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Celebrating 75 years of Silwood Park: alumni share their stories

2022 marks the 75th anniversary of Silwood Park. Boasting around 100 hectares of natural parkland, Silwood Park has been a part of Imperial since 1947. Over the years, it has developed a world-wide reputation as a centre for excellence in pure and applied ecology, bringing together researchers from across the world.

We are excited to share the stories of Silwood alumni on this page. If you'd like to share your story with us, please drop us a line at alumni@imperial.ac.uk.

Snippets of Silwood

Silwood alumnus Ryan Rothman

Ryan Rothman

"I was a resident of William Penney Hall. Silwood Park is not only an incredible place for training and research, but also in forming tight-knit friendships along the way!" 

50 years Silwood Park mug

Hefin Jones

"I spent some of the best years of my career at Silwood (1982-1985 and 1988-2000) and have very fond memories of the place. I was also very much involved in organising the fiftieth anniversary celebrations - and still have the mug!"

Silwood Park alumnus Bryan Kilgallin

Bryan Kilgallin

"I did MSc Petroleum Geology from 1976-77. We had an excursion to Silwood Park for geophysical fieldwork. I recall doing gravity, magnetic and refraction-seismic surveying. So we found a buried pipeline. And I particularly remember the gravity drift from beginning to end, due to lunar orbit." 

Snippets of Silwood part 2

Ladies Day at Royal Ascot

Guy Rigby

"I remember getting the Green Line coach out of London to the Wheatsheaf for the summer week surveying field course. The Tuesday was Ladies Day at Ascot so a group of us went along to see if the hats really were that big - and they were! I also have very fond memories of the 1977 Silwood Ball."

Professor Anne Dell

Professor Anne Dell

"I joined the Biochemistry Department (which merged with Biology in 2001 which is why we are now Life Sciences) as a postdoc in 1975 and the Head at that time, Professor Brian Hartley, organised our annual awaydays at Silwood. I have many happy memories of that time, with BBQs, croquet and dinner in the Manor House." 

Silwood Park alumnus Guy Poppy

Guy Poppy

"I was at Imperial from 1984-1987 and spent quite a bit of time at Silwood over those years. I stayed in touch with many at Silwood during my subsequent career which has involved being a CSA in the Government and now the Deputy Exec Chair of BBSRC alongside my personal research which was started at Silwood where I published my first paper from work done at Ashurst Lodge!"

Diving deeper

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Students socialising in Silwood Park in 1981

Stephanie Miall: "My husband Chris and I are both alumni. We even got married in the local church - St Michael's Church in Sunninghill - and held our wedding reception at Silwood on 5 September 1981!"

Students socialising in Silwood Park in 1981

Stephanie Miall: "My husband Chris and I are both alumni. We even got married in the local church - St Michael's Church in Sunninghill - and held our wedding reception at Silwood on 5 September 1981!"

Stephanie and Chris Miall getting married at Silwood in 1981

Stephanie Miall: "My husband Chris and I are both alumni. We even got married in the local church - St Michael's Church in Sunninghill - and held our wedding reception at Silwood on 5 September 1981!"

Students socialising in Silwood Park in 1981

Stephanie Miall: "My husband Chris and I are both alumni. We even got married in the local church - St Michael's Church in Sunninghill - and held our wedding reception at Silwood on 5 September 1981!"

Birds, Beasts and Bugs Day 2022

Silwood Park's Birds, Bugs and Beasts Day is a nature activity day is aimed at families, children and anyone with an enthusiasm for nature and wildlife.‌

Birds and Bugs Day 2022

Silwood Park's Birds, Bugs and Beasts Day is a nature activity day is aimed at families, children and anyone with an enthusiasm for nature and wildlife.‌

Birds, Beasts and Bugs Day 2022

Silwood Park's Birds, Bugs and Beasts Day is a nature activity day is aimed at families, children and anyone with an enthusiasm for nature and wildlife.‌

MSc Applied Entomology & Nematology class of 1979

MSc Applied Entomology & Nematology class of 1979 (photo kindly provided by Stephanie Miall)

The Silwood Ladies Cricket team in 1979

The Silwood Ladies Cricket team in 1979 (photo kindly provided by Stephanie Miall)

Silwood Camping trip in the ‘Yellow Peril’

Silwood Camping trip in the ‘Yellow Peril’ (photo kindly provided by Drs Martin and Sue Alcock)

Dr Martin Alcock at a pirate party at Silwood Park in the 1970s

Dr Martin Alcock at a pirate party at Silwood Park in the 1970s (photo kindly provided by Drs Martin and Sue Alcock)