Alumni guests graduated as early as 1955, with others as recent as 2021. A range of activities were hosted throughout the weekend for guests to tailor their reunion experience.
To begin, on Friday night around 40 alumni headed to Loughborough Students’ Union for FND – a night out in the Union that provided a chance to relive student days with some cheesy tunes and a beverage or two…
Saturday was a jam-packed day of activities. Starting out at Edward Herbert Building (EHB) at lunchtime, alumni enjoyed street food and special performances from student jazz band Tuxedo Swing. EHB’s history was a wonderful talking point. Now a space for food, working, socialising and lectures, the EHB many alumni knew is not how it is today! Formerly home to the Students’ Union and host to many concerts and dances, the buildings’ use has changed a lot over the years.
Everyone had the chance to meet, network, and even play games in the sunshine, with the iconic cedar tree as a picturesque backdrop. They were joined by Alumni President Oliver Sidwell who welcomed everyone to the day and reminisced on his own Loughborough experiences.
We haven’t been able to do this for a while and it’s been a really difficult time. It’s great to see everyone on campus.
Meanwhile, many alumni and friends attended the Donors and Scholars annual luncheon at West Park Teaching Hub. The event is an opportunity for scholarship donors to meet their student recipients and to hear about their Loughborough experiences. This year was an extra special occasion, celebrating 10 years since the Opportunity Scholarship programme began. The Vice-Chancellor was also in attendance and thanked our donors for their generous support.
During the afternoon many alumni headed out on tours led by student ambassadors. A great chance to take a walk around the acres of campus grounds, alumni enjoyed seeing their former lecture buildings and halls whilst hearing from current students. Some guests were seeing campus after several years – or even decades – and shared how much has changed in the use of space since their last visit.
Some alumni took the chance to watch student sport for the afternoon. The IMS All Stars event took place across campus, with halls competing against AU teams in sports including netball, hockey, and football.
In the evening, more than 60 people gathered at the University’s on-campus hotel, Burleigh Court, for a formal meal. Joined by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Jennings, alumni enjoyed a three-course meal as well as a DJ and disco! Guests heard from the Vice-Chancellor as he shared an insight into his first few months at Loughborough and some key things to look out for in the future from the University. He spoke of meeting with alumni from the former University Colleges and well as more recent graduates, and he also shared insights into the new University strategy, Creating Better Futures. Together.
On Sunday, the Loughborough International Athletics meet took place at the Paula Radcliffe Stadium. Over 40 alumni attended the athletics, and meanwhile the IMS All Stars continued around campus. The weekend was filled with opportunities to watch some great sporting events and alumni enjoyed the chance to see high-profile athletics as well as team sports.
The weekend was the perfect opportunity to welcome alumni back to campus to reminisce, network, and to catch up with the University.
Thank you to everyone who attended.
If you would like to attend future events, keep your contact details up-to-date to stay in touch.