Winchester.
Good afternoon!
I wanted to do a post as I begin my next university adventure, sharing all of my favourite memories from the University of Winchester where I did my undergraduate degree. I've found a selection of pictures which tell little stories about what I got up to, who I met and the opportunities I was given, and I've formed a list below, in no specific order, which summarises it all into one place for me to go back to. So many of you reading this impacted my university experience so I wanted to mention how important you are to me. Enjoy!
1. The girls of Flat 31 and 18 Fox Lane. We have so many memories together, beginning with getting to know Winchester and the University in Freshers week, to moving out our own student house. From bin rotas, to dressing up as The Incredibles, Winchester wouldn't have been the same without you behind me. Thank you for all the left overs and 'out of date' food which always landed on my shelf, and for putting up with my early morning washing up sessions to start the day haha!
2. Girlie sleepovers. Whether that was with one friend or four of us in the bed.
3. The Vocal and Choral Studies 2014-2017 cohort. What an amazing journey we all went on! I can safely say I've learnt how to do things with my voice that I was didn't know I able to do before. I enjoyed so much of our time together, discovering how each of our voice and bodies work differently, supporting each other in solo work along with singing and performing as one group together. I can't wait to see how we move in different ways and use what we have learnt to support and encourage others.
4 Foundation Music. Foundation Music is the community that drew me to Winchester University. I could write a list just on how they supported me and gave me so many different opportunities across the three years I spent with them. Some of these include: singing not once but numerous times in Winchester Cathedral, which is such a wonderful space to perform in (especially in the organ loft!); singing alongside professional soloists and understudy another as part of the annual Cathedral Choirs Choir Festival; Choir Fest in it's own right!; I learnt to play the Saxophone... a bit; I conducted and supported The Ladies female close harmony choir, which I know will go on to do great things under it's new management; and lastly I organised the Excellence Awardees concert which was SUCH a great success thanks to all of the performers and audience members that supported us. THANKYOU FM.
5. Bonfire Night. Those who know me well will understand my love for darker evenings and colder mornings in Autumn. Bonfire night is probably one of my favourite nights of the year and Winchester does Bonfire night SO well. Every year I made toffee (I tradition taken from my mum) which we'd have in our pockets as we walked down Winchester high street to the bonfire and fireworks. After watching the display and munching through toffee we went back to the house for hot dogs and hot chocolate, complete with cream and marshmallows. If we were really organised we'd have a play with sparklers too!
6. Dinner with the Dean. This was such a bizarre night but I will always remember it! Bryony, Shannen and I went on a tour around the Cathedral which was fascinating, right up into the roof where we could see historical adaptations on the building's structure. We saw the bells and made our way on top of the roof. This night did happen to be bonfire night as a follow on from the previous point, which of course made it even better. However, it was freezing cold on the roof and although we could see some fireworks going off, we just found ourselves giggling at the tour guide trying to give us more facts about the cathedral's history and what we could see from the top! We made our way down assuming we'd go to the fish and chip shop for dinner, but instead we were led to the Dean of the Cathedral's house where they had prepared a lovely dinner for us all. Their house was beautiful, and of course we were on our best behaviour (except when Bryony accidentally poured nearly all the salt onto her plate and took a fairly large slice of chocolate cake for pudding which we all went up to get one by one!). He then played us his old fairground organ which was a great way to end the evening!
7. Made in Dagenham. I was the vocal director of a musical as part of the performing arts society at Winchester. Although this is probably one of the hardest things I was involved in at the University it gave me skills that I wouldn't otherwise have and allowed me to use my new vocal knowledge in a different context.
8. Bryony. The first day we hang out together we shared a massive chocolate twist and sat under an umbrella in the rain. I think we both realised that that day was to be the first of many adventures and both said we would be pals for a very long time. I didn't realise it was possible to meet someone and feel like you'd known them forever! Thankyou for making me laugh, for making me do the the extraordinary and brightening up a rainy day. Oh, and for coming to THAILAND with me. P.S I couldn't choose one picture so have four.
9. Fabs. I will always be the girl that cried when her housemate gave her fabs on her birthday. Actual tears. And yes, there is another box in the freezer three years later (thanks mumma!).
12. My Bike. You could always spot me whizzing down Cromwell Road on the way to uni in the morning. I can't say the same for going back up Stanmore Lane though...
13. Liv. It was always our dream to go to Winchester together when we were sitting in our English lessons at school... and now we've done it and it's all behind us! We both won't forget the day we threw icing sugar all over the kitchen and I'll miss our road trips to Sainsburys to have a nose through all the new stationary which we just HAD to buy. Thank you for reading my essays, for helping me cook and helping me prepare for my next adventure learning to be a teacher... (I can't promise I won't keep asking questions!!)
14. Dissertation. 10,000 words of it. I won't say I miss it, but I was pleased with the final product! Let me know if you want to read it sometime...
14. Matilda. Tilly I will always be jealous that you have pet Llamas and that you live with a tea shop in your house. Working and singing with you has always been so much fun, and your passion for choral singing is so inspiring. You've taught me so much about the tradition! I hope that I can come and visit the tea shop one day, and hope that we can help each other on this new adventure they call becoming a teacher!
15. Walking. Winchester is such a beautiful place to explore, and within 15 minutes in can seem like you're in the middle of no where. Finding hidden places was one of my favourite things to do on a Sunday afternoon.
16. Visitors. One of the best things about living in Winchester was having people from home come to visit me, so I could share my home with them. I will be forever thankful to those who supported me from home through my university life, and bringing some fun with them when uni work was piling up.
17. Christ Church. I will always be thankful for the friends I have made at Christ Church in Winchester. I have loved singing with the worship team, and growing my skills with leading the children up in Climbers. The teaching and generosity of the church is something that will stick with me as I grow more in my faith.
19. Singing. The opportunities I was given at Winchester to explore my voice has been so valuable to me. Through the techniques and skills that I have learnt, I hope to continue to develop my voice and how I use it in different contexts as I move further into my career.
20. Mum, Dad and Laura. Thank you for going to university interviews with me and supporting me in finding the right place for me to live and study. Thank you for coming to and from Winchester with piles of belongings as I moved in and out of different homes. Thank you for reading essays, for listening to me sing and for answering phone calls about whether the chicken is safe to eat that I cooked two days ago. Thank you for always being interested in what news I had to share. I couldn't have made it through the last through years without your support. xx.
7. Made in Dagenham. I was the vocal director of a musical as part of the performing arts society at Winchester. Although this is probably one of the hardest things I was involved in at the University it gave me skills that I wouldn't otherwise have and allowed me to use my new vocal knowledge in a different context.
8. Bryony. The first day we hang out together we shared a massive chocolate twist and sat under an umbrella in the rain. I think we both realised that that day was to be the first of many adventures and both said we would be pals for a very long time. I didn't realise it was possible to meet someone and feel like you'd known them forever! Thankyou for making me laugh, for making me do the the extraordinary and brightening up a rainy day. Oh, and for coming to THAILAND with me. P.S I couldn't choose one picture so have four.
9. Fabs. I will always be the girl that cried when her housemate gave her fabs on her birthday. Actual tears. And yes, there is another box in the freezer three years later (thanks mumma!).
10. Decorating. Our flat and house was always well decorated according to the season we were going into. The sparkly leaves will always be my favourite. The girl's must've thought I was going mad, coming home to find me drying leaves out on the window sil...
11. Tim. Tim you have kept me giggling throughout my time at Winchester. Giggling at things that really aren't that funny... and whenever I share these moments I have to finish with 'You had to be there'. I've enjoyed walking with you, studying with you, singing with you and teaching on the Isle of Wight with you. Thank you too for introducing me the beautiful lady Alex and allowing me to share your special day with you, a wedding I will always remember. I only hope that one day we can find Lukas the cat, please don't forget Pinch Punch where's the maid at and I hope you know you really were my 'Saving Grace' at Winchester. #lmab.
13. Liv. It was always our dream to go to Winchester together when we were sitting in our English lessons at school... and now we've done it and it's all behind us! We both won't forget the day we threw icing sugar all over the kitchen and I'll miss our road trips to Sainsburys to have a nose through all the new stationary which we just HAD to buy. Thank you for reading my essays, for helping me cook and helping me prepare for my next adventure learning to be a teacher... (I can't promise I won't keep asking questions!!)
14. Dissertation. 10,000 words of it. I won't say I miss it, but I was pleased with the final product! Let me know if you want to read it sometime...
14. Matilda. Tilly I will always be jealous that you have pet Llamas and that you live with a tea shop in your house. Working and singing with you has always been so much fun, and your passion for choral singing is so inspiring. You've taught me so much about the tradition! I hope that I can come and visit the tea shop one day, and hope that we can help each other on this new adventure they call becoming a teacher!
15. Walking. Winchester is such a beautiful place to explore, and within 15 minutes in can seem like you're in the middle of no where. Finding hidden places was one of my favourite things to do on a Sunday afternoon.
16. Visitors. One of the best things about living in Winchester was having people from home come to visit me, so I could share my home with them. I will be forever thankful to those who supported me from home through my university life, and bringing some fun with them when uni work was piling up.
17. Christ Church. I will always be thankful for the friends I have made at Christ Church in Winchester. I have loved singing with the worship team, and growing my skills with leading the children up in Climbers. The teaching and generosity of the church is something that will stick with me as I grow more in my faith.
18. James. I will always remember the train journeys down to Portsmouth and exploring the seafront and Portsmouth Harbour with you. I will remember the dread as I walked you back to the station and had to walk home by myself when our weekends together were over. Thank you for helping me through my busiest times, when I double booked myself or had books piled high. Thank you for cooking me dinners, singing with me and helping me not to care so much. You gave me rest and joy when I needed it most, and I can't wait to see what else life has in store of us. I love you.
19. Singing. The opportunities I was given at Winchester to explore my voice has been so valuable to me. Through the techniques and skills that I have learnt, I hope to continue to develop my voice and how I use it in different contexts as I move further into my career.
20. Mum, Dad and Laura. Thank you for going to university interviews with me and supporting me in finding the right place for me to live and study. Thank you for coming to and from Winchester with piles of belongings as I moved in and out of different homes. Thank you for reading essays, for listening to me sing and for answering phone calls about whether the chicken is safe to eat that I cooked two days ago. Thank you for always being interested in what news I had to share. I couldn't have made it through the last through years without your support. xx.
There are SO many more memories I could share. Each year that I spent in Winchester was different and helped me grow into the person I am today. I hope I can use the skills that I learnt, whether that be managing choir, teaching children or cooking a stew, as I walk in new paths and areas of life.
Thank you for reading!
Emily xx
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