not be overlooked!!

I remember seeing the lights of St James’ Park when Newcastle were

playing at home and also when Bruce Springsteen came to do a series of

mega concerts.

I do remember having to avoid the cows and the cow pats walking across the

moor but it was great – a little bit of the Countryside in the City!

I remember a story (never sure if it was true) of one of the Agrics getting a

cow into the Halls and putting it in the lift where it was then let loose on one

of the floors. I don’t think it was a happy ending though. Poor thing was too

stressed by the living conditions!

Another time, for someone’s birthday they got into his room and put his bed,

bed side cabinet, lamp and chair in the lift – set up so it looked like his room

with the bed made etc! That was funny.

I remember the food at breakfast – rubber toast, rubber eggs and watery

tinned tomatoes. We still took piles of toast up to our rooms though to keep

us going while studying (or listening to music in the halls).

Havelock had Mud as their star turn at one of the end-of-term concerts.

I was there pre-mobile phones, so I used to have to save up 10ps in a film

case until I had 2 cases worth to phone my boyfriend and parents. The

phones were never particularly private and were next to the snooker room.

One of my friends told me how she and her then boyfriend had got up to no

good in the snooker room – actually on the table! I am sure that happened a

lot!!

I really enjoyed my time at Leazes. It had a nice atmosphere – despite its

rather austere architecture.

by Mrs Diane Aldridge (nee Tucker) (BA Town & Country Planning 1989)

Alan Johnson (left) entertaining a friend, 1976.

I was a resident of Eustace Percy 1973–74 and have fond memories of the

1973 Havelock Hall Christmas Party, which was a pyjama party. We all

danced the night away to Slade and 'Merry Christmas' and tried to pull the

boys pants down!

by Christine Tyrie (MB BS 1978)

I was social chairman of EPH in 1976 – we hosted Sting each term with his

band at the time Last Exit and I organised the first (and probably last) strip-

pers night at EPH.

by John Pain (BSc Agricultural Economics 1978)

I was in Freemens Hall for my first three years from 1969–72. In my second

year, I edited the hall newspaper, ‘Inmate’ as it was then called, and in my

third year, was President of the JCR. I am in regular touch with my Secretary

for that year, Ivar Rachkind, who now lives in Texas, and with the then

Warden, Dr Arnold Currall, who now lives in Carlisle and is in his 80s

by Paul Mercer (BA Architectural Studies 1972)

1980sI was in Freemans Hall in my first year in 1984. I was in the tower on the fifth

floor looking towards the TA drill hall. You could often hear them practicing

their marches. I had one of the rooms with the bay window (and a proper bed

not a camp bed like some of my friends!) so I could see over towards Leazes

Park. It was a great room. High enough to not be overlooked!!

I remember seeing the lights of St James’ Park when Newcastle were

playing at home and also when Bruce Springsteen came to do a series of

mega concerts.

I do remember having to avoid the cows and the cow pats walking across the

moor but it was great – a little bit of the Countryside in the City!

I remember a story (never sure if it was true) of one of the Agrics getting a

cow into the Halls and putting it in the lift where it was then let loose on one

of the floors. I don’t think it was a happy ending though. Poor thing was too

stressed by the living conditions!

Another time, for someone’s birthday they got into his room and put his bed,

bed side cabinet, lamp and chair in the lift – set up so it looked like his room

with the bed made etc! That was funny.

I remember the food at breakfast – rubber toast, rubber eggs and watery

tinned tomatoes. We still took piles of toast up to our rooms though to keep

us going while studying (or listening to music in the halls).

Havelock had Mud as their star turn at one of the end-of-term concerts.

I was there pre-mobile phones, so I used to have to save up 10ps in a film

case until I had 2 cases worth to phone my boyfriend and parents. The

phones were never particularly private and were next to the snooker room.

One of my friends told me how she and her then boyfriend had got up to no

good in the snooker room – actually on the table! I am sure that happened a

lot!!

I really enjoyed my time at Leazes. It had a nice atmosphere – despite its

rather austere architecture.

by Mrs Diane Aldridge (nee Tucker) (BA Town & Country Planning 1989)

At Havelock Hall, birthday celebrations were never complete without the

birthday boy or girl spending the night sleeping with the cows on the moors.

Having plied the unsuspecting person with Newcastle Brown Ale and put

them to bed, they were wheeled into the large lifts and Sleeping Beauty woke

up surrounded by cows!

I do remember being fairly horrified by the size of the room when I staggered

from the station during Fresher’s week. After the first few days everyone put

up the same 'Athena' posters and things weren’t so bleak! Nothing could

improve the food though!

by Anne Hawkridge (MB BS 1983)

Helene Dolder (centre-left) and Nick Constantine at an EPH dinner, 1985

I lived in Room 202 of Freemen’s Hall for three years, and would jog around

Castle Leazes and the Town Moor to keep fit. One afternoon on a Sunday, a

big black mastiff escaped from its owner. It attacked me as I was jogging.

Luckily, my Karate and Hwa Rang Do training saved me. I chopped the dog

very hard on the left side of his jaw. It worked. I was the President of the

Newcastle University Karate Club and also the Captain of the Karate Team.

Our Warden, Dr A E Curral, was a very liberal and easy going gentleman

whose favourite response to student high jinks, vandalism and general

extreme misbehavior was, ‘Just student high spirits...’. This, of course,

meant life in Castle Leazes could get very exciting. Sometimes in the morn-(r-l): Stan Calvert, Ken Dolder, Gwen Calvert and a Leazes resident at a do.

I was a student at Newcastle University form 1968 to 1971 and like many of

that generation of students lived at Castle Leazes for three years. If nothing

else, it was convenient for the university and the city. It was not the quality of

the food that kept you there!

Castle Leazes were one of the first mixed halls for the University albeit men

and women were meant to be on separate floors unlike today at the universi-

ties my daughters have attended! There were the occasional formal dining

nights when gowns were required. These were helpful in protecting one's

only suit from the stray food that appeared to fly until the warden intervened.

Sherry was available before the meal. The sherry was rumoured, never

proven though, to be from South Africa despite students vocal resistance to

apartheid. The junior common room used to organise a film show every

Sunday evening which most of us went to before cocoa and an early night

because of 9am lectures on a Monday. The bar only opened for an hour at

9.30pm, but never sold real ale.

The halls were conservative and safe although sadly there were the occa-

sional violent incidents on the moor on the walk from Richardson Road.

Town and Gown they called it. It was quite frightening when Scottish fans

descended on the city in the year when Newcastle United won the then

Inter-Cities Fairs cup. Was that in 1970?

by Stuart Holliday (LLB 1971)

1970sMischief, bovine bothering, giant snowballs in the middle of Richardson

Road, a calf inside the halls of residence, cattle roaming along Richardson

Road… These are some of the TRUE legends about life at Castle Leazes!

Perhaps those directly involved with these legends came now come forward

to share their memories and re-live their Leazes days and great times on the

Moor.

by Dennis Saw (BSc Chemical Engineering 1979)

There was a shop near the main reception area run by a local ‘entrepreneur’

who seemed to charge at least twice as much for basic necessities as the

shops in the area. We christened him ‘the Shark’. One evening, after his shop

was closed, some enterprising students arranged to re-open the roller shut-

ter and put up a very large sign –THE SHARK– above the hatch of the shop,

and close the shutter. Since the shop keeper opened the shutter from inside

the shop, he spent virtually the whole of the next morning grinning out of the

shop, with the prominent sign above him, wondering why he was suddenly

the centre of attention!

by Michael Ashwell (BA Economics & Accounting 1976)

Residents rowing to Mungo Jerry's 'In the Summertime', 1976

ing, you could see pieces of bread plastered on the walls with butter as well

as spots of strawberry jam, and when it snowed, it was snowball fights all

over.

The naughty or shall we say ‘high spirited’ students would empty all the fire

extinguishers and throw snowballs at the lighted windows. The snowballs

invariably had stones inside which meant the windows would break and the

poor student inside would freeze the night away unless he had a cuddly

girlfriend to keep him warm. The lit windows were targeted because it meant

the student was inside studying instead of having fun. I was very careful on

such occasions to switch off my main light and just use my table lamp for

studying for my exams. There would also be an acute shortage of food trays

in the dining hall because the students would hijack them to use as impro-

vised toboggans on the snow covered slopes around Castle Leazes and also

on the Town Moor. Yes, high spirits was the order of the day, especially when

students had one too many Newcastle Brown Ales, and there were some

who could down 15 pints in one night!

The food in Freemen's hall was not too bad, not gourmet stuff by any stretch

of the imagination, but the Treacle Pudding was absolutely fabulous and I

always had second and sometimes 3rd helpings. The serving ladies were all

great pals of mine. Gooey, sweet and incredibly yummy with lashings of hot,

hot custard! The Rhubarb Pudding however was a culinary disaster, only to

be fed to prisoners to torture them for information you want. Some overseas

students, who could not adapt, suffered terribly and resorted to eating

instant noodles in their room with oily canned pork from China. They grum-

bled and whinged about the food a lot.

Formal Dining was a blast and I would work as a waiter at Eustace Percy

Hall. There were always empty seats and so I would get an extra plate for

myself and in between serving, I would sit down and eat too. Then it was back

to the kitchen to serve the next course. I was a guest and waiter at the same

time. It was great fun!

There were always these students what we called the God Squad. Instead of

studying and doing their work or even going to the disco or pub, they would

go from room to room to try and covert students to Christianity. One night

two of them came to convert me. After about 15 minutes, I realised they had

to be made to go away in a diplomatic way. I thought of a clever and cunning

plan and brought them to my friend who was a medical student. You see, he

was from Pakistan and was a devout Muslim. He told me the next morning

at breakfast that they had a big argument the whole night about their two

respective religions. I got to study my Dentistry and have a good night's

sleep.

Yes, there was never a dull moment in Castle Leazes!!

by Dr Michael Lim (BDS 1981 & MB BS 1983)

I started off in the old Eustace Percy Hall (now demolished) on Freeman

Road in September 1968. I remember the sound of rats scampering above

our rooms along the roof space at night, metal framed windows, huge metal

radiators rattling and bubbling and scalding hot pipes leading to them, so

moving to the new Eustace Percy Hall at Castle Leazes was a big excitement!

I was on the top floor of Coquet building and loved the view out of the window

and the memories of green fields and walks of home. What I hadn’t antici-

pated was the impossibility of getting any sleep once the summer came

since there were no blinds on the top sloping windows, and the sun streamed

onto my face at 4am in the morning.

The hall was organized with strictly girls and boys floors and the janitor at

the reception would ring up to check if we wanted to admit a particular

visitor. I had one particular guy who was giving me unwelcome attention and

I just asked the janitor to send him away – which he did! The janitor actually

checked everyone who came in and out and visitors had to sign in and out

and enter who they were visiting.

One bit of excitement involved a flasher who secreted himself in the woods

on the route to the University. I had spotted him one evening wearing a light

raincoat and he exposed himself briefly. I took little notice as I assumed such

events were part and parcel of city life! We had tramps and various odd char-

acters that were tolerated without comment at home too. I was surprised

therefore, to find the police much in evidence about a week later. They were

seeking a description of this individual who had accosted and greatly

distressed another female resident of the halls. I racked my brain and came

up with quite a bit of information which I didn’t realize I had observed and

also had to go through a police photo-gallery of likely suspects – a first for

me.

by Mrs Rosemary Prudhoe (nee Craddock) (MB BS 1971)

I was in Havelock Hall in 68–69. I didn’t enjoy it very much. I spent most of

the time at friends’ flats, though having seen the student accommodation

my daughter survived, I had it easy!

by Richard Parsons (BSc Botany 1971)

1990sI lived in Castle Leazes for three years between 1993–1996. In my second

year I was president of the combined EPH, Havelock and Freemen’s JCR. We

organised many memorable events during the year including a large

firework display on Leazes Moor with permission of the Freemen of the City

and various Balls and Tribute Bands etc. Before bonfire night we had a rota

to guard the bonfire 24 hours a day so that it didn’t get lit by the locals or

drunk students. In those days we had dedicated teams running sound and

lighting for discos, the cinema (every Sunday night) and student welfare.

Some member of our committee got elected based on a campaign to supply

every student with soft toilet paper rather that the razor sharp tracing paper

that was supplied. This proved very popular.

by Marek Bidwell (BSc Marine Biology 1996)

Castle Leazes cleaners,

Hilary and Joan,

featured in the Courier,

2 Feb 1998 (story by

Karen Kennedy)

I was resident in room H878, at the top of Havelock Hall, from October 1987

to June 1989. The peace and quiet of the early hours was often shattered by

the arrival of a big yellow helicopter, presumably airlifting a patient in to the

RVI. Peace and quiet? What am I saying – it’s a hall of residence! OK, so the

usual laughter, screams, squeals and sounds of drunken frivolity were often

drowned out by the sound of a helicopter landing

by Dave Newton (BSc Astronomy, 1990).

1960sIn my day, we lived in Leazes Terrace, a block of large late Georgian or early

Victorian Houses built for the well-to-do and with some decidedly dodgy

occupants, as well as a few students, prostitutes and drunks. We had no

water at all on the top floor where we lived, but great views over the Park.

There was one bathroom three floors below and no hot water. We didn't

bathe often and when we did it was in the baths in the Union building. I'm

sure that we were very rowdy and badly behaved from time to time.

by Tony Morris (LLB 1960)

The first newsletter at Castle Leazes was called 'Once in a Blue Moon.' One

of the fiercest debates raging during the first year of the halls’ existence was

whether students going into their second and third year should be allowed

to stay there!

When Leazes first opened, we each had an individual cleaner for our rooms.

Mind you, that was in the days when on JCR night you had to wear your gown

and also attend tutorials!

by Howard Hoy (BA (Hons) English Language & Literature 1970)

LEAZES AIR SHOW: Because Leazes Moor is nice and big with a few flat

spots on it, it lends itself to a frequent landing site for the Air Ambulance and

sometimes the Army helicopter to pick up soldiers that come unstuck on

exercises. Through the trees this particular day I spotted some huge yellow

thing and it turned out to be the lads from RAF Boulmer with their Sea King

downed, waiting for spares. Spare parts arrived in the form of an RAF chop-

per landing in the field, and then the two helicopters flew off to pluck more

people out of the drink.

While people were busy looking at the impromptu air display, looking behind

revealed hundreds and hundreds of people (including the cows) staring agok

over the fence, numerous cars parked, Richardson Road gridlocked, police

everywhere. Beat the Sunderland Air Show hands down!

AGRICS: Finally, a nortorious agric by the name of D frequented the Castle

Leazes bar. Nightly so I heard. Consuming pints in double figures at least.

I must have done something right because this particular night had not gone

according to plan. My partner (now my wife) and I were partaking of refresh-

ment. D and a fellow group of agrics suddenly dove into their overdrafts and

lined up several pints. Neatly arranged into two lines, the now completely

sh*tfaced D and another lad proceeded to have a pint downing race. D cessated

through his third pint and went green – uttered ‘Oh fu*k!’ and violently spewed.

Bar staff furious. Agrics cheering wildly. My girlfriend not aumsed...;You live

here?’ she asked. I nodded meekly. ‘Look, you can move in if you want…?’

by Jonathan Bradley (BSc Genetics 1999)

One of the famous Castle Leazes helicopter landings. 1989

2000s...It’s now been 40 years since the three halls of Castle Leazes flung open their

doors, and 2009 is set to see a new building added to the line-up. Here’s a

sneak peek of what to expect:

(Information from Newcastle University brochure, ‘Creating a campus for the

future’ – available online)

A new student accommodation block at Castle Leazes Halls of Residence

will provide an additional 98 study bedrooms over seven floors. Two self-

catered flats per floor, with en suite facilities and shared living spaces, will

house seven students each, as well as offering the potential to accommo-

date up to 14 students with varying disabilities.

The new block will be built in keeping with the architectural design of the

existing buildings at Castle Leazes.

Total investment: £4.8 million

Architect: Howarth Litchfield Partnership

Construction: June 2008 to September 2009

An architect’s drawing of the new Castle Leazes building, as yet un-named.

Castle Leazes has been the jewel in the crown of Newcastle’s student

residences since it opened in 1968.

For the University, it’s a great source of pride: A sign of friendship with the

Freemen of the City, who lease the land to the University for a peppercorn

rent. A symbol of brutalist 60s architecture. A fully autonomous unit where

students can be kept out of trouble... Well to a degree.

For its past and present residents, however, Castle Leazes is the embodi-

ment of a timeless, iconic era. It’s a place where legends never get old;

where hazy memories find their way back from the recesses of history;

where cows regret that they ever became associated with the human race.

How do you remember life on the Town Moor? With a warm sense of notal-

gia? Fear and loathing? Pride and smugness? Here is a collection of memo-

ries and photos, from the swinging 60s to the present day. We hope you enjoy

this little trip down memory lane...

Welcome back to Castle Leazes

Welcome back to...

CastleLeazes

‘Promoting harmonious

relations between

humans and cows’

18 EXPLICIT CONTENT

The Development and Alumni Relations OfficeNewcastle University6 Kensington TerraceNewcastle upon TyneNE1 7RU

Tel: +44 (0)191 222 7250Fax: +44 (0)191 222 5905Email: alumni-office@ncl.ac.uk

Reunite!