Runshaw College Alumni

25/02/2025

We are proud to share that Runshaw College Sixth Form Centre Alumni student Dave Ryding has sealed Britain’s best men’s World Alpine Ski Championships result since 1934 by finishing sixth in the slalom!

During his time at Runshaw, Dave studied A Levels in PE, Geography and Biology. Read the full story of Dave's epic triumph below.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c0m1mn9k89jo

Team GB FIS Alpine World Cup Tour

Dave Ryding seals Britain's best men's World Alpine Ski Championships result since 1934 by finishing sixth in the slalom in Austria.

13/02/2025

Former Runshaw College Sixth Form Centre Media Studies student Rory Cocker has set up a fantastic new app which showcases everything cultural in Preston.

Preston Pulse is a social media video platform that aims to bring people in Preston closer to arts & culture, shine a spotlight on the city’s creative scene, and tell the stories of those who live and work there. This week was their 1st birthday, hitting 1 million video views. Well done Rory, what an amazing achievement!

Hear more from Rory about his creation over on Preston Pulse below.

On this edition of PrestonPeople, we had a chat with Rory, the creator behind Preston Pulse.

23/01/2025

We are bursting with pride this week as not one, not two, but three Runshaw College Sixth Form Centre alumni members of The Professional Performance Programme at Runshaw College are either currently performing in or announcing West End roles!

Evan – from our Class of 2020 – is set to make his West End debut by joining ‘Just For One Day’. Meg – from our Class of 2019 – is continuing for another year as a Super Swing in the West End production of ‘Six The Musical’ at the Vaudeville Theatre, and Evie – from our Acting Class of 2019 – is currently starring in ‘The Merchant Of Venice 1936’ at the Trafalgar Theatre before heading out on a UK tour with the production.

We are incredibly proud of our talented former students achieving what they set out to do!

10/01/2025

Runshaw College Sixth Form Centre Alumni students Jacob Hersee and Luke Wharton have both excelled since completing their course at college, honing their design skills and engineering knowledge in the workplace.

Now completing a Machining Technician apprenticeship, Jacob is proof-positive of the benefits of upskilling for both employee and employer.

Jacob, who completed his T Level Design Engineering course at Runshaw with a placement at Simmal Ltd, added, “the placement developed my communication skills, enhanced my CAD design skills, and my knowledge of engineering. I took part in a range of exciting projects including sculpture for the Anthony Gormley Exhibition in New York.”

Read the full story below.
https://www.independent.co.uk/business/careers-skills-training-apprenticeships-t-levels-b2665266.html

T Levels Runshaw College Apprenticeships

From TV shows to consumer trends and our own careers, we can’t get enough of skills. Here we explore what’s behind this shift and how it can benefit everyone

06/01/2025

Our School of Sport & Tourism were delighted once again to welcome Olympic Champion swimmer Anna Hopkin MBE into college, who spoke to our students about life as an elite athlete, the support she received on her Olympic journey, pressures experienced by athletes and her internship with the UK Sports Institute.

Anna left Runshaw in 2014 and in November 2022, HRH Princess Anne presented Anna with her MBE at Windsor Castle for ‘Services to Swimming', following on from her being part of the Olympic Gold medal-winning 4 x 100m Mixed medley Relay team in Tokyo in 2021.

In December Anna announced her retirement from the sport - congratulations Anna on your amazing career, you have achieved so much and we are all incredibly proud of you.

24/12/2024

Alumni Advent Calendar - Behind the Doors at Runshaw

Throughout 2024 we've been looking at some of our alumni's greatest achievements and college throwbacks to celebrate 50 years of excellent education here at Runshaw. What a year we have had! We couldn't have made 2024 the year it has been without our amazing alumni students, student ambassadors, staff and our followers, thank you to you all! As our Alumni Advent Calendar closes, we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

24/12/2024

Alumni Advent Calendar - Behind the Door at Runshaw

Day 24 - Runshaw's 50th Anniversary

This year, Runshaw College celebrated 50 years of excellent education. Runshaw will continue to be a beacon of excellence – an incubator for innovation, critical thinking, and holistic development. We’ll embrace emerging technologies, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and prepare our students for a dynamic world. We will always demonstrate our commitment to pursuing excellence. Happy anniversary Runshaw College, here's to the next 50 years!

23/12/2024

Alumni Advent Calendar - Behind the Door at Runshaw

Day 23 - Lloyd Cole

Lloyd is best known for his role as lead singer of British rock/pop band Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Since the band’s break-up in 1989, Lloyd has enjoyed success as a solo artist with albums including Love Story and Bad Vibes. Cole has continued to create music over the past 30 years with his most recent album Guesswork releasing in 2019. Last year, Lloyd released his latest studio album 'On Pain', which was later listed in the top 50 albums to purchase in 2023.

22/12/2024

Alumni Advent Calendar - Behind the Door at Runshaw

Day 22 - John Thomson

John attended Runshaw between 1985 and 1986 studying A Levels in Theatre Studies, English Language and General Studies and is known for his extensive television work, having collaborated with Steve Coogan on a range of stage and TV productions and starring in long running TV shows including Coronation Street, The Fast Show and Cold Feet. This year John attended our 50th Anniversary Celebration Event and presented the student and staff award for Excellence at Runshaw.

21/12/2024

Alumni Advent Calendar - Behind the Door at Runshaw

Day 21 - Isaak Daglish

Isaak has established himself as a star in the world of Para Badminton. In his first international competition, Isaak beat two top-10 players without dropping a single set. He has won bronze medals at the Spanish International in 2018 and 2021, alongside a silver at the 2018 European Championships and a gold at the 2019 Denmark International.

20/12/2024

Alumni Advent Calendar - Behind the Door at Runshaw

Day 20 - Bernard O'Connell

During Bernard O'Connell's tenure, the college's results went from strength to strength, achieving superb links with the country's top universities including Oxford and Cambridge. 20 years ago, Bernard was knighted for his services to education, the same year he retired as principal at Runshaw.

19/12/2024

Alumni Advent Calendar - Behind the Door at Runshaw

Day 19 - Throwback Thursday - ❓Do you remember❓

As we head to our last day before Christmas, we rewind back 16 years to our student Christmas party in 2008, who do you recognise?

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.475110372507733&type=3

18/12/2024

Alumni Advent Calendar - Behind the Door at Runshaw

Day 18 - Wildlife Watch

Sadly, this isn't one of Santa's Reindeer! However, over the years our campus has been home to a diverse range of species including foxes, badgers, deer, squirrels and birds – we work closely with our eco-society to actively monitor our biodiversity to support the growth of these populations. This deer was recently captured on one of our wildlife cameras close to the entrance of Grizedale.

17/12/2024

Alumni Advent Calendar - Behind the Door at Runshaw

Day 17 - Holly Bradshaw

Holly specialises in the pole vault. She holds the British record for the event and has won a range of medals at the World Indoor Championships, European Championships, European Indoor Championships and Athletics World Cup. Holly achieved a Bronze medal in the Pole Vault competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and most recently competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Holly attended our 50th Anniversary Celebration Event earlier this year and presented the student and staff award for Respect at Runshaw.

16/12/2024

Alumni Advent Calendar - Behind the Door at Runshaw

Day 16 - Runshaw's Cookies

A perfect Christmas treat! A popular purchase by our students over the years, which results in over 120,000 cookies consumed on campus each year!

15/12/2024

Alumni Advent Calendar - Behind the Door at Runshaw

Day 15 - Samantha Robinson

After Runshaw, Samantha gained a place at Rose Bruford College, winning a Laurence Olivier Bursary in 2001. She has starred in several TV shows including Casualty, Holby City, Doctors and Shameless, and a range of stage productions such as Educating Rita, and Rita, Sue and Bob Too.

14/12/2024

Alumni Advent Calendar - Behind the Door at Runshaw

Day 14 - Sarah Davies

Since leaving Runshaw, Sarah has had a highly successful weightlifting career, competing at 5 World Championships and 5 European Senior Championships. In 2015, she became the first British athlete to win the European u23 Championships and she has since won a bronze medal at the 2017 Commonwealth Championships and silver medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2021 European Championships and 2021 World Championships. In 2022 Sarah won gold medals for England at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

13/12/2024

Alumni Advent Calendar - Behind the Door at Runshaw

Day 13 - Gill Steel

This year we were privileged to welcome back Gill Steel - a proud member of the Runshaw Class of ’74 - who came back to visit us for the first time since she studied here. It was lovely to show Gill around and listen to her speak about her own career journey in Law, that began here at Runshaw. Gill also very kindly donated four of her own published books to our School for Business & Law.