50 Year Reunion at UCL

The event took place in UCL's Gower Street heart, and gave alumni the chance to catch up with each other, and to find out what had changed at UCL since they had last visited - and what was still the same.

After a drinks reception, which gave the guests a chance to mingle and seek out familiar faces, came a three-course lunch, which incorporated talks from  Professor Michael Bassey, a '58 graduate and President of the Student's Union from 1956-1957, and from UCL's Professor Ray Harris, who is Executive Dean in the UCL Faculty of Social & Historical Sciences.

In the afternoon, guests had the opportunity to follow one of four tours of UCL; around the UCL Petrie Museum, the UCL Art Collections and the UCL Wolfson Institute housed in the Cruciform building, as well as a general architecture tour of the university.

The day was rounded off by tea, which was attended by UCL President and Provost, Professor Malcolm Grant - giving guests the chance to quiz Professor Grant about the future direction of the university.

The event was much enjoyed by alumni and guests and UCL will be holding a fourth fifty year reunion next year, for graduates of 1957, 1958 and 1959. Guests who attended this year's event described the occasion as 'a memorable and happy day' (Barbara Frears, UCL Bartlett 1956), and 'a really enjoyable and brilliantly organised occasion' (Lady Jenny Lindop, UCL French 1956).  Others commented that 'it was wonderful to renew contact again after 50 years' (Margaret Edmonds, UCL Greek & Latin 1957) and 'the welcome was warm and efficient, the lunch excellent and the tours interesting. The end of the day came all too quickly' (Ann Johnson, UCL Medicine 1956).

• Link: Gallery of 50-year reunion photographs