It’s our birthday! We’re a whole century old
In October 1924, we *officially became the University of Bristol’s student union. Since then, we’ve worked tirelessly to make life better for students, including creating space on campus for you to relax and be together, campaigning to make student experiences better, and giving you a voice in things that matter most to you.
From my first evening at University, I fell in love with the student union. The building, the bars, the restaurants, the theatre, the porters and the catering staff. And above all, all the friends I made from every possible corner of the university.
Here are some of our most remarkable memories from the last century
1924: Formation of Bristol Students’ Union
In 1924, the University Guild joined together with the University club to form the Students’ Union.
According to Nonesuch at the time: ‘The New Constitution of the Union will present fewer difficulties to freshers than to those whose minds are muddled with the hitherto entirely separate functions of Guild and Club…Now the Guild and the Club are one; together they constitute the Union. It is only for the sake of efficiency that they retain their old names and are sub-divided within the Union’.
1958: George Odlum
George Odlum, who was the first black president of the Students’ Union, was kidnapped by Cardiff students in a Rag Week prank. George was lured to Temple Meads station, where he was there grabbed by five Cardiff students and hustled onto a train. He was then bound and carried in triumph along the main thoroughfare in Cardiff. It was three days before he was rescued.
George’s revenge was to kidnap the Cardiff Rag Queen, and bring her back to Bristol.
1965: Move into the Richmond Building
Bristol Students' Union moves from the Victoria Rooms to the newly built Richmond Building, providing more space for students.
1968: Sit-in
Bristol University students stage a sit-in to support calls for a greater say in its running. Their protest in June 1968 followed meetings in the Winston Theatre promoting a national movement to widen access to the further education system and increase student representation on university governing bodies. The protestors called for their union to be opened up to students from other educational establishments in the city.
1975: Campaigning for a Nursery
“As a member of the feminist society I was involved in campaigning for a University nursery. Difficult to imagine nowadays that universities didn't host them. Childcare provision for staff and students is now a common offering. Difficult also to imagine - from a now older, more sedate perspective - that I climbed in through a side window at Senate House as a part of the student occupation to 'demand' a nursery. As it transpired, later, my son enjoyed the well-run facilities for which so many of us had campaigned.”
- Liz Wells
1987: Inaugural Bristol Students' Half Marathon
"I was determined to leave a sporting legacy when I was AU President and so set up the inaugural Bristol Students' Half Marathon with the support of Bob Reeves and Jim McKenna. We gained sponsorship from Eurohire vans and had a good turnout. I didn't realise that the lead vehicle would stick in the mud of Coombe Dingle - spinning wheels embarrassingly splashed mud in the faces of the lead pack as they overtook the vehicle. No one seemed to mind and all was forgiven..."
- Jayne Pearce
1998: Tuition Fee Protests
Students stage a funeral procession for the 'death of higher education' due to the ending of free tuition. The march included students from Universities across the South West.
1999: Beananza
UBU hosts a 'beananza' to rally students together over tuition fee increases.
2001: First Online Voting System
"I was one of seven elected sabbatical officers who kicked off the new Millennium. We might have survived the 'Millennium Bug', but gremlins still attacked our online voting system, which we were trying for the first time in the elections held to appoint our successors. I was chair of the Elections Committee and recall some fraught meetings, where we eventually decided to revert to paper ballots. We rightly got a pasting in Epigram but were clearly just ahead of our time!"
- Ben Wilson
2003: Green Week
Students block Woodland Road as part of Green Week Activity
2009: Sam Budd appointed as Chief Executive
Sam Budd is appointed as CEO, the first black female Chief Executive of any Students’ Union in the UK. She stays with Bristol SU for over 10 years, overseeing significant change and achievement.
2013: Bristol SU Lettings Opens
Since opening in 2013, Bristol SU Lettings has played an active part in improving the moving experience for its students with its affordable quality housing solutions. We've never charged tenant fees and have always modelled our lettings business around quality of service and accommodation above profit.
2018: SU Living Room Opens
The much-loved Bristol SU Living Room opens, providing students with a space to relax on campus, as well as access free tea and coffee, and community focused events. The Living Room has since expanded, and now has a sensory room.
2024: Move to Senate House
Bristol SU relocates most services to the 5th floor of Senate House, whilst retaining activity and events space in the Richmond Building.
SO many memories as a student, and sabbatical. The SU was the heart of the student experience. The 90s was a time without mobile phones and email - Epitome was the what’s-on guide for all the clubs and societies. And the other highlight was the Epi Bar. A thousand people there every night - you just had to come back every Wednesday!
Celebrate our Birthday with us!
We’re hosting a couple of key moments throughout the year to celebrate.
Current students are invited to join our 100 Years Birthday Party in the Bristol SU Living Room on Tuesday 29 October. Come and have some free cake and share your favourite SU moments with us.
If you’re a former elected officer, we’re planning to host a reunion event in 2025. You’ll have the opportunity to reunite, and rekindle memories, together. Come and celebrate this remarkable milestone with us.
I first met my wife at the 2011 Freshers' Fair when we were both volunteering for Burst Radio. We married 10 years later, and now have a little baby girl called Daphne Josephine - or 'DJ' for short.
