How to get lost on campus and fall in love
Continuing our #LoveAtUOA series, we hear from Brian Gonzalez who met future wife Liz on his very first day in Aberdeen.
Fifty years on, he tells us their truly romantic story.
I met Liz the very first day I arrived in Aberdeen - 25th September 1972. Applying to university back then was very different than it is today. In those days, careers information was non-existent so, having set my mind on reading architecture, all my applications were rejected. I therefore went through the clearing system and, on the advice of my late brother, applied for geography. Two choices were identified - London School of Economics and Aberdeen – and, having been accepted by Aberdeen, I had to pack up my things in Gibraltar and arrange flights and accommodation over a very hectic weekend, to be in Aberdeen to meet my tutor the following Monday.
On arrival in Aberdeen, I took a taxi to Johnston Hall, got my room sorted and rushed off to Elphinstone to meet my tutor – and got lost! Two students walked towards me and, on asking them for directions, Liz was the first student I met and spoke to.
After that we met in lectures as we were both doing geography and geology and then things began to 'develop' during my second year. Concierto de Aranjuez is very close to my heart and so, as it played in the background, I declared my feelings to Liz in my room in D Block of Johnston Hall - I am a true romantic at heart. Our first date was to an Indian Restaurant at the top of Union Street and when I happened to mention that one could only stay in halls of residence for two years, Liz mentioned that her mum and dad took university students and so, I moved to Fairley Farm, Kingswells and became a farm hand!
Brian and Liz in 1974
Brian and Liz in 1974
On Fairley farm
On Fairley farm
I lived with the most loving, caring future in-laws a guy could ask for and we ended up staying there until we married in1977 when we moved to a bungalow in Bridge of Don, bought by Liz's dad for his retirement. During my wedding speech I proudly stated that “I had been promoted from lodger to son-in-law".
We married in King's College on 20th July 1977 and it was a typical North East farmer's daughter’s wedding day. Friends and family from rural Aberdeenshire, Gibraltar, England and Germany joined in the celebrations and we all walked up the High Street, led by Liz's young piper cousin who was to become the legendary Gordon Duncan. Our wedding breakfast/meal/celebrations took place in the senior refectory across from the Geography Department, St. Mary's. Our honeymoon started in a small caravan near Banchory with our first game of scrabble. As we sheltered from the pouring rain, another good omen for our future together transpired when we used up all the letters and ended up with equal scores.
Back to Gibraltar
In 2019, Liz and Brian revisted the very spot where they first met in 1972
In 2019, Liz and Brian revisted the very spot where they first met in 1972
We came to Gibraltar in 1978 where both of us taught Geography in the senior boys’ school. Liz got promoted to Head of the Sixth Form and I got promoted to Head of Geography in the senior girls’ school. During these early years we regularly travelled back to Aberdeen but our visits decreased after the death of Liz's mum and dad. Our last visit was in 2019 when we returned for a family wedding in King's College Chapel, where we had tied the knot in July 1977. It was lovely to be able to show our son and daughter, and their partners, where we had met in 1972.
We retired in 2010 in our late fifties to travel the world (Gibraltar has very generous tax-free pensions) and we are now the very proud grandparents of two lovely boys. We still have contact with some friends from Aberdeen - class mates and childhood and family friends of Liz. Recently I made contact with someone who was my sparring partner and a good friend but we didn’t keep in touch when we left University - facebook has its advantages and so I once again 'met' my good friend Alan Findley.
Liz is an International FCI judge and Member of the English Kennel Club and her judging appointments have taken us to every continent except Antarctica. Covid curtailed this for a while but we are back on the road again and we saw in the New Year in Budapest. Our favourite destination must be South Africa where Liz has judged South Africa's top dog. Our last show there was in March 2020 when we were stuck on our cruise liner and repatriated to Germany just before lockdown - we got back to Gibraltar with hours to spare. Recent and future judging trips include Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Estonia and Australia.
None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for the University of Aberdeen – it has a very special place in our hearts.
On their wedding day in 1977
On their wedding day in 1977
In the same place in 2019
In the same place in 2019
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