Category Archives: formembers
Map for Ure Museum visit 20 April 2016
Chairman’s letter to the Friends February 2016
Dear Members,
Over the past few months we have been in discussion with the Campaigns and Supporter Engagement Office (CSEO) to agree on the way ahead for us at a time when the University is reshaping its management structures so as to make best use of its resources.
As a result, we as an Association have largely taken over our own administration, while still making use of the University as our base and as provider of practical assistance in matters of managing our finances and of printing and circulation of papers.
We now manage our own membership database, which we think will actually make communication easier in the future. We have also re-designed our website and hope that this will assist us in making it more timely and informative.
Importantly, members of your Executive Committee have stepped forward to take over those functions needed to run the Association, the new officers being:
- Peter Must: Hon. Secretary, looking after the Executive Committee and the Yearly Meeting;
- Brenda Morris: Membership Secretary, dealing with subscriptions and arrangements for events;
- Annette Haworth: Grants Officer, inviting applications for grants and presenting them to the Executive Committee to select cases for recommendation to the Yearly Meeting. She is also our IT mastermind.
This is still a learning curve for all of us and I know you will bear with us if further challenges arise. Indeed, the new arrangements envisage others joining in to help: we will be most grateful for any further assistance offered. Meanwhile, I trust you will accept that our measures have been necessary to keep the Friends’ Association alive and well, with a solid platform for future growth and activity. As evidence of this I have pleasure in enclosing our programme for 2016. We hope to see as many of you as possible at these events, starting with the visit to Classics on 20 April, and including some really special treats – notably the Vice-Chancellor’s invitation for 29 June.
Andrew Palmer (Chairman)
Grants
THE 2025 GRANT ROUND OPENED ON 26 FEBRUARY AND CLOSED ON 2 APRIL.
The next round is scheduled to open in February 2026. The calling notice for 2025 is left here as a guide to our normal process.
Do you have a project which would benefit from a Friends of the University grant?
If so please send a short email describing your project and the amount requested to: thefriends@reading.ac.uk as soon as possible and in any case by 2nd April 2025.
We are particularly interested in helping to fund projects which will enhance University-community relations and/or help student or staff extra-curricular activities.
We will be in touch shortly after receiving your email to let you know if your project is eligible and whether we need further information. The final decisions will be made towards the end of April and applicants will be informed immediately of the outcome.
If you would like further information see below where there is a list of our previous grants. However, please note that while we traditionally mainly funded physical “things”, we will consider funding towards other projects, online work, events etc.
Note that we give grants only to organisations, not to individuals. Students are welcome to apply but should ensure that a member of UoR staff agrees with the application and can provide information on the University account that the grant is to to paid into. An alternative route would be through another associated organisation such as RSU.
Below is information on our normal grants procedure.
Each year we give out around half a dozen grants normally ranging from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand pounds, responding to applications for projects which would not normally be funded from University academic resources. In this way we enrich students’ experiences, provide additional social and cultural amenities, enhance the University’s landscape and support its outreach into the community.
Students across University life benefit from contributions. Examples range from materials for an Art/Archaeology outreach project to help towards purchase of an engine for the Scuba Diving Club.
Donations to departments have ranged from models of fossilised creatures to paintings. The ceremonial furniture seen in the Great Hall at London Road at Graduation ceremonies was among our earliest grants; we have since since contributed to the refurbishment of its organ.
Our funding has enhanced University landmarks, including The Friends’ Bridge over Whiteknights Lake, wildflower meadow planting, and the cloisters that characterise London Road campus. The fine stained-glass window at the Museum of English Rural Life and music stands for concerts by Music at Reading are other examples.
The Friends are particularly interested in projects which support the University’s outreach into the wider community. Past examples of such grants include a 3D model of a DNA molecule which can be used both for University teaching and in schools, support of community events such as May’s Community Festival and completion of an African Drum circle to enable workshops to be held outside the normal curriculum with local schools and at community events.
Events
The Friends have devised walking trails around the University campuses. These may be available to local groups. Please contact thefriends (usual at sign) reading.ac.uk for further information.
Our Whiteknights Heritage Leaflets are available at: http://thefriends.org.uk/heritage-leaflets/
An informal series of get-togethers 3pm-430pm first Sunday of each month to find out how one of the Friends’ grants worked out. Non-members welcome to come along and find out something about the Friends. No need to book but to stay in touch please email: thefriends usual at sign reading.ac.uk
Note: occasionally we may coincide with another event and alter the date/time – please check on the website. We have a break July & August, returning first Sunday in September. If you have a particular grant whose fate you would like to pursue do let us know via thefriends usual at ...
This grant and tea has been postponed so we can run it during term time. Details later in the year
Meet in Acacias, London Rd Campus (North side) at 3pm to find out about (and experiment with) the grant we gave in 2007 for glockenspiels. Please brig £1 cash for a cup of tea/coffee. No need to book but you may like to tell us you intend to come by emailing thefriends at reading.ac.uk so we can contact you if there is an unexpected change.
Talk by Tom Whipple on electromagnetic warfare in WW2:
Wednesday 12 November 2025 at 4.00 pm in the Meadow Suite,
WhiteknightsTom Whipple is author of “Battle of the Beams: the secret science of radar that turned the tide of the second world war” and science editor at The Times. He has been covering science for the paper since 2012. He writes news, features, reviews and commentary across the paper, as well as appearing regularly on Times Radio. Tom joined The Times shortly after graduating with a degree in mathematics. During the course of his job he has visited the tunnels ...
The Annual General Meeting will be preceded by a visit at 3.00 pm to the School of Art in its new home next to Pepper Lane. Tea at 4.00 pm will be followed by the association’s Annual General Meeting at 5.00 pm. Details will be sent out nearer the day.
The Friends’ Heritage Open Days team is planning the venues and details for the events to be held in September 2025. The University has agreed that the team can hold them on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September. Locations, details of the events and booking arrangements have yet to be agreed and will be included in a later issue of the Events List.
Details to follow.
Visit to Kelmscott Manor and Society of Antiquaries, Wednesday 16 July
2025A coach trip to Kelmscott Manor, on the river Thames at Lechlade in Gloucestershire, which was the retreat of William Morris and is now owned by the Society of Antiquaries. It contains an outstanding collection of his possessions and works of Morris, as well as of his family and associates. This includes furniture, original textiles, pictures and paintings, carpets, ceramics and metalwork. The estate also boasts a beautiful garden with easy access to the Thames Pathway, as well as a licensed tearoom and shop. Booking details will be sent ...
The Whiteknights Studio Trail, co-founded 25 years ago by our fellow member Jenny Halstead, will be open from 11am to 6pm on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June in June this year. Venues will include the University’s Museum of English Rural Life.
The Studio Trail map will be issued in due course or can be obtained in May
at studiotrail.co.uk
In 1969 we gave a grant to Dr Margaret Fuller, warden of Bridges Hall, to help restore the walled garden. After a couple of transmogrifications, the garden is now run by RUSU with the help of University staff. Come along at 3pm to visit this intriguing space – bring picnic tea. Entrance off Whiteknights Rd, Bridges Hall. Parking just to the right of the entrance. Gate to the walled garden – go around the wall anti-clockwise from the carpark. No need to book but you may like to let thefriends@reading.ac.uk know you intend to be there so we can update ...
This Festival, hosted by the University and the Students’ Union, will take place between 12noon to 17.00. The Festival is designed to give the people of Reading a free, local day out and to bring some vibrancy to the heart of Whiteknights Campus. The day will be action-packed with live performances, workshops, competitions and much more. The Friends of the University will provide a stall at the event. No booking required. More info.
Meet Dr Glyn Barrett, Lecturer in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, to whom we gave a grant for the replanting of the ‘historic’ area by the wall next to Park House. This is used to grow herbs while the other side (another’s project) has been seeded with a medley of wildflowers. No need to book. Non-members welcome. Tea afterwards in Park House.
Tea 3pm; Talk 4pm by Dr Margaret Simmons who will outline the progress of the demand for women’s suffrage in Reading from 1866, when a national petition was signed by just one supporter in the town. Please use the form that was enclosed with information already sent to members to say if you will be coming to the talk, and whether you would like tea.
We have been contacted about a bench between Blandford Lodge and the Miller Building which is in a very poor state, having been lifted by tree roots.
Meet outside the Library at 3pm for a short stroll to the bench (or meet us at the bench if you can find it!). Together with representatives of the Women’s Club, we’ll discuss what options there may be for the bench, which the Estates Department understandably will need to remove in the near future. Afterwards we’ll repair to Park House where tea (or something stronger) can be purchased in the Bar. The bench was ...
Visit to Typography Department to learn about some of their ephemera collection on the subject of Entertainment. Numbers limited so booking essential. Contact Peter Must at mustpeter (at sign) yahoo.co.uk.: tel 0118 9781671. Please say if you need a parking permit
The first of two trips with FIne Art alumnus Martin Kaufman along the Arcadian Thames. Numbers limited and booking essential. Please contact Brenda Morris by email or telephone at.: Brenda@morrisandfamily.co.uk tel. 01635 869594 before 27 February.
2-4pm Reading Canoe Club, The Warren, Reading RG4 7TH which has fantastic views of the final stages of the Head of the River. Join students for tea while watching the racing and find out about our latest grant to the Boat Club.
In 2023 we gave a grant to Ramanjeep Nijjar, a first year Zoology student, who was working to re-form the RUSU Hedgehog Society. The Society has blossomed and in December 2024 Ramanjeep became BBC Countryfile’s Young Countryside Champion.. Meet current members of the Society at 3pm in the SCR, first floor, Park House, Whiteknights.
Explore one of our 1927 grants – a Greek pot for Dr Annie Ure – and meet staff who have been exploring the use of AI. Followed by tea upstairs in the SCR, Park House. Dr Ed Ross used an AI system run by Suno Inc to produce a couple of songs about our grants. Click to hear one of them
Join us at 3pm in the MERL shop for the International Museum Shop Sunday. We’ll look at Edith Morley’s memoire – one of the books we’ve helped with a grant and you’ll have excellent opportunity for Christmas Shopping.
Investigating ceramic pots at the South entrance to London Rd campus followed by tea in the Dairy cafe.
Meet at 3pm by the entrance next to the cafe under the red ‘sails’.
Professor Anne Curry was in the History Department before moving to Southampton. She was appointed Arundel Herald Extraordinary in 2022 – the first woman to be appointed as a herald in England. Her talk will cover the origins, development and activities of the heralds of the College of Arms.
The programme will be issued to members in advance.
The Friendship Gate was installed at the behest of the Chancellor, Lord Carrington, to mark the Japanese/Anglo friendship with Gyosei College.
Meet under the clocktower on London Rd campus at 3pm. Followed by tea in the SCR, Acacias. £1 cash
Foxhill House on the Whiteknights Campus will be open for tours at 11am and 12.15
Booking is essential. Please see https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/tour-of-foxhill-house-at-the-whiteknights-campus.html
Tours at 11am and 12.15 of the University of Reading’s Great Hall on the London Road campus, RG1 5AQ
Booking is essential.
For details please see: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/tour-of-the-university-of-reading-s-great-hall-on-the-london-road-campus.html
3pm meet by the bridge (it’s the one you get to on Whiteknights going down with Chemistry on your right and Park House on your left). We’ll be joined by our in-house heritage experts John Grainger, Dennis Wood and Ian Burn and afterwards repair to the SCR or Park House bar for tea (cake provided in the SCR – tea £1/cup please bring change).
A guided tour of the material held by the Society of Antiquaries, arranged by our chairman, Professor Mike Fulford, and led by the Director of Development, Dominic Wallis, combined with a visit to the adjacent Geological Society arranged by Professor Peter Worsley, member of The Friends.
The East Reading Festival, a community-focused festival, will take place in Palmer Park from 12 noon to 6 pm on Sunday 23 June.
With a music stage, a spoken-word/poetry stage, a funfair, food from around the world and a wide variety of community, charity and commercial stalls, there is something for everyone at East Reading Festival. The Friends of the University will have a stand so do come along to see us and all the other events.
The Whiteknights Studio Trail will be open from 11am to 6pm on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 of June this year. Venues will include the University’s Museum of English Rural Life. The Studio Trail map will be issued in due course or can be obtained in May at
https://studiotrail.co.uk