Valentine’s Day is a special time of year to reminisce and celebrate the moments that brought many of us together with our significant others. For some of our alumni, those moments are forever intertwined with the University of Stirling. From first lectures to late-night study sessions, Stirling has been the backdrop to thousands of love stories. It’s a place where friendships are forged, and relationships flourish. Some may be short lived, but some are meant to last the test of time.
This year we asked our alumni to share their Stirling Love Stories, and we received so many we could fill a book! While we unfortunately couldn’t include them all, here’s a selection from across the years.
Richard & Mark
When Richard and Mark joined us at our Glasgow alumni gathering in July 2025, they shared a wealth of Stirling memories, and one in particular stood out: the story of how they first met.
A chance encounter
Richard and Mark met at Stirling during their very first week of university, back in September 1994, Richard studying a degree in Computing Science and Mark, a degree in History and Education. They were first introduced during Freshers’ Week, both living in Geddes Court, where hanging out quickly turned into a close friendship.
With Mark from Northern Ireland and Richard from Leeds, both had moved some distance, but soon felt at home on campus, with beautiful surroundings right on their doorstep.
Image of Richard and Mark in Geddes Court, 1994.
Shared hobbies
After establishing a close bond, it only took the pair a semester to realise this was more than just a friendship before making it official the next semester. This was the beginning of their time as a couple, which has remained strong some 31 years later.
Richard and Mark realised they had very similar interests, and being both very much alike, they signed up to be part of Airthrey Radio. Looking back, they said “this was a great opportunity to explore our shared interests and spend additional time in each other’s company”.
The Student Union quickly became a special place for the pair, becoming Saturday night regulars and enjoying many amazing nights together on Campus (who remembers “Up the Glitter”?). In addition to wild nights on campus, Richard and Mark spent a lot of time walking to and from town and enjoyed frequent late-night walks up to the Wallace Monument.
30 years on
After being together for so long, Richard and Mark didn’t feel the need to formalise their relationship, until 2022 when they decided to finally tie the knot in Glasgow, where they now live.
Following their studies the two have pursued careers in education and broadcasting, with Mark working as a Principal Teacher of English and Richard being involved in broadcast technology and currently working for the BBC.
After more than 30 years, the University of Stirling still represents a special place for the couple, and they often come back to visit particularly around Christmas time to enjoy the panto.
Image of Richard and Mark at their wedding in Glasgow, 2022.
“Like so many things in life, it was of course chance that brought us together at Stirling. We’ll both be forever grateful for the opportunities that the University enabled for us.”
– Richard & Mark
Cameron & Alan
Years later, love continues to flourish at Stirling. Some find it in halls, others on the pitch.
A memorable road trip
For Alan and Cameron, it was lacrosse and a road trip to St. Andrews that started it all. They first met through the University of Stirling lacrosse teams in 2018, while Cameron was studying Criminology and Sociology and Alan was studying Environmental Science.
One day, both the men’s and women’s teams had away games scheduled at St. Andrews, and by chance, Cameron was placed in Alan’s car for the two-hour drive. Right away, their accents caught each other’s attention. Alan spoke with his traditional Scottish lilt from just outside Stirling, while Cameron had a distinctive American accent from Los Angeles.
Image of Cameron and Alan by Airthrey Loch, 2019.
They continued talking at a joint lacrosse Christmas dinner and ended up heading “to the one and only Fubar”. The two instantly bonded through their love for the sport and their teams and started sharing their experiences as well as cultural differences.
Distance makes the heart grow fonder
The two realised their relationship was something special when Cameron returned home for the summer in 2019, and without hesitation, Alan booked a trip to Los Angeles to stay with Cameron and her family.
Cameron reflected “It was a moment showing that distance was only a number when the effort was put in by both of [us].”
From then on, they continued to share their love of lacrosse and support each other through games, classes, COVID-19, and so much more. By 4th year, Cameron was President of the Women’s Lacrosse Team while Alan was Captain of the Men’s Team, and both graduated in 2021.
Married in Scotland with Stirling Friends
The couple still regularly visit Stirling, to meet up with university friends at Spoons or No. 2 Baker Street, and most recently to take engagement photos at the Airthrey Pitches.
Cameron and Alan tied the knot on 20 September 2025 at Gosford House outside Edinburgh, with 6 old teammates in the wedding party and over 30 friends from their time at university.
Image of Cameron and Alan at Gosford House, 2025.
Love notes from campus
From Mark and Richard to Cameron and Alan, Stirling has sparked plenty of love stories. Here are a few quick notes from other couples who found romance on campus.
“After graduation we got a house together in Edinburgh. We got married in 2008 and our first son was born in 2009… Our eldest son has just turned 16, and has started looking at Uni places, so naturally we’re both keen for him to explore what’s on offer at Stirling.”
– Darren & Debbie, Class of 2003
– Chris, Class of 1979 & Anne“We met on 13th September 1975 (the first day of induction for the 75 intake). Instant chemistry that continued (and still does!) to grow over time.”
“We met on the day of the General Election in May 2010, in the Pathfoot Canteen. I invited Jillian to the Election lock-in in the Union (she never came). It was at the university that I proposed to Jillian at a bench around the loch (the site of [our] first ‘date’). Without Stirling University, [we] would never have met, fallen in love, and still be together after almost 16 years.”
– Daniel, Class of 2012 & Jillian, Class of 2013
“We first met in Pathfoot while waiting to go into a French class. This was at Christmas of our second year and we’ve been together ever since. We both come from other parts of the UK but have remained in Scotland since meeting at Stirling.”
– Judith & Kas, Class of 1993
“We look back fondly on our 4 years at Stirling. It made us who we became, who we are… We married in the summer of 1973, and our first “home” was a flat in the bottom of Muirhead House.”
– Kath & Ranald, Class of 1974
“Stuart and I first met at the auditions for a production of Macbeth being run by Stirling University Drama Society (SUDS). He impressed me by downing three pints of Guinness in under a minute at Studio (Union bar) afterwards… Although we never got as much time as we would have liked, Stirling University will always be the place I met the love of my life, and I will forever be grateful for that.”
– Isla, Class of 2013 & Stuart, Class of 2014
“Nathan and I met within the first week of first year… but we didn’t get together immediately – we became good friends. Our first official date was in a restaurant that’s no longer there. We have since moved to Fort William, got married in 2021 and had our first child in 2022. When pregnant with baby no.2 we booked an early scan in Stirling and since we were in the area, we took the opportunity to go for a walk around campus. We had fun reminiscing and imagining the future, if we’ll be those types of parents that try to push their kids into going to the same university. Baby no. 2 arrived on 31st December 2025.”
– Hannah & Nathan, Class of 2012
“We had to wait for over forty years to be together as we had sadly lost touch… By some chance, thanks to a TV Antiques show, we were able to reconnect, and I’m delighted to say Paul has not changed a bit.”
– Jenni, Class of 1978 & Paul, Class of 1981
“Gary and I first remember talking to each other at a rugby club dance at the Gannochy in 1979. He asked me to the cinema in Falkirk of all places. it didn’t go well. He asked me to marry him Christmas 1981 and the wedding was planned for August 1982.”
– Janet & Gary, Class of 1982
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who shared their stories. We loved reading about the connections that began at Stirling. If you have a story to share, email alumni@stir.ac.uk, and make sure you stay connected with the Stirling alumni community by updating your details.