Events

  • AGM 10 July 2019

    The Annual General Meeting will start with a talk by Professor Shirley Reynolds and Dr Faith Orchard of the Charlie Waller Institute about the Institute and its work relating to mental health in young people. It will be held in Room G09, Allen Building, at 2.30 pm, with tea in the Meadow Suite from 4.00 pm followed by the Annual General Meeting at 5.00 pm.
    Full details and a booking form will be sent round nearer the time.

  • East Reading Festival  23 June 2019

    Once again we had a stall at this popular local event in Palmer Park, showing photos from the University Special Collections on the development of the London Road campus.

  • Whiteknights trail

    Following the success of our 2017 Heritage Day, the
    Friends have developed a series of guided tours of the
    Whiteknights and London Road campuses. The first of
    these was organised for the Berkshire Family History Society,

  • Big Band Lunch Saturday 1 June 2019

    This year we had two stalls. One showing the history of the campus and the other in conjunction with the Ure Museum, Classics dept and a local charity with hands on activities of animal-related museum objects together with 3D prints of Palmyra which The Friends had funded.

  • Battleaxes and Benchwarmers 13 March

    Dr Jaqui Turner of the History Department, who recently advised the Suffrage exhibition in Parliament, will speak on early female MPs alongside a recreation of her Nancy Astor exhibit informed by the University’s extensive Astor archive. Venue Palmer Building. Please book for the accompanying tea which starts at 3pm.

  • Head of the River Race 9 March 2019

    watch the afternoon Head of the River Races on Saturday
    9 March from the Canoe Club, The Warren, Caversham, Reading RG4 7TF, and to take tea
    there afterwards (parking along The Warren).
    Could those wishing to come please let Brenda Morris know by Friday 1 March (Brenda@morrisandfamily.co.uk)? Members are asked to arrive at the Club about 2 pm with the first
    race starting at 2.30 pm.

  • Public lecture 21 November 2018

    Human rights, global wrongs: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70

    Professor Rosa Freedman. Please book to attend at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/publiclectures/

  • Fallen soldiers and their families 31 October 2018

    A talk by Richard van Emden.

  • Visit to Bermondsey and Rotherhithe 20 October 2018
    Visit to Bermondsey and Rotherhithe 20 October 2018
  • The Acacias and Britain's first female professor 8/9 & 15/16 September

    The Friends are liaising with the Senior Common Room, The University Women’s Club, Two Rivers Press and local charity RG Spaces to open up the Acacias and tell the story of Professor Edith Morley and the London Rd campus in her day. The event will run 8/9 and 16/16 September 12noon-6pm. It forms part of the national Heritage Open Days and Vote100 Reading. Members of the Friends are invited to volunteer to man the exhibition. Please contact thefriends@reading.ac.uk

  • Visit to Silchester 18 July 2018

    The visit will start at 2.30. Further details and a booing form will be sent to members in May.

  • Family Fun Day 23 June 2018

    Alumni and Supporters of the University are invited to this family fun day. Click the title for further particular and booking details.

  • East Reading Festival 17 June 2018

    Once again The Friends will be taking part in this annual event on Palmer Park. Details nearer the time.

  • AGM and visit to Art department

    Details of the AGM and visit are sent to members during May.

  • Architecture School end of year exhibition June 2018

    Information nearer the event.

  • Big Band Lunch Sunday 3 June 2018

    A Friends’ grant is supporting this lively and friendly occasion. Bring a picnic to the London Road campus or buy your refreshments on the day. A range of activities based on the theme of ‘Everyone’s environment’, music from the Big Band and a heritage trail from The Friends.

  • Launch of sculptures installation in Classics/Ure Museum 17 April

    Members of The Friends are cordially invited to the launch of this installation of sculptures. Please click the title to see details.

  • Whiteknights heritage trail talk & exhibition 12 April 2018

    Members Dr John Grainger and Ian Burn will give a talk on the heritage trails created for The Friends’ 90th anniversary celebrations in 2017. There will be an accompanying exhibition and tea. Full details and booking form have been sent to members.

  • University Orchestra Concert 10 March 2018
    University Orchestra Concert 10 March 2018
  • Reading 2050 talks

    The Reading 2050 project is holding open lectures to which members of the Friends are very welcome.

  • Head of the river race Feb/March 2018

    THE RUBC HAS HAD TO CANCEL THIS EVENT DUE TO WEATHER & RIVER CONDITIONS

  • University Choirs at Christchurch 7 December 2017

    University choirs (Campus Voices, Academic Voices, and Chamber Choir, plus the Institute of Education’s Universal Voices children’s choir) will be performing in an advent concert on Thursday 7 December, at Christ Church (Christchurch Road, Reading, RG2 7AJ). The concert is free, but there will be a retiring collection for Nordoff Robbins, a music therapy charity. All welcome.

  • University Carol Service 4 December 2017

    Friends are most welcome to the University Carol Service which is taking place on Monday 4 December at 6pm in the Great Hall featuring the Chamber Choir and readings from University members.

  • Big Band 25 November 2017

    The Big Band have their annual Swing Ball taking place on Saturday 25 November. This promises to be a great evening, with fantastic entertainment from the University Big Band and Reading Boys School Big Band, plus a swing dance taster session and performances from the University Swing Dance Society. This event has sold out in the past, so you are advised to book tickets in advance as soon as possible.
    https://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/music/Events/SwingBall.aspx

  • Visit to new School of Architecture 1 November 2017

    Professor Farrelly Head of the University’s new School of Architecture has invited us to visit. Further details will be available in August.

  • Visit to Deptford & Woolwich 7 October2017

    A guided tour of the area. Further details available in August.

  • All of a Twist at the Turbine House 6 Sept 2017

    Inspired by Reading’s Victorian Turbine, All of a Twist is an exhibition of the science and technology of twisty-turny stuff under, on, above and beside Reading’s rivers. Thermals, tornados, whirlpools, watermills, willow, spirogyra, towrope, wool, DNA and turbines have all affected Reading, its river dwellers, monks, red kites and now us one way or another.

    Advised by Reading-based scientists, most from the University, local charity RG Spaces is mounting this exhibition at the Turbine House on the River Kennet courtesy Reading Museum.
    A special viewing for members of Friends of the University & their guests will be held on ...

  • Visit to new Silchester dig 26 August 2017

    Professor Mike Fulford has invited us to the site of the new temple dig at Silchester. Further details will be available at the beginning of August.

  • Community Treasures at the MERL Saturday 8 July 2017

    The Friends will be represented at this event showing a collection of historic University photos. The Shepherds Hut which The Friends helped fund is being unveiled decorated by the Mewes Knitters alongside many other community activities.

    Everyone is invited to bring along a picnic, and any family teasures you would like evaluated. See Community Treasures

    This is an excellent opportunity to get up to date with the changes the Friends are helping make in the Museum garden.

  • College of Benefactors

    The Friends was honoured to be inducted into the University’s College of Benefactors at the degree ceremony in the Great Hall on 6 July 2017. Dr Chris Gayford received the honour from the Chancellor followed by a presentation from the Vice-Chancellor, Sir David Bell in the Acacias.

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