Trinity College Carmarthen Class of ’63 reconnect and reminisce back on campus

10 July 2023

A group of Trinity College alumni reunited at University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Carmarthen to celebrate 60 years since leaving the college as qualified teachers.

Nine women and two men from the class of '63 smile for a group photo; the Chapel and the Old Building are visible behind them.

On 28th June 2023, old friends came together for a reunion at UWTSD’s Carmarthen campus to commemorate the 60th anniversary of gaining their trained teacher status on 25th June 1963 at what was back then Trinity College Carmarthen.

The group in their early 80s who were jolly and delighted to be back in the company of old classmates, came from as near as the town itself and as far as the Midlands to meet once again at the place where their friendships and careers all began.

They each left their family homes to move to Carmarthen in 1960 where they studied to become primary school teachers at an institution that remains the oldest surviving teacher-training college in Wales, and that since its establishment, has provided a bilingual education.

When they joined, it had not long become a mixed-sex college with women only being admitted to attend in 1957.

After three years of hard work, as well as plenty of play and mischief, Class of ’63 parted ways to begin their careers. Many of them remained in touch over the years and some had even formed more than just friendships - among the group were three couples that had met and fell in love during their college days.

Friends look at photos and documents spread out on tables and talk; a banner on the wall reads – Class of 1963 Trinity College Carmarthen – Cheers to 60 years.

Throughout the reunion, the friends reminisced over nostalgic memorabilia and photographs, and toured the campus to visit the buildings where they once lived, ate, prayed, and had their classes, as well as visited new parts of the campus that have been built since they left.

They shared tales of the rag days in Carmarthen where students would dress up for processions and carnivals to raise money for charities; exchanged stories of their old lecturers such as Norah Isaac who taught them Drama and Welsh, and Principal Thomas Halliwell, and caught up on what’s happened in their lives in all the years past.

After an evening meal and stay overnight on campus, the group farewelled their friends and the University with the following comments:

“It’s great to come back to Trinity again! Where have the 60 years gone since leaving on 25th June, 1963?”

“I have very happy memories of my time at Trinity College Carmarthen, and it’s very special to be back.”

“Many things have changed but the friendships formed all those years ago still remain and will never be forgotten.”

“A truly wonderful occasion meeting up after 60 years – and friendships still remain! A time of love and friends.”

“Thanks dear friends – it brought back so many memories.”

“What a fantastic reunion for all our year. So many lovely memories to share. Strange seeing the change to the place, but the core of the old building is still intact. A wonderful day!”

“Fantastic to be back here again seeing old faces – old being the operative word!! The college has changed a lot but the main building’s still standing.”

“Lovely to see everyone again, Hope it won’t be too long before we meet again.”