Meet the family with three generations of Newcastle University alumnae

Like mother, like daughter…like granddaughter!

Patricia Ann Hall – known to friends as Ann – grew up in Northumberland and after a stint across the Scottish border for her undergraduate degree, returned home and came to Newcastle University in the early 1970s to gain her teaching qualification. Little did she know that she had set the trajectory for three generations of women in her family.

Just over 20 years later, Ann’s daughter Claire Chapman began her Biochemistry degree, staying on campus for the majority of the 1990s to eventually qualify with a PhD in 1998. And just last year, Claire’s daughter – and Ann’s granddaughter – Emma Barker graduated with a BSc Pharmacology degree.

To celebrate International Women’s Day (8 March), we heard from these three women on their shared experience of studying at Newcastle University and where life has taken them since.

“Visiting Newcastle is still like going home” – Patricia Ann Hall (PGCE, 1972)

It was the Newcastle of (the original) Get Carter era when I was there. Heavy industry was in decline and nothing new had come along to replace it yet. But it was and still is the friendliest of cities.

I had returned home to the North East having graduated with an Ecology degree from Edinburgh University. Keen to be nearer home – in Amble, Northumberland – and nearer friends, I enrolled at Newcastle University to study for my Graduate Certificate in Education, specialising in Biology and PE.

Alongside my studies, I played Goal Shooter for the University netball team and often played for the British University team and the England team too. I spent my student days living in a shared flat in Heaton. This was during the 3 Day Week and the electricity power cuts but our flat had a gas heater so it was where people gathered. I liked how friendly and welcoming Newcastle people are – even to students!

I enjoyed both the sports aspect and teaching practice of the course, less so modern educational dance! During my time on campus I realised being a classroom teacher was the career for me. After graduating, I took up a teaching position in North Shields before moving back to Edinburgh with my young family in tow for my husband’s work.

My career teaching biology continued in Scotland until I retired in 2014. During those intervening three decades, I progressed to Principal Teacher, gained an RSA Diploma in dyslexia and worked on the integration of pupils with SEN(D) into mainstream learning. Today, I enjoy travel, exercise and spending time with my three grandchildren.

It was great fun returning to Newcastle and going on nights out with students again when Claire joined the university. It brought back good memories – Newcastle still had a great buzz and it still feels like going home.

“I miss the Boat and its revolving dancefloor” – Claire Chapman (BSc Biochemistry, 1994; PhD, 1998)

I lived in Castle Leazes student accommodation during my first year, then shared flats and houses in Fenham, Jesmond, and Spital Tongues. I liked the proximity of the university campus to the city centre.

It’s been slightly surreal returning to campus with my daughter, Emma. Spital Tongues doesn’t feel like it’s changed but other things are totally different. Student accommodation is so much better than when I was in it – ensuites! - but it was a shock to see Castle Leazes disappear.

Newcastle in general has changed a lot and it’s much more vibrant now. The Quayside has been transformed. I don’t miss it as such because we have been back at least once a year since we left to see university friends that stayed and now, of course, Emma is here too. I do miss the Boat and its revolving dance floor, though.

After graduating, I moved to London and have enjoyed an award-winning career in Clinical Research. I’ve also got to travel the world as part of my work, but I mainly just see airports, hotels, and hospitals – it’s not as glamorous as it sounds! I’ve seen new medicines I worked on reach market, treating previously unmet patient needs, including novel treatments. I worked on the largest gene-therapy study outside of the US and I’ve worked across many therapeutic areas, and on cutting edge gene-editing and monoclonal antibodies trials. At the same time, I raised a daughter. Now I’m working in neurology for a biotech company.

To any students or recent graduates, I would urge you to apply for lots of things. Talk to everyone you can, to find industries and jobs you’ve never heard of! That’s how I got into my career – and I’ve loved it!

“I ended up living on the same street my Mam did as a student!” - Emma Barker (BSc Pharmacology, 2025)

I lived in Park View student accommodation during my first year (on the site of former Richardson Road accommodation fondly remembered by many alumni), then a shared flat in Spital Tongues - on the same street my Mam lived when she was a student!

During the first and second year I played clarinet and bass clarinet as part of the university’s Wind Band, and throughout both degrees I have been part of the Pole and Aerial club, which has really helped my confidence performing.

My favourite memories of my undergraduate studies are of the neuropharmacology module. I found learning all about how drugs interact with the brain in neuro-disorders and psychiatric conditions particularly interesting, especially when considering how many parts of the conditions are still relatively unknown. I also really enjoyed my undergraduate project, the lab I was in was lovely and I have always enjoyed lab work.

I’m still in Newcastle today, living with my boyfriend of six years and studying for my MRes on campus – so I’m looking forward to getting to do a longer lab-based project soon! After my MRes, I’d like to stay in education and do a PhD. Beyond that, I would like to work either in the pharmaceutical industry or a related area as I would like to help people through improving their treatment options and access to medications.

My favourite part of living in Newcastle is getting to do activities like going to the theatre and live comedy in a much more accessible way than in London, and the range of alternatives to going clubbing that still allow you to have the 'student experience'.

Image credit: KZ Captured Moments

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