From Wi-Fi problems to a pandemic, Kira Hayward and Josh Bradley’s first love has survived it all. Nearly five years into their relationship, they both live together in Huddersfield after Josh got his dream job, and Kira is secretly hoping he will pop the question.  Kira shared their story with us.

Tell us about how you met

We met in a University of Salford group chat on Facebook with 300+ people in January 2020. We then connected properly in March 2020, after finding out we’d be on the same course. After speaking every day, we decided to meet up in July 2020, before university even started! 

When lectures started in September 2020, we moved into a shared flat with seven others, and all had to isolate together when the second lockdown happened in mid-October 2020. In September 2021, Josh and I moved into our second-year house and in 2023, we graduated together on the same day, at the same time! We lived in Manchester until September 2024, then Josh got his dream job in Huddersfield.

Josh was my first ever boyfriend, and I was his first ever girlfriend, so staying in our relationship this long has been so special. If it wasn’t for Salford, we would never have met.

Tell us about your life together after university.

We stayed in Salford for a year until Josh got his dream job as a videographer at Huddersfield Town Football Club, so we moved there in September 2024. We rent an old home built in the 1900s in a small village, which is all we ever wanted. This year we’ll be celebrating five years, and I can only hope he’ll pop the question sometime soon!

What is your advice for those looking for romance on campus?

Be yourself and don’t settle for anything you’re not prepared to commit to.

Thank you to Kira for sharing your love story with Josh!

‘How We Met’ celebrates the lifelong connections you made at Salford — whether that’s friendships, romance, or mentors who made a real difference.

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