Events

  • 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
  • Waterhouse & Palmer Heritage Trail 11 October 2009
  • Heritage trail 21 October 2007
  • East Reading Festival 25 une 2023

    The East Reading Festival, a community-focused festival, will take place in Palmer Park from 12 noon to 6 pm on Sunday 25 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.