Events and engagement | 39
Alumni Events & Engagement
Keele Day report
Our annual alumni celebration , Keele Day , was held on Saturday 2nd July on campus and around the world .
Approximately 250 visitors travelled to Keele for the day ’ s activities , and we also had two international reunions take place , in Melbourne and Washington DC .
Guests were able to enjoy minibus tours around campus , as well as meeting fellow alumni and guests in the new Harper Keele Vet School building , Keele Observatory , and the Low Carbon Energy Generation Park . Alumni could also visit old haunts and compare them with the modern student experience , with accommodation in Barnes A and Z open for accommodation visits , as well as the Smart Innovation Hub ( IC6 ), Central Science Laboratories and the Sports Centre .
Dr Richard Stephens delivered a talk on ‘ Swearing : A cheap , readily available , calorie neutral , drug-free means of self-help ’, and Dr David Thompson , Senior Lecturer in Forensic Science , opened up our on-campus Crime Scene House and spoke to visitors about how forensic scientists approach crime scenes .
At Keele Hall , guests enjoyed viewing the Raven Mason Collection and exploring some of the University ’ s Archive . Heritage tours were also available in and around Keele Hall from our Engagement Officer , Deb Skinner , as well as selfguided walks around the University ’ s arboretum and grounds .
Many alumni also visited the Students ’ Union to see how it had altered since their time at Keele , and a special SU Elected Officers past and present reception took place for anyone who had held a post over the last 60 years . The Keele Postgraduate Association also joined in the fun with a special ‘ Through the Ages ’ reunion night in the evening .
After several years of only being able to hold a ‘ virtual ’ Keele Day , due to the pandemic restrictions , it was great to be able to welcome back so many people to campus once more , culminating in a celebratory dinner of three years of ‘ Golden Graduates ’ – 1970-72 . Thank you to everyone who took part – both near and far .
Michael Wilbur sent in this photo of him and his old housemates , outside their old accommodation block at Horwood Z16 . They were the original occupants of the block back in 1978 !