Events

  • 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.

    image

    image

  • Yearly Meeting at London Road on Wednesday 21 June 2017

    Our Yearly Meeting will be held at London Road, with a visit to the Museum of English Rural Life
    followed by tea and our Meeting in Room L022 G03/4. Full details and booking form will be sent
    round nearer the time.

  • The Friends at the East Reading Festival on 25 June 2017

    Come and see us or volunteer to help man our stall at the East Reading Festival. We will be
    continuing our partnership with local charity RG Spaces to show our heritage information about the
    University’s campuses, alongside activities relating to the University’s museums.

  • Big Band Big Lunch Sunday 4 June 2017

    The University Events Team would like to welcome members to the third annual Big Band Big Lunch on the historic London Road campus.

    They write: “Join the fun as we invite the local community to join members of the University over lunch, to listen to music from the University Big Band and take part in a range of family-friendly activities based around this year’s theme of Community and Creativity.

    This event will have something for everyone, with food and drink available to purchase, or feel free to bring along a picnic and enjoy the festivities!”

  • Heritage Trail Day Sunday 7 May 2017

    To celebrate the 90th anniversary of our foundation in 1927 there will be a
    Heritage Day event at Whiteknights on Sunday 7 May. Guided tours,
    displays and children’s activities. Children free £5 adults (to include tea and cake) . Everyone is welcome. Please see here for further information and booking details from the beginning of April.

  • Talk about the National Fruit Collection Wednesday 22 March 2017

    This talk will be given at Whiteknights by Professor Paul Hadley and Dr Matt Ordidge and will
    explain the work of the National Fruit Collection, one of the largest such collections in the world,
    which is based at Brogdale Farm in Kent and is co-curated by the University of Reading.

  • Head of the River Race Saturday 4 March 2017

    Members are invited by RUBC to watch the racing from the Reading Canoe Club, The Warren, Caversham. Please contact brenda@morrisfamily.co.uk

  • Cole Museum of Zoology 2 November 2016

    Visit to The Cole Museum, Animal and Microbial Sciences Building at 2.15 pm and tour at 2.30 pm followed by a talk at 3.15pm in the AMS Lecture Theatre and then tea in the Meadow Suite.

  • Tour of Naval and Royal Greenwich 8 October 2016

    The Friends Visit
    Tour of Naval and Royal Greenwich (a steadily paced
    walking tour, including rest stops). BOOKING ESSENTIAL.

  • Special view - Reading & its Rivers @ The Turbine House 8 September

    Longstanding member of the Friends, Jenny Halstead, is curating an exhibition from local artists. Private view with wine, books, museum and optional lunch.

  • Vale of Pewsey Archaeological dig open day 15 July 2016

    Vale of Pewsey Open Day

  • Yearly Meeting @ Aberleigh 29 June

    This year our annual general meeting and reception will be at Aberleigh courtesy of Sir David and Lady Bell.

    This is a good occasion to catch up with what’s going on both within The Friends’ Association and more broadly to hear from the Vice-Chancellor about developments within the University, have your say on what the Friends are doing and consider the applications made to our annual grants round.

    Oh, and there’s also a delicious tea.

    Details will be updated here and sent to all members three weeks before the meeting.

  • University Homecoming 25 June

    The University received its charter 90 years ago. Members of the Friends were invited to join alumni at the University Homecoming event. We manned a stand at this special event – showing the wide variety of grants we have made over nine decades and our Heritage Trails.

  • Visit to Lord Carrington's Gardens at Bledlow 22 June

    Lord Carrington, our President emeritus, has kindly invited us again to visit his magnificent gardens at the Manor House, Bledlow. Davina Palmer will provide tea for the party at 4.15 pm. Booking is essential.

  • East Reading Festival 19 June 2016
    East Reading Festival 19 June 2016
  • University Big Band lunch 5 June 2016

    Everyone welcome at this University event on the London Rd campus 12 noon Sunday 5 June 2016. Bring your own picnic or enjoy a tasty treat from the BBQ grill, and try some of the beers and ciders in the Real Ale Festival at Eat at London Road. If you fancy something a bit different, the University will be showcasing some of its food science research, with a special ‘Ready, Steady, Nutritional Cook’ demonstration.

  • Visit to the Ure Museum 20 April

    The Friends has supported the Ure Museum with several grants over the years. This visit is by kind invitation of Amy Smith, Professor of Classics and Curator of the Museum. The visit starts at 2.30pm in the Ure Museum, Classics Department, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, Whiteknights campus, Building 1 on the Campus Map. It will be followed by tea at 4.15pm in the Meadow Suite (behind Park House). Please click the photo of Professor Smith for more information, parking permit and campus map.

    Please email thefriends@reading.ac.uk if you would like to attend. You are welcome to bring guests ...

  • Edith Morley Lecture 8 March 2016

    Edith Morley is believed to have been the first woman professor in this country. In our 2015 grants round, the Friends supported the publication of her memoirs. This will be launched in the Great Hall at this special event: In Conversation with Karen Blackett, OBE Chairwoman of MediaCom UK. Please click Edith’s photo – taken in Reading at the turn of the last century – for further details.

  • The Friends @ East Reading Festival 11 June 2015

    Come and see us or volunteer to help man our stall at East Reading Festival. In 2015 we partnered with local charity RG Spaces to show our heritage info about the London Rd campus, alongside activities relating to the University’s Ure Museum, Ladybird book archive and Harris Garden.

  • Reading and the Great War - a commemoration held in 2014
    Reading and the Great War - a commemoration held in 2014
  • Heritage trail 2012