Golden Graduates' Reunions

1954 Graduation Programme front Cover A Golden Graduate is someone who has celebrated or is due to celebrate their 50th Anniversary since their Graduation from the University College of North Staffordshire or Keele University.

Who are the Golden Graduates?

The Royal Charter of the University of Keele was granted in 1962 so in 2012 we launched the first Golden Graduates' Reunion to coincide with the 50th Golden Anniversary of our Charter.‌

Left: Front Cover of the first Graduation Ceremony programme 3rd July 1954 - this particular copy was donated to the Keele Oral History Project by Bill Lighton (Class of 1954)

Who are the Founding Graduates?

One hundred and fifty-seven students attended the University College of North Staffordshire in October 1950 and the first 150 graduated in 1954. Anyone who was part of that first Class is termed a Founding Graduate.

Who are the Pioneers?

The term “Pioneer” refers to the Classes of 1954- to 1961 who attended the University College of North Staffordshire. They and the Founding Graduates founded the Students' Union, the Athletic Union and the Keele Society and created the heritage and traditions that have exemplified the Keele spirit for all later generations.

What was it like to be a Pioneer?

Our local newspaper "The Sentinel" has given permission to publish a special feature published for the Golden Graduates Reunion 2012 (Reporter Kathie McInnes). It can be downloaded as a PDF (8 MB) here: Golden Graduates Article 2012

The next Golden Graduates' Reunions

Full Heraldic Crest in Colour

2014

Reunion for the Classes of 1954 to 1964 - May 17th - 18th 2014 - The third Golden Graduates' Reunion welcomes the Class of 1964 as Golden Graduates, joining all the preceding Classes of 1954 to 1963.

2015

Reunion for the Classes of 1954 to 1965 - May 16th - 17th 2015 - The fourth Golden Graduates' Reunion welcomes the Class of 1965 as Golden Graduates, joining all the preceding Classes of 1954 to 1964.

The Last Golden Graduates Reunion

Golden Graduates Reunion 2013

Reunion for the Classes of 1954 to 1963 - May 11th - 12th 2013 - The second Golden Graduates' Reunion welcomed the Class of 1963 as Golden Graduates, joining all the preceding Classes of 1954 to 1962.

Confirmed Attendance

1954 Edward Derbyshire, Roy Jervis, Bill Lighton
1955 Maryon Derbyshire (Lloyd), Bob Miles, Brian Porter, Jill Porter (Roberts), Mu Stubbs (Tucker) & Maurice Stubbs, George Witherspoon
1958 Brenda Klafkowski (Gentle) & Michal Klafkowski, Barbara Thomas (Pennell), Jack Thomas
1959 Margaret Bound (Cadman), Joan Price (Chesworth), Mary Reed (Edge) & Colin Reed, Ann Richards (Buchanan-Smith), Brian Richards
1960 Jo Arline Hansen (Taylor), Brian Vale
1961 Colin Adams, Andy Black
1962 Eve Edmonds (Rodwell), Martin Edmonds, Jim Farquhar, Jack Telling, Cliff Smalley, Sue Smalley (Fairchild)
1963 Kay Bailey (Smith), Judith Baren (Muge) & Maurice Baren, Julian Corbell (Bell), Bob Crockford & Jennifer Crockford, Sheilah Da Silva (Cresswell), Peter Davis, Susan Fraser (Patten) & Arthur Fraser, Wynne Gifford (Blackwell), John Kemp, Hilary Lainé (Fletcher) & Derek Lainé, John Mainwaring, Mary Mainwaring (Hankins), John Newby, Patrick Orme, Judy Page (Coates) & Emma Walsh & Steve Walsh, Gay Parkin (MacInnes), Pam Telling (Armstrong), Anthea West (Roast), David Wiseman & Angela Wiseman
1964 Barbara Newby (Jackson)
Staff: Audrey Newsome
Joe Turner (2011 KeeleSU President 2012-2013), Samantha Gould (2010) Keele Society Advisory Committee


The Law Golden Graduates Reunion - Images by Keele University