Here’s some random facts about Leeds uni that you probably don’t know

A Rock 'n' Roll past

Over the years the uni has been host to some amazing artists. The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Kaiser Chiefs, and Arctic Monkeys, have all played in the Refectory. Marina and the Diamonds, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Jimi Hendrix, and Muse have also played at other venues at the uni, and Alt-J met while studying here.

One of the Yorkshire Ripper's victims lived at Lupton

Jacqueline Hill was the last of the Yorkshire Ripper's victims. She was a student at the uni and lived in Lupton at the time of her murder. Her body was found in the Lupton grounds in November 1980.

Some unusual collections

The uni library holds many special collections, some artefacts being hundreds of years old. Some of the collections include locks of hair belonging to Mozart and Beethoven, and some of Shakespeare's and Oscar Wilde's original manuscripts.

Laidlaw was a player

It turns out that Irvine Laidlaw, who Laidlaw library was named after, was a bit of a party animal. He apparently used to hire up to five £3,000 prostitutes at once for all-night orgies and crazy bondage parties at his home in Monaco. He is also a millionaire and raced numerous sports cars including a Jaguar back in the day. More recently Laidlaw donated £1 million to help people struggling with sex addiction, so fair play to him.

The Best Tall Building in the World?

You know that weird shaped Beckett building you walk past everyday that looks kinda like a big rusty chocolate bar? That building, the Broadcast Tower, somehow won Best Tall Building in the World in 2010. In the world. Don't ask me how.

The real Eddy B

Baron Edward Boyle, the real life Eddy B was a member of the Tories, and went to Oxford uni, graduating with a third. Not the best source of inspiration when you're having a mini breakdown during your all nighters here, although you can study in the comfort of knowing you’ll probably get a better grade.

The true meaning behind the wavy statue

Famous on campus, this statue is known by a variety of names, everything ranging from the 'wavy black lines' to 'the squiggle'. Well I can reveal that the real name of this statue is 'Sign for Art', being sign language for the word 'art', and is meant to represent equality for all. So now you know.