Golden Jubilee Reunion 2010
Fifty years on.....
The Golden Jubilee for the classes of 1954-1964 took place on Saturday 13th March 2010. Kerry Bryson, Head of Alumni Relations welcomed graduates back to campus during Brunch in the Great Hall.
A Tour of the old and new
A campus tour led by University staff brought the audience to visit the Old Students' Union, now the School of Music, and then to view the stunning new Library. One graduate commented “I especially enjoyed the visit to the new Library. I came particularly to see this and was vastly impressed and delighted that £45 million has been spent for our grandchildren’s benefit.”
“Singing in the Rain”
Walking down memory lane became an all-singing, all-dancing spectacle when one of the most popular films of the last 100 years, Singing in the Rain was screened in the QFT.
After the film and campus tour, guests enjoyed some student led musical and drama entertainment in the Brian Friel Theatre. Spectacular arias by Spark Opera followed by dramatic performances of Beckett’s shorts had the audience truly enthralled by the quality of their surroundings and the professional performances of current students.
Guests were next invited back to the Canada Room and Council Chamber to relax and unwind with an indulgent Afternoon Tea. The room was filled with chatter whilst old friendships were renewed and new acquaintances were formed.
The Literific Debate
Arguably the highlight of the day, the motion of the debate was “This house believes that things just ain’t as good as it used to be.” Expertly chaired by Brian Garrett the motion proved to be an ideal opportunity for nostalgia for both the speakers and the offerings from the floor.
The motion was proposed by Reverend George Cassidy,a Politics graduate of 1964 and Bishop of Southwell and Nottinghamwho spent most of her career in Scotland as an Educational Psychologist and is Past President of the British Psychological Society. She was Assistant Secretary of the Literific and represented Queens at debates held in UCD and Trinity College Dublin. He was joined by Margaret McAllister (nee Ogle) BA 1960
The topical motion was expertly opposed by media moguls Don Anderson, first programme controller of Downtown Radio and then Head of Radio at BBC Northern Ireland and Denis Tuohy, broadcaster and actor who, as a television reporter has worked for Panorama, Tonight, This Week, ITV News and many documentaries, including two recent series for UTV. In 1959 he won the Literific debate medal and reached the London final of the Observer Student Debating Tournament
A vote was held before the debate with the floor strongly in favour of the motion and, following several entertaining additions from the floor from Danny McCaughan, James Cameron and many others, each team provided a summation and another vote was held with a vote of 30 in favour and 37 against. Is it possible things are better than they used to be?!
All good things must come to an end....
The event finished with a Reunion supper held in the Canada Room where guests relaxed to the sound of some jazz music. Norma Sinte, Director of Development, thanked all who had attended and paid tribute to the 6 graduates who supported the event as signatories; Professor Adrian Long , Tony Hopkins , Lady Moira Hopkins, Kenneth Cheevers, Cecil Pedlow and Professor Ken Bell.
By the end of the day everyone there agreed some new golden memories of Queen’s University had been created! As one graduate commented “Thank you so much for a wonderful day! It was a joy to be back at Queen’s!”
View some photos of the event below!
