Colin found himself being invited in to cover various agricultural lessons in 1980 and went on become a regular tutor of vet studies with Pat Cullen and Peter Green over about 10 years.

Part 2 of Colin's podcast follows as he becomes a Governor at Reaseheath College.

Lynsdey now runs an animal handling workshop taking animals into schools with her business Animals Take Over.

Felix is now a freelance outdoor educator and volunteers on the Chester Zoo Youth Board.

Charles is on the Autistic spectrum and talks confidently how he has managed his condition and enjoyed improving his confidence by being Student Rep and interacting with his peers.

Lexi talks about how happy she was to receive the Outstanding Student of the Year award at the Reaseheath College Presentation of Awards service.

Lexi and her mum Jill talk about how beneficial the course has been for her and how patient and supportive the tutors have been.

Lexi is back at University Centre Reaseheath in September for a degree in Vet Nursing.

Declan's tutor Cath Pilsbury starts by telling Liz how wonderful it has been to teach Declan who has been at Reaseheath for three years and began as a very shy teenager.

Hear about Declan's fantastic story about how he has overcome some huge challenges in his young life with the help of the Foundation department at Reaseheath.

Jill talks about how the course helped her to meet lots of new people, improve her skills and re-learn how to study again.

Liz also spoke to Jayne, course leader who remembers teaching Jill, and more recently her daughter Lexi who is featured in the next episode.

Hannah completed her Technical Baccalaureate in Equine which is equivalent to 4.5 A Levels which includes maths and business so she is set for an exciting career in the equine industry.

Ian also talks about his lifelong involvement in Cheshire Young Farmers and the Nantwich club.

In April 2022 Ian and two friends Garry Walker and Fred Mottram (both ex Reaseheath students) hosted a 24-hour vintage tractor ploughathon in aid of Prostrate Cancer nd raised a staggering £12,500.

Amazingly, Libby has secured an apprenticeship with Aldi (something that is hard to come by). Well done!

Libby's father studied at Reaseheath so it is a really important place for her to remember today.

After leaving school with no qualifications at 15, Phil joined Reaseheath when he was 18. This led him to complete his A-Levels and go to Aberystwyth University when he was 21.  

During this time, Phil met his wife at Reaseheath!

Since then, Phil has had a varied career but based upon plant genetics. Phil shares memories of his experiences at Reaseheath and after a tour, he shares his views on the campus today.

Peter, who has had an interest in cows from an early age, shares his reaction to the robotic milking parlour when he saw it on his tour of Reaseheath’s campus.

The amazing facilities on Reaseheath’s campus opened Peter’s eyes and are something that students today “should take advantage of”.

Peter kindly donated milking memorabilia in the form of a cheese press to Reaseheath. Thank you!

Since graduating in 2021, Abi and Georgina have opened a cake shop together in Chorley, Lancashire called The Northern Cakery Co doing walk-ins and cakes to order.

Reaseheath has given Abi and Georgina great memories to treasure forever.

The University Centre Reaseheath offered Abbie great land-based facilities such as Reaseheath Mini Zoo giving her valuable experience. Abbie is currently taking part in an internship at Chester Zoo working with her favourite animal, the elephants!

She hopes that her practical experience from Chester Zoo and educational experience from Reaseheath can help her secure her dream job as a zookeeper.

Since graduation Charlotte has opened a business called Cakology Co and now has her own shop on a busy high street in Bolton.

Charlotte and Sam share their fond memories of times at Reaseheath, including some lovely comments from mum!

In this episode, Liz speaks to past student Danny Newton and his middle-year placement host Mick Heath, owner of Heaton House Farm.

In 2003 Danny started the 3-year Diploma in Agriculture and spent his middle-year working with Mick, the 6th generation of his family to run the farm.

Mick talks about his longtime support of Reaseheath and our placement students and the developments over at Heaton House from a working farm to a very popular (and stunning) wedding venue.

Danny talks about his passion for farming and teaching people about the field-to-fork agenda including life at his farm where he milks the cows then delivers the milk to his local community.

Sam says that teaching allows her to make a difference to young people’s lives whilst doing a hobby that she loves!

Sam graduated from her foundation degree and earned her Bachelor of Science before catching the “education bug” and studying to become a teacher.

She speaks about a cake that her and her students have created for Reaseheath 100…

Meredydd speaks of the highlights of his time at Reaseheath, including the outstanding status given to the college by Ofsted and a visit to Reaseheath from the Queen.

In retirement, Meredydd has supported colleges in difficulty, helping them to improve and recover.

Peter was an Extra Mural coordinator visiting "Extra Mural" students which literally means "Outside the Wall" in Latin. He has lots of memories of colleagues and course delivery and considers his biggest claim to fame, was being one of the founders of the Student Bar!

In 1992 staff numbers were cut by the Cheshire Country council restructure so Peter seized his opportunity for early retirement.

She wasn't completely sure what way her career would take her, but she knew her passions of animals and photography needed to be featured.

Laura spent five years feeling unfulfilled in her office job when an opportunity arose for her to join her Dad's business in doggy day care in Wybunbury.

Listen to the wonderful activities (including nap time) that Laura entertains the dogs with.

Find out more about Laura's business at Tully's Retreat

From his early career as a pig farmer, he moved into teaching and found himself at Reaseheath College as a pig lecturer in 1983.

Pat shares his memories of Principal George England who interviewed Pat both as a student in 1968 and also for his job nearly 20 years later.

He was here during the transition from Cheshire County Council control to Reaseheath being independent.

Pat fondly remembers the regular trips to John Parkin's (previous episode) at Mill Farm in Aston with his students, giving them taste of life in a proper family farm.

Even in his retirement, Pat is still working in the field of agriculture and his son Mike, is a lecturer in our Agricultural Engineering team.

Lizzy used John as a guinea-pig for her demo podcast which formed part of her interview to become the Marketing & Communications Manager. Thankfully she got the job!

John had a long and varied connection with Reaseheath, from being a student in the 1950s, to then living in Reaseheath Old Hall and farming on the land when his family were tenants of Cheshire East.

John moved to his own farm in Aston where he kept the relationship going by inviting students to visit their farm as part of their studies (more about this in the next episode with Pat Cullen)

Sadly, John passed away in October 2021 before Lizzy had a chance to delve deeper into his memories, but at least we have this little snippet to share.

Before he died, John's family commissioned a book about his life, over 200 copies sold in aid of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) and raising almost £2,000.

John, a stalwart of the Nantwich Agricultural Society will be fondly remembered at this years Nantwich Show, which, as it happens, moves to Reaseheath Old Hall for the first time in it's 125 year history!

Harry joined Reaseheath in 1995 and retired when he was 71 but he makes regular visits back to assist students and current staff with projects and plant identification.

As winners in our Valentines "Did you find love at Reaseheath" competition, Rachel and James were invited back to enjoy afternoon tea with us.

Listen to their lovely story...

Couples were invited to share their memories of how they met, or what their Reaseheath wedding was like - did you know we host weddings here?!

We caught up with soon to be Mr & Mrs Thompson who speak fondly of their time at Reaseheath

As the last principal to be appointed by Cheshire County Council who considered Reaseheath College as a jewel in their crown, Vic talks about the changes post-1993 when Reaseheath moved from local authority control to become incorporated as a further education corporation with a new set of freedoms and responsibilities.

In this part 2 of this interview, Vic shares his memories of the second half of his career at Reaseheath.

As the last principal to be appointed by Cheshire County Council who considered Reaseheath College as a jewel in their crown, Vic talks about the changes pre-1993 when Reaseheath moved from local authority control to become incorporated as a further education corporation with a new set of freedoms and responsibilities.

In Part 1 of this interview, Vic shares his memories of the first half of his career, tune in to Part 2 to find out about life post-Cheshire County Council.

Ben also shares his experience of Reaseheath and how, after a year of doing animal care, he wanted to move into agriculture and now has his dream job of being a dairy herd manager.

It's a heart-warming reunion between tutor and student at the Cheshire Show.

Tony also shares lovely memories of fun times of student life, accommodation and how he had the canteen staff wrapped around his little finger!

Now Tony's grandson is due to start at Reaseheath so we will interview him in 50 years time!

Jillian talks about her "energetic" life as a student, referring to student nights as "something else" with a twinkle in her eye. Jillian certainly enjoyed her time at Reaseheath, with a special mention of favourite tutor Mark Walton.

Jillian is also keen to travel abroad and study dairy farming across the world to bring back to her home farm in Shropshire.

Geoff, originally from Lancashire, planned to qualify, and work in, agriculture and during his training years he heard a lot about Reaseheath from his peers. Never planning to actually teach, an opportunity presented itself to Geoff and he started his first stint of Agricultural Engineering teaching in 1968

Within a few days Geoff met is wife Sue at Reaseheath and after ten months they were married.

Tune in to hear about Geoff's return as Head of Engineering in 1981, followed by his role as Vice Principal alongside Principal Vic Croxson.

Twm spent five years at Reaseheath, firstly taking a Forestry and Arboriculture and then continued on to Agricultural Engineering.

Twm now runs a forestry business combined with an agricultural machinery hire company.

Just as the interview was coming to an end, Twm's college friend Chris Morecambe joined the conversation and informed Lizzy of Twm's special talent of singing in the shower.

This is no ordinary singing - Twm is an incredibly talented Welsh Opera singer and gave us a little rendition...

Enjoy!

Alan shared his memories about being a day release student travelling once a week from Lancashire to Reaseheath in the 1960s.

Glaswegian Tom Deans joined Reaseheath College in the 1970s as senior lecturer in horticulture. His role was to look after a trailblazing course that combined a slightly advanced level of horticulture with business supervision. This was in partnership with South Cheshire College who supported the delivery of the Supervisor Studies under the National Examination Board (NEBS).

Tom retired from Reaseheath age 60 in 1994 as the Head of Horticulture but continued as a part time horticulture teacher for a further 20 years.

Tom has also been very involved with the RHS as an examiner and assessor, and until Covid was paying regular visits to Reaseheath to assess the standards of the RHS courses offered.

Find out about the Horticulture, Floristry and RHS courses at Reaseheath here or call 01270 625 131

Jason needed an agricultural qualification in order to take over a farm tenancy and his apprenticeship allowed him the time to do this and carry on working.

Jason has since traveled extensively around the world to see farming in many countries. In Australia he was inspired to set up his YouTube channel Udder Madness to show people how farming works in the UK.

Lorraine and Graham visited the college and recreated a very special photo - of their engagement 40 years previously!

Read about their love story on the Reaseheath100 website.

To share your memories of Reaseheath, please email alumni@reaseheath.ac.uk or call Susie Menlove on 01270 613 224

Marcus talks about his background in, and passion for, land-based education.

#Reaseheath100 is the celebration of 100 years of Reaseheath College, from humble beginnings as a small college offering certificate courses in agriculture, dairying, poultry husbandry and horticulture to a leading education establishment delivering further education courses, higher education degrees, apprenticeships and adult courses.

During the Reaseheath 100 Podcast we will be chatting to students and staff past and present about their memories of life at Reaseheath.