A wedding reunion for Christine and Julie

Dr Julie Watson first met Christine Thompson when she was a lecturer and Christine her student at the University of Teesside. Then Christine was studying part-time towards her BSc (Hons) degree in Chemistry while working for Synetix in Billingham

Julie and Christine met up again at 1pm on Sunday 24 August, but not for a University reunion. For Julie has now been ordained as the Revd Dr Julie Watson, and performed Christine’s marriage to Nicholas Parry at St. Peter’s C of E Church in Redcar. The occasion was even more special as it was Julie’s first wedding ceremony.

Christine, 25, from Redcar, said: “I’m over the moon that Julie performed our wedding, it made it much more personal. She was a lovely, bubbly lecturer. I felt more comfortable knowing her already so we didn’t have to start with someone completely new. When Nicholas first found out that Julie was my former lecturer he wasn’t so sure, but now he thinks she’s brilliant.”

Christine has recently joined the University as a research officer for the Clean Environmental Management Centre (CLEMANCE). The centre provides clean technology advice and solutions to the environmental problems of North-East Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. When she graduated from the University last year Christine achieved a First Class degree and two academic prizes, the Teesside Science Award and the ICI Science and Engineering Award.

Julie, 43, is originally from Doncaster and now lives in Redcar. She first joined the then Teesside Polytechnic as a Research Student in 1981, and has progressed to Principal Lecturer and Programme Co-ordinator in Science. Julie was ordained as a priest in July this year.

Julie said: “It was so exciting that Christine and Nicholas were my first wedding, a way of bringing the church and work together. I didn’t realise that Christine was a former student until she turned up for the wedding interview, it was such a surprise and a nice continuation from her graduation.”

Christine and Nicholas, 27, have now flown to Spain for their honeymoon and will live in Redcar when they return.

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