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Simon Pegg reopens Bristol Uni students union
Simon Pegg used to come to the University of Bristol students’ union in the late 80s and early 90s to see bands and drink beer out of a plastic cup for 70p a pint.
When he returned to reopen the newly renamed Richmond Building and its new theatre named after him, it was as an internationally famous film star.
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But Pegg hasn’t forgotten where it all began.
“I feel like Bristol University is the place that galvanised the decisions I’ve made and it’s somewhere that will always be very special to me. The whole higher education part of your life is a very formative time. It’s a privilege to be in that environment.
“It 100 per cent shaped my career. This is the mould I came from. It was so important not just in terms of my academic life but my personal life. I wouldn’t change a thing.
“It was an incredible thing to discover that education could be so enjoyable. It wasn’t easy, and required an incredible amount of work, but it was all worth it.”
Pegg added: “It’s ace to be back in this part of the world. I’ve obviously got a huge affection for it. Bristol itself will always be of great sentimental value to me.”
After conquering zombies, aliens and Hollywood, Pegg returned to his alma mater to reopen the Richmond Building, which has undergone a £30 million transformation over the last five years.
The refurbished building on Queen’s Road in Clifton boasts 200 new study spaces, two state-of-the-art theatres, two cafe-bars, several activity rooms, a digital media suite, dance studios, music studios and refurbished gig venue The Anson Rooms with a capacity for more than 1,000 people.
Students voted to name the new theatre The Pegg Studio Theatre in honour of the famous alumnus, whose dissertation looked at how Marxist modes of critical theory could be applied to Star Wars.
Photos by Bhagesh Sachania / University of Bristol