Recent event news
The Palmer Society Launch Event
6 December 2009
The University of Reading has established a new society to recognise those who generously agree to make a gift to the University in their Will. Members of The Palmer Society were invited to a launch event on 6 December hosted by Professor Tony Downes, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. The Palmer Society takes its name from the local Palmer family, of the famous biscuit manufacturer Huntley & Palmers. The family made several significant donations and bequests in the years leading up to the University receiving its Royal Charter in 1926, and remain closely involved with the University. Mr Andrew Palmer is patron of the new society as well as a member of the Development Board, the Museum of English Rural Life Committee and Chairman of the Friends. Mr Howard Palmer QC is currently a Member of Council.
Please contact the Development Office, if you would like further information.
House of Lords Alumni Reception - Kindly hosted by ClarksLegal
27 November 2009
To view all photos from the evening, please explore the following link, the offical Alumni Facebook pages:
http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?page=1&oid=2532052609&aid=-1&auser=&view=all
350 alumni attended our annual House of Lords reception - the flagship event in the University alumni events calendar which again sold out. Everyone who attended received a private tour and enjoyed canapés and drinks overlooking the Thames whilst hearing about new developments at the University and meeting up with friends old and new.
This event is kindly hosted by the Chancellor Emeritus, The Rt Hon Lord Carrington. We look forward to hosting alumni at the next event which will be held on the 1st October 2009.
RREF and WiP Host Joint Breakfast Forum 'The Role of REITs and Their Future'
25 November 2009
Reading Real Estate Foundation co-hosted their 5th Breakfast Forum with the Association of Woman in Property. Guests were warmly welcomed to Lovells' offices in Holborn by Harry Chichester, Invista Real Estate, and Chairman of the RREF events committee, where we heard three very informative presentations on 'The Role of REITs and Their Future'. The discussion, kicked off by Joanna Embling, Cushman & Wakefield, and Chairman of Women in Property, got off to a strong start with Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the BPF (British Property Federation), opening with a reflection on the REIT story. It was fascinating to hear first-hand the rational behind the introduction of REITs and the audience appreciated her light-hearted comments on what it is really like trying to work with the Treasury.
Lucy Parken, Vice President European Equities, JP Morgan, then made some captivating points on REIT performance. With REITs having raised £6bn worth of equity and with the high levels of assets needing to be taken off bank balance sheets, guests were delighted to hear that REITs have a strong future ahead of them.
John Richards, Former CEO of Hammerson, brought the formal part of the proceedings to a conclusion by offering 'reasons to be cheerful and reasons to be cautious'. There was great interest around the room when he said that he believes, in the long term, more people will take on their own financial pension provision and it is in REITs that they will get a diversified and risk-adjusted investment.
The discussion was then opened to the floor where there were some fascinating opinions on the future of development finance.
RREF would like to once again thank Lovells for their hospitality.
8th Reading Real Estate Foundation Annual Dinner
29 October 2009
Nearly 400 Reading Real Estate alumni gathered at the Grange St.Paul's Hotel London for the 8th RREF Annual Dinner, the largest single subject alumni dinner in the UK. The evening was also host to a 30th anniversary reunion of 1979 graduates, who were only outnumbered by the 2009 graduates. As well as being an extremely enjoyable evening for all who attended and stirring fond memories of guest's time at Reading, the Annual Dinner also raised a total of nearly £16,000 for the charity which will help support educational and career initiatives and student bursaries - all much needed in the current climate.
RG20 Profile Talk
29 September 2009
The RREF RG20s (under 30s alumni) held a profile talk at SJ Berwin's offices overlooking the River Thames in the City. Matthew Weirner from Development Securities Plc spoke about the important lessons he has learnt since graduating from Reading in 1993 and how they have contributed to the success of his career. Matthew's messages were gratefully received by all alumni who attended and provided good food for thought as discussions were continued over drinks and nibbles.
20 Year Reunion for 1989 German graduates
26 September 2009
Katie King (Jeffreys) organised a reunion for her classmates that was thoroughly enjoyed by all involved. Ian Roe, John Sandford and John Wieczorek, three of their former lecturers, were able to come and catch-up with the alumni and their families. They made the most of their day together, touring the German department, campus and their former halls of residence. Later in the evening they met up in the town centre for dinner and were up laughing and chatting until the wee hours of the night.
Annual Golf Challenge
25 September 2009
The annual RREF Golf day took place at Burnham Beeches Golf Club under gloriously sunny skies. Over 30 golfers took part in the day with the vintage team winner being the 1980's graduates, whilst the team prize on the day went to Anthony Rose, Matt Richards, Marc Cowley and Sarah Munday. Individual prizes went to Anthony Rose who managed a tremendous score of 41 points, just pipping Andrew Makins to the post. The good atmosphere created by the day, together with the funds raised for RREF, made it a very worthwhile day.
Exclusive Access to Henley Business School
24 September 2009
Henley Business School opened its doors to donors who generously gave to the appeal fund set up by the Reading Real Estate Foundation and the University of Reading to create the state-of-the-art home for the Henley Business School on Whiteknights campus. Guests were given a tour of the ICMA wing and the newly completed building by Professor Ginny Gibson. After the tour guests were treated to a three course meal, followed by conversation and drinks continuing into the evening. It was a highly enjoyable occasion for all who attended
RREF Regional Alumni Reception, Bristol
10 September 2009
Bristol hosted its first alumni reception; attracting many local alumni. The evening provided an excellent networking opportunity. The informal drinks reception was kindly hosted by GVA Grimley, with a presentation from Martin Hoyle (a Reading alumnus) on key issues surrounding current Carbon Reduction Commitment.
Reunion of 1979 German, French and Linguistics graduates
11-12 July 2009
A large group of alumni met up at the University of Reading to reconnect with the people and places that fill the memories of their time here. They strolled around the campus, visited their old departments in the Faculty of Letters and Social Sciences and even managed to retake pictures with many of the same faces! In the evening they were joined at the evening meal in town by Dr Ian Roe, now Head of the German Department, who taught many of those attending. By the time they had chatted for hours on Sunday they were all back in student mode! After such an amazing time they are already planning the next reunion to be held in 2014.
20 Year Reunion for 1989 French graduates
13 June 2009
In celebration of their 20th reunion, eleven alumni and their families came to campus to reminisce and tour around campus. Gillian Pullen (née Wood) was instrumental in organizing this fun-filled day. They all met up for lunch and were joined by four retired lecturers, Jim Knowlson, Neville Waites, Jim Walling and David Lee. After lunch they were given a tour of campus followed by tea and coffee at the library. Everyone said that they had a good time, and they have resolved to have another one in the future.
Alumni events USA
May 2009
The Vice-Chancellor, along with Andy Wood and Trish O'Neill, recently visited the United States to continue with developments for the US Alumni Foundation, meet with alumni and hold events on the East and West Coast. It was an extremely successful trip and a wonderful opportunity to meet with so many of our alumni in the US. Those in San Francisco were particularly pleased to see so many fellow Reading grads in the Bay area! Thank you to all of those who we met in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. We are looking forward to working wit h you more closely over the coming weeks to ensure you have well-founded networks in order that you can meet and support the University.
University says a big thank you to donors – Annual Donor Day
18 April 2009
The University of Reading held its 3rd Annual Donor Day on Saturday 18 April, to say a big thank you to those who generously donate to the University. Over 200 guests, including alumni, corporate sponsors, students and staff, participated in a hugely successful day that celebrated those who help make the University one of the top 200 universities in the world.
Donors came from as far as Serbia and Abu Dhabi, as well as from across the UK, to enjoy a VIP Lunch and hear from guest speakers, including 3 Michelin-starred Chef Heston Blumenthal and Olympic Medallist Anna Bebington. Guests also had an opportunity to see how their contributions make a real difference to current students, by viewing an exhibition that showcased some of the important projects they helped to fund.
Since 2004, over 4,000 Reading alumni have generously made donations, from single gifts of £50 to regular monthly donations and even legacies. Over £14 million has been raised that has gone towards professorships, innovative teaching projects and given financial support for students. Exhibitors showcasing how donations have helped the University included the Students' Union, which has received funding for 10 projects including software for the student newspaper and support for sports clubs and societies.
Graduates of Reading are incredibly proud of their University. Basil Longy, who graduated with a BSc in Agriculture in 1958, said: "My wife and I consider ourselves privileged to have been given the chance to contribute to the expansion of higher education among deserving young persons who might, without our help, have been unable to have the opportunity. University life can do so much for a person's character quite apart from its role in imparting knowledge."
Diane Lambe, (BAF, English and French, 1993) commented: "I am very proud of "my" university and very much appreciated the opportunity to come back to campus. The speakers were particularly impressive and demonstrated once again the university's far-reaching impact on the outside world."
See also A thank you to donors for more details and photos.
Kuala Lumpur high tea with Vice-Chancellor Professor Gordon Marshall and Professor Patricia Leopold
15 March 2009
Over 84 alumni enjoyed the High Tea at the British High Commissioner's beautiful Residence, hosted by Mandy Johnson, Director of British Council, who spoke warmly about her time at the University. Vice-Chancellor Professor Gordon Marshall and Professor Patricia Leopold shared news with alumni about the merger with Henley Business School, outlined the partnership with Taylor's UniversityCollege, as well as the joint INCEIF & University of Reading Islamic Finance programme.
Head of the River race
25 March 2009
Reading University Boat Club (RUBC) put in a superb performance at the Head of the River Race. Both the men and ladies did the club proud, with the women finishing a fantastic 21st out of 300 crews, improving on last year's great effort by 25 places. Meanwhile the men's first eight moved up 17 places from the 2008 race, finishing an incredible eighth out of 420 crews, the best ever result for RUBC at the Head.
Construction Management and Engineering alumni networking reception
Sponsored by EC Harris - A special thanks to Rob Cox and Helen Sykes
25 February 2009
With the need to respond to global warming, the growth of population and the emergence of mega-cities, Profesor Derek Clements-Croome's keynote talk addressed the 'Challenges and Opportunities for Intelligent Buildings in the 21st Century.' Ashley Davis, an alumnus and IT Division Managing Director, JP Morgan Chase, provided an argument for 'Intelligent Buildings – The Negative Impact Of Technology….!' Many alumni appreciated the opportunity to network and catch up with friends at this thought provoking and popular event, especially during the current economic climate.
Successful launch of Media and Arts network
1 December 2008
Nicola Larder, Drama Producer, Tiger Aspect Productions and Richard Sambrook, Director, BBC Global News provided insightful keynote talks at the successful launch of the Arts and Media network on 1st December 2008. The evening was chaired by Professor Jonathan Bignell, Head of Arts, English and Communication Design and brought together students and alumni for lively discussions and networking. If you missed the event on 1st December, don't worry. Send us an email to alumni@reading.ac.uk with "Interested - Arts and Media" in the subject line. If we receive enough emails, we will organise another one!
House of Lords
November 2008
350 alumni and Friends attended the annual House of Lords reception in November, kindly sponsored by Clarks Legal and hosted by the Chancellor Emeritus The Rt Hon. The Lord Carrington. Guests had the opportunity to tour the House of Lords before or after the reception and the Vice Chancellor along with other senior members of the University were on hand to update alumni on the University today and future exciting developments.
Wantage 100 year anniversary dinner
13th September 2008 
Over 160 Wantagians, from Reading to New Zealand, aged from 22–85 enjoyed the 100 Year Anniversary Dinner on a perfect September Day. The celebrations had all the ingredients including hot air balloons, a large anniversary cake, drinks in the quad, a traditional meal in the magical dining room and even a letter from the Queen! Ed Lyons and the Wantage Society should be proud of their organisational skills as the day ran smoothly and ended as it began: with friends laughing together, catching up and insisting that the Sheep Night from 1958/1967/2003 was the best ever!
Shanghai alumni reception
16 June 2008
The Vice-Chancellor hosted the first Shanghai-Reading alumni reception with over 40 alumni, as well as current and prospective students attending the dinner. In attendance from Reading were Professor Gordon Marshall, Professor Andy Goodwin (Institute of Education), Dr Daguo Li (National Centre for Language and Literacy) and Ms Heather McKeever (International Office). Professor Marshall updated guests with the latest news from Reading. He also emphasised in his address that co-operation between the University of Reading and its Chinese partners was a major element of Reading's international strategy and that he was proud of our alumni's high achievements since their period of study at Reading.
New York alumni events
7 and 8 March 2008
The University's inaugural alumni events in North America were a great success with 70 guests attending the 3 events held in New York. An informal drinks event was held at Stitch Bar on the Friday evening, setting the tone for the weekend with alumni from a wide range of backgrounds and graduating years in attendance. On Saturday the Vice Chancellor hosted a lunch at the Cornell Club at which he updated our guests on the latest news from Reading. The events were rounded off with a drinks reception that evening, where the makings of a North American Alumni Board were put in place. We look forward to many more events in the future!
Construction Management professional network - generously sponsored by Davis Langdon.
21 February 2008
Tickets sold out fast for the launch of our professional network for those working in construction management with over 65 alumni attending. Guest speaker, Dr David Shipworth, provided an engaging discussion on Sustainable Construction: Opportunities and Challenges for the 21st Century. Dr Shipworth was inundated by questions from the floor when addressing the current political and economic influences on the global sustainability debate. The talk was followed by a drinks reception where alumni had the chance to catch up with each other.
Brunei alumni reunion
6 February 2008
A group of alumni enjoyed a meal with International Relations Assistant, Siobhan Marshall, surrounded by the beautiful South China Sea in February of this year. Many of the alumni now work alongside each other at Universiti Brunei Darassalam. Haji Ibrahim Haji Abd Rahman is currently Deputy Dean of Science, so conversation was lively and diverse. Dr Habibah Sion and Haji Asmadi Haji Mohd Said, English Lecturer at UBD entertained everyone with their reminisces about Reading (late-night trips to Tesco included!) while Senior Lecturer in Biology at UBD, Dr Hjh Junaidah Binti Hj Abu Bakar impressed everyone by sharing the skills needed to study for your PhD while raising 3 young children.
Thailand alumni grand reunion
2 February 2008
The chance to try traditional British food, listen to British music and bid for prizes in an auction were just some of the reasons 10 Reading alumni attended the largest reunion of UK students in Thailand. As guests of the university, alumni met Head of Management Dr Simon Booth and International Relations Assistant, Siobhan Marshall. As well as catching up with old acquaintances and friends, guests raised over £750 for the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health.
Toronto alumni drinks with Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Carl Stychin
21 January 2008
The alumni drinks in Toronto was the perfect excuse for our Canadian alumni to get together. In addition, the evening was hosted by one of the University's most senior members, Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Carl Stychin, so alumni could find out about Reading's progress and its future plans from someone in the know. Professor Stychin commented that he was joined by a lively bunch of alumni: a combination of ICMA graduates, PhD and 1950s alumni.
Malaysia Law alumni get together
17 January 2008
On a recent trip to Taylor's University College, Malaysia, Dr. Martha-Marie Kleinhans and Professor Rosemary Auchmuty hosted a reception for University of Reading Alumni. It was a fantastic opportunity for staff and students to catch up on events since graduation. A number of the former University of Reading students are now successfully studying for their professional qualifications and hope to enter practise in 2008. Dr Martha-Marie Kleinhans will be visiting Taylor's University College in October 2008 and is looking forward to continuing this productive relationship."
