Thanks to the bus strikes, Rikki needed help finding the Freshers’ Folk Concert. Mick showed her the way, and they have been a pair ever since.

They married in 1975, had two daughters, and are now retired, spending time with their grandchildren. Rikki shared more of their story.

Tell us about how you met.

We met on the number 70 bus on the way to the Fresher’s folk concert. There were four of us young women and four young men, all lodging in Stretford at the time. When the conductor told us we’d have to get off the bus at Trafford Docks because the Salford and Manchester bus drivers were on strike, we asked the driver for directions. He told us, “These lads know the way, they’ll show you”. So, we paired up as we got off, and Mick and I have been a pair ever since.

Although I did miss out on my share of the surplus male students (about 11 to 1 at the time!)

Tell us about your life together after university.

We got married in 1975 and were skint when we put down the deposit on our first house. I took a temporary job at Intasun tour operators, which became permanent. We were able to have some great, cheap holidays and use my language degree a little.

Mick started at Wandsworth Council, making use of his economics degree, and then moved to Bexley Council just before our first daughter was born in 1980. He also decided to take up marathon running at the same time, for some reason or another.

We had our second daughter in 1983, and I taught French and Russian in evening classes before going back to work in the 90s as a conference organiser.

We’re both retired now, with four grandchildren aged from three to ten. We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary last year with several friends from our Salford days, including my co-lodger, who was also on the bus the night Mick and I met.

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

Don’t worry about finding romance. Just enjoy yourself and do a spot of work now and then. Romance will find you if the right person happens along.

Thank you to Rikki for sharing your love story with us!

‘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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Rikki and Mick - How We Met