Riding the wave of success - Centenary Beach Party rewards staff

College staff congratulated for their hard work over the Centenary year - <em>News</em>

Thursday 20 December 2007
By Naomi Weston

Summer returned to Imperial College last week as senior staff celebrated the hard work of the catering, commercial services, security, post, alumni, sport, and communications teams after a momentous year of Centenary events.

The Centenary Beach Party was held to thank the College staff who worked on the day of the Staff Party in July and for the entire Centenary year. Over 250 people attended the event which provided staff with beach games including mini golf, volleyball, a surf simulator and music from tribute bands Beach Boys Inc and Abba Inferno.

The day was hosted by senior staff, who helped set up the marquee on the College’s Queen’s Lawn, decorated the interior, served food and drink and helped tidy up after the event.

Rector of the College, Sir Richard Sykes, greeted staff as they arrived and opened the party by riding the first wave on the Surf Simulator. He said that the party was a way of saying thank you to all of those who have worked extra hard in the Centenary year. He said: "I think it’s been a great year for everyone at the College. It’s been really gratifying to see staff and students get so involved, from the launch day in January to the Royal visit on the College’s birthday to celebrate both the Centenary and the College’s and the staff party in July, and many other smaller events across all of our campuses throughout the year."

Dr Chris Towler, Director of Project Management, was serving fish and chips at the party. He said: "It’s been a great year here at Imperial, the campus has been buzzing and lots of events have been happening. We just need to keep the momentum going!"

Head of Catering and Conferencing, Jane Neary added: "The highlight of the year for me was the Staff Party, running backwards and forwards around campus dressed up in an Edwardian bathing suit!"

This last year has marked 100 years since the signing of Imperial College’s charter in 1907, which drew together the Royal School of Mines, the Royal College of Science and the City and Guilds College.

A number of events have been held over the year to celebrate the Centenary including the Launch Day in January, a Summer Ball, attracting over 2,500 students, staff and alumni, a Royal Visit from HRH The Queen and Prince Philip on the College’s birthday in July, an alumni reunion weekend and an Asia Convocation in Singapore, welcoming all students to graduate abroad.

In addition, there have been a series of prestigious Centenary lectures by distinguished speakers including Craig Venter, the biologist who was instrumental in mapping the human genome, Lord May, one of Britain’s top scientists, Lord Winston, Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College and James Watson, a molecular biologist who co-discovered the structure of DNA.