In pictures: record numbers of alumni return to Imperial for the Alumni Weekend

On 7 and 8 May 2016, more than 1,200 alumni and their guests gathered in South Kensington for the Alumni Weekend at the Imperial Festival 2016.

The Alumni Zone, accessible exclusively to alumni and their guests, was far more than just a place to escape the crowds. As well as a goody bag, free refreshments, face painting and a photo booth (complete with science props), alumni could catch up with long-lost classmates, explore a display of memories and photographs, meet entrepreneurial alumni in a special showcase, and chat with current staff from across the College.

Tours of Imperial landmarks were available exclusively to alumni and guests, including the Queen’s Tower and tunnels, as well as regular walking tours of the campus and visits to the library and Ethos sports centre. 

Browse photos from the Alumni Weekend on the Imperial College London alumni Facebook page, or continue reading for slideshows of highlights.

Denis Huen (MRes Medical Robotics) graduated earlier that week but returned to Campus with his company MedEXO Robotics to appear in the Festival's Future Zone

Director of Alumni Relations, Nicola Pogson, said:

"It was exciting and inspiring to welcome so many alumni from such a diverse range of backgrounds and degrees, from recent graduates to those celebrating their 60th milestone year. Alumni shared with us their many memories of their student days and enjoyed visiting the campus, but also were enthusiastic (as are we!) about the opportunity to learn more about research at the College and meet academics. It has been a wonderful weekend and we are already looking forward to doing it all again next year."

Explore the Alumni Zone in the slideshow below:

Showcasing entrepreneurial alumni

For the first time at the Alumni Weekend, a special exhibition showcased the work of some of Imperial’s alumni innovators, leaders and inventors.

The showcase featured a wide range of innovative products, including touchless smartwatch technology, cardboard furniture, foldable plugs, smart luggage, luxury sweets, the world’s first wearable to improve skiing technique, and a wearable technology that works with your body’s natural response to rhythm to change how you feel.

Read more about the companies featured in the alumni showcase or browse the slideshow below:

Celebrating everything that makes #OurImperial special

In the months preceding the Alumni Weekend, alumni had contributed their stories, memories and photos to help build a memory wall - a celebration of everything that makes Imperial special to them:

Who inspired you at Imperial?

“Professor Mike Brookes, EEE, had endless patience and good humour teaching digital signal processing classes” said Ian Clarke (Electrical Engineering 1989). “He supervised and inspired my final year project – capturing transient signals on a (new at the time!) plotter.”

Guy Rigby (Civil Engineering 1977) was inspired by Sir Alec Skempton and Sir Alan Harris: “I didn’t realise straight away how famous these guys were… a real privilege to be in class with them passing on their amazing knowledge!”

What did you learn at Imperial?

“Right from the beginning I learnt to do something innovative and not follow the bandwagon” explained Ashis Choudhury (MSc Civil Engineering 1969). “The environment of Imperial and the academic debates inspired me to think originally and undertake persistent efforts to implement the ideas in accordance with target timescales and budget. I hope one day my grandson will be at this institution to share my experience and pride.”

Sarah Miles née Ward (Biology 1978) credited Imperial for a lifelong passion: “Imperial… supported me in every way possible… My love for biology has been life-long and my career path as a biology teacher and head of science in secondary school has been immensely rewarding – thank you Imperial.”

One thing I learnt at Imperial

Imperial love stories

Romantic tales also came pouring in as alumni couples shared the stories of their first meetings.

“It was one of the first lectures in room 201” said Bruno Guillaume (Civil Engineering 1986). “I heard her laugh before I saw her. Joyce (also Civil Engineering 1986) and I also both shared interests outside engineering… In 1991 we came back to Imperial to study for an MSc at the centre for environmental technology and that year we got married. No wonder we both have fond memories of Imperial!”

Bruno and Joyce Guillaume (Civil Engineering 1986)

They weren’t the only ones. Richard Squire (Electrical & Electronic Engineering 1988) met his wife Dinah (Physics 1988) in Falmouth & Keogh Halls in 1985 over a yoghurt in the communal kitchen. 30 years later they have three children.

Marion (Biochemistry 1979, PhD 1982) and Neil Watson (Chemical Engineering 1978) met during their first week at Imperial in October 1976 and celebrate their 40^th anniversary this year. The couple married in 1982, shortly before Marion finished her PhD at St Mary’s Hospital. They kept things local: the ceremony took place ‘next door’ at Holy Trinity Church Brompton and they held their evening reception in the Senior Common Room in Beit Quad. Marion has since returned to Imperial in 2011 and now works in the NIHR / Wellcome Trust Imperial Clinical Research Facility on the Hammersmith Campus.

One anonymous alumnus summed it all up: “Coming back to South Kensington feels like home.”

Read more alumni stories shared over social media.

A warm welcome home

Imperial College Business School welcomed over 50 alumni to an afternoon tea reception in the Alumni Visitor Centre on Saturday afternoon. Attendees included graduates from the 1980s through to the recent class of 2015.

Head of Alumni Relations for the Business School Erin Hallett, who had joined Imperial earlier that week, said:

“I was delighted to meet such a diverse and accomplished group of alumni. It was wonderful to hear graduates’ Business School memories, meet their families, and build new connections. Our alumni community is thriving and I am already looking forward to next year’s Alumni Weekend. If you missed the event, or have ideas about future alumni events, I would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with our Alumni Relations Team via alumni-business@imperial.ac.uk.”

Chemical Engineering alumni were invited back to their Department to meet with former classmates, past and present members of academic staff, and current students. Alumni were invited to bring their children along who were treated to a variety of chemical engineering fun activities, the highlight being a demonstration of how to get ice cream from a fire extinguisher (real ice cream was also available). There was also an update from the Head of Department, Professor Andrew Livingston, tours of the department and tours of the carbon capture pilot plant.

Browse images from the Department of Chemical Engineering's reception below:

As Saturday drew to a close, alumni and their guests headed to Beit Quad to enjoy a free drink in the sunshine outside the Union Bar.

Browse photos from Beit Quad in the slideshow below:

Breakfast with the President

On Sunday morning, alumni from milestone years (ending in 1 or 6) who graduated 20 or more years ago were invited to a special Welcome Back Breakfast with President Alice P. Gast in the Transport Zone.

President Gast welcomed the group to Campus, describing some of the incredible exhibits they could explore at the Imperial Festival, and sharing some of the latest news from the College:

“We collaborate across disciplines in amazing ways to meet grand challenges” she told them. “We have great people, we have great partners and we have a great future.”

President Gast introduced alumnus and Head of the Thermofluids Division, Professor Ricardo Martinez-Botas (MEng Aeronautics 1989), who gave some fascinating insights into his research on the future of transport and stimulated alumni thinking around the opportunities for reducing the environmental impact of transport.

Explore images from the Welcome Back Breakfast in the slideshow below:

Share your feedback

If you attended the Alumni Weekend or the Imperial Festival this year, please share your feedback by completing this short survey.

Save the date for next year’s Alumni Weekend at the Imperial Festival 2017 – taking place on 6 and 7 May 2017.