Over 130 alumni and friends, some from Sheffield and the surrounding areas, others from around the UK and several from as far away as Malaysia, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the USA, joined in the celebrations. Most of those attending were from the classes of 1999, 1994, 1989 and 1979, marking their respective 20th, 25th, 30th and 40th anniversaries since graduating from Sheffield.
As the campus became alive and bustling for the undergraduate open day taking place on the same day, reunion guests were welcomed by the Alumni Team and escorted to the Interval Café bar in the Students’ Union (remembered by many as the former Graves building and original Students’ Union). Following initial greetings with old friends over a hot drink, guests were invited on a campus tour, led by staff from the Development, Alumni Relations and Events team and accompanied by current students. The tours covered iconic, original University buildings such as Firth Court and the Arts Tower, as well as more recent additions including the Information Commons and the Diamond. A tour of campus would not be complete without a ride on the infamous Paternoster, so alumni were invited to travel up the Arts Tower for a view of the city, before continuing with the rest of the tour.
A refreshing Pimms and lemonade and tasty buffet lunch was waiting for guests after the tours, served in the University’s restaurant, INOX Dine.
After a rest and a catch up with friends, guests were taken to the Diamond building, to hear a series of talks from inspiring academics on their current areas of research. Professor Duncan Cameron delivered a fascinating presentation on the research he has been undertaking as part of the Zataari refugee project, explaining how sustainable crops can be grown in the desert. Professor Sarah Danson gave a lecture on delivering new treatments to cancer patients, sharing the pioneering research her and her team are currently involved with, to find ways to support and treat cancer patients in the future. Finally, Professor Stephen Beck shared the story of how the Diamond came to be the University’s biggest ever investment in multidisciplinary learning and teaching, and why it is both a huge draw for prospective undergraduate students and a well-loved facility for current students and staff from across the faculties.
Alumni were then offered a tour of the Diamond, led by MEE’s own dedicated academic and technical staff. The tour included visits to the Diamond’s trophy labs such as the Aerospace Simulation lab, VR suite, and Project Space complete with 3D printers.
This concluded the day’s activities, so guests departed after the tour to get ready for the evening celebrations.
A bright and dry September evening provided the perfect backdrop for the evening drinks reception, taking place in Firth Court Quad and adjoining areas. Guests mingled with friends and old acquaintances, before heading up to Firth Hall for the Reunion Dinner, hosted by Miles Stevenson, Director of Advancement at the University. Miles welcomed alumnus Dr Wayne Garvie (1989, PhD Economic & Social History) as our special guest speaker, who delivered a wonderfully engaging and charismatic speech on his experiences of being in Sheffield as a student, and how this had helped to shape aspects of his fascinating career in television production. Wayne also shared his positive experience of supporting students through scholarships, encouraging other alumni in the room to think about ways they could give back to Sheffield in the future.
Guests enjoyed a wonderful three-course dinner, before briefly retiring downstairs for coffee and to enjoy the ‘Magic Mirror’ photo booth, courtesy of Ace Party. After a quick room turnaround, guests were invited back to Firth Hall, where they enjoyed dancing to live music from across the decades, provided by ‘Harlequin’.
For any guests wanting to continue the festivities, ‘Pop Tarts Reunited’ in the Students’ Union provided further opportunity to dance and have a few drinks with friends into the early hours, bringing to a close the reunion celebrations for another year.