Gallery: A nostalgic look back at RGU students' union in photos
For 40 years, RGU students' union commanded a prominent spot at the top of Schoolhill, conveniently located a wee stumble away from Belmont Street's pubs.
Previously the headquarters and shop of bakers Mitchell and Muil, Robert Gordon Institute of Technology (RGIT) bought the entire site at 60 Schoolhill after the firm closed in 1972.
Until then, RGIT students had been squeezing into a union at 17 Rubislaw Terrace.
But after £96,500 of building work, the Schoolhill building was transformed into a five-floor haven for students.
Back then, RGIT's schools and departments were scattered across the city; from Schoolhill and St Andrew's Street, to King Street, Kepplestone and Garthdee.
It wasn't until 1991 that the institute gained university status, becoming Robert Gordon University.
When the union opened in October 1974, it gave RGIT's body of 2000 students a central base for the first time.
The facade of the 1885 building, designed by Aberdeen architect Alexander Marshall Mackenzie, was retained to give 'the handsome old building a unified dignity'.
But inside, the Victorian building was 'completely gutted and rebuilt' with internal walls flattened and ceilings lowered.
When the students' union was unveiled, it was said the interior rang the changes of the era, with 'hessian walls, cord carpets, asbestos ceiling tiles and tough spray-painted walls'.
A basement was remodelled to contain showers, storage and a cloakroom, while the ground floor hosted the main lounge bar.
Tan-coloured bench seating ran around the walls, which contrasted with the purple, brown and tan hessian walls.
The first floor of the students' union had a canteen, that catered for 650 people daily, which also had jukeboxes and a shop that sold stationery and cassette tapes.
Floor two provided entertainment including a table tennis room and offices, while the third floor had three TV rooms – one for each TV channel.
It was predicted by the 1980s student numbers could increase to 6000, and there were concerns even the new union could be too small.
But it was still going strong by the time Robert Gordon University was founded, and it became known as RGU Students' Union.
It was an ideal venue for a cheap lunch, a pub quiz, a meeting place for societies, a game of pool – and of course the place to go at the beginning of a night out.
Back then, 'rivals', Aberdeen University, still had their historic students' union at the other end of Schoolhill.
With two unions and a plethora of pubs and clubs, student nightlife in Aberdeen was thriving.
By the 2000s, the hessian might have gone, but RGU students' union was still a popular hub in heart of the city.
As Aberdeen University migrated entirely to Old Aberdeen, its union eventually closed down in 2004.
But RGU's was still going strong, by day you could pick up a mean macaroni pie, by night you could enjoy drinks deals galore.
It might have been a slightly terrifying trek up unforgiving stairs to reach the second floor bar (especially in heels), but the cheap pitchers of cocktails were worth it.
At RGU union you could pick up a pitcher of the very sugary 'Purple People Eater' (containing Bacardi, peach schnapps, Blue Bols, grenadine and lemonade) for just £8 – if you valued your wallet over your teeth.
Or if you really wanted to kick-start your night out, Jagerbombs were only £1.50 off-peak, with an additional charge of 50p for the weekends.
Although after a few 'Absinthe Bombs' it's unlikely you'd make it much farther than the union on a night out.
Sadly generations of students are missing out on £1 Apple Bombs or Messy Bombs (it's still unclear exactly what the latter was), because there's no student union bar left in Aberdeen.
Like Aberdeen University, RGU moved its schools to one campus at RGU, creating a united university in one location.
RGU student union on Schoolhill followed suit; in 2013 the university announced its closure.
However, a valiant campaign from students saw it gain a stay of execution until 2014 when RGU sold the building and its doors shut for good.
Its closure ended 40 years of fun, but at least we still have the (hazy) memories.
The old building has just recently been put up for auction.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Live
7 hours ago
- North Wales Live
Fire at ancient Anglesey church nearing end of £2.3m upgrade
Concerns for an ancient Anglesey church were raised when smoke was seen billowing high into the sky. St Cybi's in Holyhead is undergoing extensive redevelopment and parishioners feared a fire could jeopardise next month's scheduled reopening. It's understood vandals set light to portaloos being used by workers refurbishing the church, which dates from the 6th century and is built into Holyhead's Roman wall. The fire spread to adjacent timber stacked ready for use inside the building. Smoke was seen rising from the churchyard at around 6.30pm on Thursday, June 5. Although firefighters extinguished the blaze before causing serious damage, it's believed a section of the church's exterior wall was left charred and blackened. This is expected to weather and disappear over time. "It could have been a lot worse," said one observer. St Cybi's and its adjacent 14th century chapel, Eglwys y Bedd, are currently being redeveloped as part of a £2.3m project funded by UK Levelling up money. The church will reopen as a 'more accessible' multi-use community hub with a social enterprise cafe. The chapel, built on the site of St Cybi's original cell, is being extended using Anglesey limestone, quarried in Moelfre. In the plans are some exciting innovations designed to appeal to a younger demographic. Five ancient churches in the Diocese of Bangor are being upgraded as part of the Llefa'r Cerrig - Stones Shout Out initiative. Air source heat pumps are being installed to provide underfloor heating, and solar panels placed on south-facing roofs. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now St Cybi's is one of the five beneficiaries, with a shop and children's play area also planned. But the work hasn't been without controversy. Some parisioners were unhappy on learning that traditional old pews were being replaced by pews that can be moved to facilitate events and meetings. There was also anger over the transfer of St Cybi's organ to another church that can afford its estimated £200,000 repair bill. Critics claimed the heart of St Cybi's was being 'ripped out of it'. Meanwhile, the project timeline slipped when skeletal remains were discovered under the church and in the churchyard. In a pit beneath the chancel near the altar, a 'large collection of unarticulated human remains of unknown date' were found in summer 2023. They were buried beneath the church's 'Victorian layer', laid by architect Gilbert Scott during his reordering of the church in 1876-1879. It's suspected they had been reinterred, probably from multiple graves within the churchyard. All remains removed were due to be reinterred within the churchyard. Excitingly, other archaeological digs revealed what is believed to be part of the original footpath laid by Roman settlers at the site thousands of years ago. It's hoped St Cybi's can reopen in late July.
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Network of Victorian tunnels discovered under massive Surrey sinkhole
A huge network of Victorian tunnels has been discovered near a large sinkhole in a quiet Surrey village. Residents in over 30 homes in Godstone were evacuated after part of the high street collapsed overnight on February 17. Now a network of abandoned sand mines surrounding the hole, which grew to a staggering 19 metres in length. A second hole opened up days after the first. It has now been revealed that engineers have discovered a set of 150-year-old tunnels eight metres under the road. Lloyd Allen, infrastructure manager at Surrey County Council, said at a public meeting last night that engineers had discovered the old subterranean structures at the junction of the High Street and Salisbury Road during the course of investigating the huge sinkholes. He said: 'Currently, we're investigating the Victorian tunnels, plotting them to see the extent of them and where they go. 'There's a layer in areas between eight and 10 metres down under the surface where we're finding a clear indication – we've got video evidence of a tunnel that's been put there over 150 years ago.' Teams are conducting laser surveys in the tunnels to understand their extent. Any bends in the tunnels would need to be investigated further as the lasers only scan in straight lines, Mr Allen said. He added that the tunnel helped explain where the collapsed rubble from the sink hole went. 'I can tell you that the video cameras we've sent down it's been difficult to control at eight metres depth – it's a manned remote control camera. We've literally pointed it in and had a look around. But we have seen some evidence of the material that has migrated out of the collapsed hole on that section. It looks like that's where the material has gone.' Despite 'taking a bit of a hit', Mr Allen confirmed the town's fibre was still functioning and the council was working with Virgin to very gently put cables back in place. Engineers are also working on a north-south route for pedestrians, which should open over the next 'few weeks', he said. However, some residents complained that the council had taken months to discover what they already knew about the village's history of mine tunnels. According to the website Godstone Village, sandstone was quarried under the North Down's from the 17th century. The industry ceased in 1900 when bricks and other more durable types of stone became more commonly used to construct homes. In the early 20th century, the land was then used to grow mushrooms. During the Second World War, plans were submitted to make use of the passages as underground shelters to be connected via four exits to a proposed evacuation camp. An article in the Daily Telegraph in 1939 said that Home Office officials were seriously considering the scheme to use the caves, which would provide protection ' against the heaviest bombs known'. One local wrote on Facebook: 'It's common knowledge & everyone told them, but they chose to ignore it.' 'So it has taken the navel-gazing bellends from the council 5 months to confirm what anyone who knows anything about Godstone already knew. Outstanding' , commented another. The sinkhole has also effect the supply of water to homes, while those forced to relocate faced uncertainty on their bills. Evacuated residents will receive £100 in compensation and have their standing charges waived for the whole year, SES water confirmed. Claire Coutinho, the MP for East Surrey, said it had been an 'anxious' time for residents. She said: 'We do know, during this time, there are so many other challenges that people are facing. Parking, speeding because you've got traffic coming off the motorway. Lots of people worried about their personal finances, people who want to sell, move home and really take control of their lives.' More Trending She added: 'The quicker that we can get answers for people and get the work done, the better.' Surrey County Council said at a public meeting last night that it hoped to have repair works fully complete by December. A spokesperson for the local authority told the Metro: 'We hope to have the road re-opened during December this year, but our focus will be on ensuring the road is safe to use so the exact date will be confirmed once we are fully assured of this.' The Metro has contacted Historic England for comment. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Network of abandoned Victorian tunnels discovered 26ft under giant sinkhole that opened up on ordinary-looking street
Residents claim they have been 'left in the dark' over when repairs will be completed HOLEY MOLY Network of abandoned Victorian tunnels discovered 26ft under giant sinkhole that opened up on ordinary-looking street A GIANT sink hole has revealed an underground network of Victorian mining tunnels. Engineers working at the site, on Godstone High Street in Surrey, were shocked when they stumbled upon the discovery. Advertisement 8 The first sinkhole appeared in February Credit: Reuters 8 More sinkholes appeared shortly afterwards Credit: EPA 8 A network of Victorian tunnels may be partly to blame for the major collapse Credit: SWNS The huge collapse, which rocked the local community in February, has unearthed eerie eight-meter deep abandoned tunnels. Experts who are repairing the street say these sand mining networks may hold the key to what caused the sinkhole. But residents in the area claim they have been "left in the dark" over when construction will be complete, as reported by the BBC. Businesses in the area also continue to be negatively impacted by the major collapse. Advertisement Local authorities shared their hopes the road would be reopened by December this year. Lloyd Allen, infrastructure manager at Surrey County Council, said: "Currently, we're investigating the Victorian tunnels, plotting them to see the extent of them and where they go. "We'll likely be finished by the early part of December, but there's a lot of reconnecting services and redoing water mains, gas mains and electric cables." Mr Allen added how the tunnels "puts one of the pieces into place" over why the sinkhole unfolded. Advertisement Although there are still "several scenarios" that have been put forward about the cause. Shane Fry, who runs a garage on the high street, told the BBC the sinkhole has slashed his profits by a third. "They said they would keep us up to date, but this hasn't happened," he said. "We need to know. It will benefit everyone in the area." Advertisement Meanwhile, Will McLean, owner of a residential windows and doors company claimed the disaster has "reduced footfall to virtually zero". And coffee shop owner Sami Bristow, shared how her income is down about 20% compared to last year. 8 The first sinkhole grew to a length of 20m (65ft) Credit: EPA 8 The two massive sinkholes have caused havoc in the tiny village Credit: EPA Advertisement 8 Work taking place around the sinkhole should be completed by December Credit: LNP "It has been hard-hitting especially with inflation and all the other things that small businesses are having to cope with," she added. Matt Furniss, cabinet member for highways at Surrey County Council, said: "Our focus will be on ensuring the road is safe to use, so the exact date will be confirmed once we are fully assured of this." Catherine Sayer, Tandridge District Council leader, added: "Things are moving as fast as they can. Advertisement "The key thing is to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible." Locals have been allowed back into their homes after a risk assessment deemed it safe to do so. Christine Duncan, 57, who has lived in her home just outside the cordon for over two decades, says she is still in shock at what has happened. She said: "My husband was down the pub and saw a trickle of water. Then the sinkhole just suddenly appeared. Advertisement "I have lived here for 24 years, and I have never seen anything like this before. I am still in shock. I can't make heads or tails of it. "I think it is to do with the amount of lorries that drive through here. We are only a small village. Is your property at risk from a sinkhole? There are thousands of natural sinkholes, also known as dolines, in the UK, particularly in the upland areas of northern England, according to the British Geological Survey. By and large, these are not actively subsiding, but occasionally new sinkholes form, particularly after heavy rain. Built up areas can be at risk and it is believed sinkholes are becoming more common in the UK, partly due to extreme rainfall, which scientists have linked to climate change. Dr Andrew Farrant of the BGS, says: 'By their very nature, collapse features caused by burst pipes or collapsed infrastructure are mostly likely to occur in built up areas or beneath roads, and could happen in other areas with similar geology and aging infrastructure. 'Many recent sinkholes have been caused by collapses of old sewers or culverts, such as the sinkhole near Merthyr Tydfil last December. 'There have been other recent instances of sinkholes due to flushing out of sands and weak sandstones, for example the sinkhole that closed Storrington High Street last October.' "I am very worried about how long it is going to take to fix the road. My main concern is that there are a lot of vulnerable people around here and there is a care home just down the road." Graham Brookes, 94, has lived in his nearby home for nine years - but says he has been involved in the area for decades. Advertisement He agreed that the main worry is for older people who will have to walk a long way to get around the cordon. He added: "We realised something was wrong because the water pressure was down. Then we found out what had happened and realised how lucky we were to still have water. "It is not going to be an easy job to fix. It will affect everyone coming into Godstone. "The village will be very badly impacted by this. But we will get through it. It will mainly effect older people because they will have to walk all the way around. Advertisement "The local businesses will also be hit hard as they can't get vans in. "It has already impacted the amount of people around. I went to the supermarket earlier and the car park was half empty when it is normally packed." Paul Ryan, 53, has lived in his home on the High Street for nine years. He said: "For the first 24 hours it was a major inconvenience. I was quite surprised, but this has been on the cards for a while. Advertisement "The locals have been worried for a while about the HGVs going through the village. They use this road as a bypass to the M25 and come down at 60mph." A 40-year-old local, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We were without water for a considerable amount of time. "We thought that water would be delivered to us but instead we had to go to a water station. "Our water finally came back on at about 3am this morning. Advertisement "It is a very scary situation. The sinkhole is huge so we are quite worried that we are going to be evacuated. "The sinkhole will probably get even bigger which is terrifying. It is just a very upsetting time." 8 Locals continue to be affected by the sinkholes Credit: Reuters 8 Business owners say their income has been dramatically impacted Credit: PA
