24 | FOREVER Keele
Karin Tetlow , aged 88 , travelled to the event from Philadelphia . After graduating in 1958 , she moved to the United States where she worked as a journalist for Fortune Magazine and has lived in the country ever since .
She said : “ I came to Keele from Dorset , so that was quite an eye opener in itself because I had never been that far north before . We were taken on a trip to a coal mine and to the Potteries , and I bought some Wedgwood seconds . One of the biggest things I remember about Keele is the aura of independence . A fellow student asked if they could head into Newcastle-under-Lyme , and they couldn ’ t believe it when they were told it was up to them how they managed their time because they ’ d never had that before .”
Around 400 former students were invited to the reunion , with many of those who were unable to attend sending in messages which were displayed at the event for others to read .
Chancellor James Timpson OBE said : “ The graduates who chose to study here in the early years were truly pioneering of spirit and helped create a campus we are still very proud of today , as we strive to continue building an institution that epitomises the Keele ethos of ‘ education for all ’.
“ The reunion was a fantastic celebration of the remarkable journeys and accomplishments of our alumni and our institution .”
The ‘ pioneers ’ and their guests enjoyed a threecourse lunch and coffee with Keele ’ s Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor , and were able to look back at archive materials from their time at the University . They also received a 75th anniversary pin badge and Keele Moorland mug .