Around 30 former staff and students who were at the Isle of Wight College during the 1970s recently came together for a nostalgic ‘afternoon tea’ in the college restaurant.
The event – which was held on 31st March – was organised following the celebratory ‘centenarian’ lunch held last December with 2 former members of staff.
The reunion event was a great success, with attendees travelling from far and wide to be there, including 101-year-old Bill Smith, who was Head of Food and Fashion in the 1970s. There were many familiar faces in attendance, and it was good to see people reconnecting with old friends and colleagues after so many years.
The college’s current principal, Ros Parker OBE, gave a warm welcome to the alumni and expressed her delight at seeing so many of them return to their alma mater. She spoke about the college’s recent achievements and plans for the future, and how the alumni’s contributions had helped shape the college’s success.
One of the attendees wrote:
“A very hearty and sincere ‘thank you’ to everyone who worked to make the 1970s reunion such a wonderful event. I had a lovely time – and the food was great!”.
The reunion event was a reminder of the lifelong connections that can be made through education and the positive impact that the Isle of Wight College has had on the lives of its graduates, as well as the Island community as a whole.
The event was first proposed by the principal in order to capture the fond memories of the alumni, their achievements, and an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and colleagues. There are plans to revisit alumni from every decade, so do keep an eye on the college’s website for upcoming events in their ‘What’s On’ guide.
You can also express your interest in future events on the college’s dedicated Alumni Relations page. The next event planned will be for staff and students of the 1980s.
