We were delighted to welcome over 250 members of our alumni community back to our Canterbury campus this weekend to celebrate 60 years of the University of Kent at We Are Kent, Past, Present, Future.
The six decades of Kent were well represented, with graduates from the 1960s to the 2020s all in attendance. Guests were also welcomed from near and far, with local groups and individuals joined by those who had flown in from the US, Germany, and the Netherlands. All of whom are bonded together by the shared memories and experiences that make up the years living and studying at Kent.
The atmosphere of the weekend was filled with nostalgia as alumni took the opportunity to reconnect with friends, revisit familiar places, and reflect on the University’s journey since its founding in 1965, whilst celebrating the enduring connections that continue to unite the Kent community today.
Friday Night: Homecoming and comedy on campus
At the BBQ reception on the Registry Lawn, Acting Vice-Chancellor and President, Georgina Randsley De Moura, warmly welcomed our alumni back to Kent whilst reflecting on Kent’s 60 year history:
“I cannot imagine a more joyful way to begin this special weekend than by celebrating 60 years together, right here at the heart of our campus, in the sunshine.
Sixty years ago, the University of Kent opened its doors for the very first time. Since then, generations of students, staff, and alumni have made this university their own. They have studied here, taught here, lived here, worked late into the night in the Templeman Library, crossed campus in every kind of weather, and carried something of Kent with them into the world.
This is Kent at sixty: shaped by those who came before us, full of life today, and ambitious for all that comes next.”
We rounded off the evening with the hilarious Weekend Warm-Up, showcasing brilliant sets from alumni comedians Laura Lexx and Adam Dorr, special guest Tom Ward, and outstanding hosting from Attila the Stockbroker.
Saturday: Schools and student creativity on show
From the ASPIRE student start-up marketplace, to hands-on activities in the Natural Sciences lab, and the incredible End of Year Exhibition of Arts and Architecture student work – there was so much to see on Saturday morning.
Alumni took the time to visit the schools they graduated from to meet with academics and see the work of current students, before sitting down on the Templeman Lawn to watch our student performers at Culture Fest.
As ever, we were awed by the talent on campus. A big thank you to Unleash Your Talent Collective, Marcellus Almazar, the Circus Society, Tayo Fanifosi, AFRO SYNC, Kent Gospel Choir, and the Kent DJ society, who provided the perfect entertainment for a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Saturday Night: A Celebration of 60 years and a toast to the future
On Saturday evening, the University proudly welcomed alumni, former staff including former Chairs of Council, former Vice-Chancellors, Emeritus Professors, friends, benefactors and members of its wider community to a special 60th Anniversary Gala Dinner held in the iconic Rutherford Dining Hall.
The evening marked a significant milestone in the University’s history, bringing together generations of the Kent family to celebrate six decades of academic excellence, innovation and impact.
The evening also featured a special Diamond Draw, generously sponsored by Fitzgerald Jewellers of Canterbury, adding an extra touch of excitement to the celebrations and supporting the University’s anniversary fundraising activities.
Our Chancellor, YolanDa Brown, welcomed guests and reflected on Kent’s growth over the past sixty years, acknowledging the contributions of generations of students, staff, alumni, supporters and partners, and looked to the future of our University:
“Tonight is a moment not only to celebrate all that Kent has achieved over the last sixty years, but also to look ahead.
The greatest tribute we can pay to our predecessors is not simply to preserve this University exactly as it was, but to carry forward their spirit of innovation, ambition and courage.
As we celebrate sixty years of achievement, we also stand on the threshold of an exciting new chapter: our collaboration with the University of Greenwich, which will lead to the creation of the London and Southeast University Group – the first multi-university group of its kind.
So let me say this clearly: this next chapter is not about losing who we are. It is about building on who we are.
As we move into this new era, we do so grounded in Kent’s founding principles: a belief in people, in opportunity, and in creating places where people feel as sense of BELONGING and have the confidence to explore new challenges and new horizons.”
Sunday Morning: Jazz with a true Kent legend!
The weekend closed in prefect fashion, with an iconic performance over brunch from jazz superstar and one of Kent’s first 500 students, Earl Okin.
A homecoming highlight for many, the Colyer-Fergusson Hall was transformed into a cabaret club for the morning as guests were invited to sit back and enjoy Earl’s spell bounding mix of comedy and music.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, whether for the full reunion weekend or one of the many individual events. We hope you enjoyed creating new memories with fellow alumni, staff, and students and had the opportunity to reflect on your own place in Kent’s 60 year story.
