Mum knows best!
We reached out to graduates on social media to discover those that had followed in their mum’s footsteps to study at Newcastle University.
23 April 2024
Maria Milsom (known as Mia) came to Newcastle University to study Scandinavian Studies in the 1980s and then decades later, returned to campus to settle her daughter into life at Newcastle too!
We interviewed Mia and daughter Iona (BA Politics, 2021) to hear how their student experiences differed and where life has taken them since.
Mia came to Newcastle in 1985 and shortly after met her other half – medical student Martin. Remaining in Newcastle after they graduated, Mia credits a trip to Ethel Williams while in early labour for her daughter, Iona, following in her footsteps to study at Newcastle University! This is her experience of studying in Newcastle.
“I spent my first year living in Annexe 34 of Ethel Williams Hall. It was a lovely, warm community, and each morning friends from the far end of the annexe would knock on my door, and we would gradually collect others on the way to the dining hall to have breakfast together before walking to Four Lane Ends Metro to get into town. We often tell students that they will meet friends for life at university, and while that's not actually true for everyone, I feel really blessed to still have so many fabulous friends from my time at Newcastle.
"Stand out memories from that first year include seeing Divine perform during Freshers’ Week and a fancy dress party in the Ethel’s bar for Halloween! In the summer, the grounds were beautiful, and we enjoyed making the most of the tennis courts.
"Sadly, the Scandinavian Studies department closed during my time at university, so each year we were fewer in number. At the end of our studies, we marked the department closure with our own ‘skipa haugr’, a Viking ship cremation, which attracted the attention of the local press! I still have a t-shirt marked 'Last of the Vikings, Newcastle University 1989'.
"During my day, the library catalogue was on microfiche, so we had to scroll manually through pages and pages of entries to find the books we needed. Despite this effort, I remember the library being a calming study space, as well as having a nice coffee shop for taking breaks with friends. I also recall spending time in the language lab, which was a fantastic resource for us as we tried to shake off our English accents in our Swedish speaking.
"I spent my second year in Stockholm, and upon returning to Newcastle moved to Wingrove Road in Fenham, before spending my final year in Jesmond.
"In this final year, the Students’ Union opened a gym and spa – which seemed the height of luxury to us students! I used to always enjoy a stottie from the top floor of the Union for lunch, somehow tasting so much better than a regular bread roll.”
Daughter Iona not only followed her mum and dad to Newcastle University, but also ended up living in the same suburb as Mia too! She said:
“My time at Newcastle University was extremely fun and formative. I lived in Jesmond with my best friends and every day was genuinely great. I think Newcastle is a really brilliant place to live, with the loveliest people in the country and so much to do.
"I especially loved being able to go to the football matches at St. James’ Park with my brothers who lived in Newcastle too, as well as popping to Tynemouth on the weekends and going on walks in Jesmond Dene.”
Iona was born in Newcastle, and while the family subsequently moved to Oxford, her decision to study at Newcastle University was very much a homecoming for the Smith clan. Mia told us:
“As Martin was studying Medicine, he graduated a few years after me, so I remained in Newcastle after finishing my degree and went on to study nursing at the RVI. After we got married, we lived on Eastfield Road in Benton, the same street where Ethel’s was. In fact, when Ethel's was sold for re-development we went to look round the show home in Old Hall when I was in early labour with Iona, so perhaps she got her inspiration to study at Newcastle in utero!
"Our four children were born in Newcastle, so we were sad to have to move away in 2016. Newcastle still feels like home in so many ways, so we were delighted when Iona, and then her younger brother James, decided to study at the university too. We knew from our time there that they would have a really positive experience.”
Newcastle still feels like home in so many ways, so we were delighted when Iona, and then her younger brother James, decided to study at the university too. We knew from our time there that they would have a really positive experience.
Iona added:
“Mam and Dad started dating when they were both at Newcastle Uni, and they loved it so much it’s where they started their family, so their experience definitely contributed to me choosing to study at Newcastle too. We moved away when I was about 8 or so, so for me it was natural to go back home for university and experience living in Newcastle as an adult.”
The family ties to Newcastle as a city and as a university have meant that the Smiths often descend onto Tyneside – whether it be for graduations or to support NUFC! Mia said:
“Returning to campus for Iona's graduation in 2021 was very nostalgic, as I got to see my old haunts like the Percy and Armstrong Buildings. Walking through the Quad was also quite evocative: I still feel nervous approaching the Arches as exam and degree results used to be posted there publicly!
"We return to Newcastle frequently, especially to support NUFC. Superimposed on our own memories of student days, we now have memories of dropping Iona off as a fresher, and of her graduation. Sadly, we didn't get to visit much during her time as a student because of lockdowns, but with her younger brother, James, following us all up to Newcastle to read geography, we still have great reasons to come home to Newcastle.”
Having only graduated from her Politics degree in 2021, Iona has packed in a lot of experiences in a short time. She went travelling, managed a 5* hotel and now works for a children’s charity. She credits her drive and ambition to her mum:
“I think I’ve learned a lot from my mum, she’s got a very loving and warm nature, which I try to emulate as much as possible, and like my dad she’s an incredibly hard worker - something they’ve instilled in our whole family. She’s got an adventurous spirit too which I massively take after.”
Since moving to Oxford, Mia now works at Oxford University in student welfare, which gives her an insight into the life of students today compared to her own experience in the 1980s. She said:
“It's interesting to see students face some of the same pressures we had in our day - navigating adulthood, academic deadlines, career options - but students today inhabit an increasingly complex landscape, and it's great to be able to accompany them during such a special and formational time of their lives.”
I think I’ve learned a lot from my mum. She’s got a very loving and warm nature, and like my dad she’s an incredibly hard worker - something they’ve instilled in our whole family. She’s got an adventurous spirit too.
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