Behind the scenes: Commemoration Day 2024

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes to make sure that Commemoration Day is a memorable event for all those celebrating?

This October over 3,300 students graduated across three Commemoration Day ceremonies. 

Staff and volunteers work tirelessly throughout the day to ensure a smooth-running, successful event.    

We spoke to staff and students who were on the ground and part of the moment. 

Doyin Ajibewa, Senior Graduation Events Officer 

As the Senior Graduation Events Officer, graduation at the Royal Albert Hall is the culmination of months of preparation. My role is to oversee every element of the ceremony from start to finish. The day begins early, with me arriving at 4.30 to meet the production crew and unload essential items: documents, ceremonial items like the Union Wands, and countless other supplies.    

There’s a peaceful stillness before the rush, a moment I cherish before the day truly begins. 

“Each year we welcome thousands of graduands and their families to the Royal Albert Hall and celebrate their years of hard work at Imperial. I would like to thank everyone who supports these events, without which they would not be possible.”  Joanna Stachowicz Head of Graduation Events

By 7.00, my phone is constantly buzzing as staff, musicians, and volunteers check in, and the production team works efficiently to prepare the hall. I make sure everyone is in place, radios are distributed, and academics are ready in their robes. Just before the ceremony, I coordinate closely with the Royal Albert Hall Event Manager, cueing performers and ensuring all is ready for the start.  

As each ceremony unfolds, I monitor everything behind the scenes, from timing to team coordination. There’s a unique satisfaction in seeing it all come together – a live performance I’ve planned with the team, from months of hard work. By the end of the night, I’m exhausted, but grateful, knowing I helped make this special day a success. 

Luis Barbara, Security Service Manager, Community Safety and Security  

My role in Commemoration Day begins long before the ceremonies themselves, attending meetings to review security arrangements and plans for the day.   

We play a big part in the set up, making sure teams and suppliers have access to buildings. Things like the flower wall and the graduation gowns are all delivered the day before, so we take extra care to make sure everything is kept safe overnight ready for the big day. 

On the day itself I brief the security staff, positioning them for crowd management, making sure everyone has details of the ceremony times and first aid contacts.  

A dedicated security officer looks after the mace at the Royal Albert Hall. We escort it to the venue and look after it between ceremonies, meaning we get to see the inner workings of the venue in the process.  

Like many of the security team, I’ve worked on graduation events in the past and it’s great fun. It’s nice to be part of such a big event and seeing the joy on everyone’s faces as they pick up their gowns and celebrate. As a team we are always on hand to help with last minute questions, often directions!

Haider Nazerali, medicine student

Last year I was President of the Imperial College School of Medicine Student’s Union (ICSMSU), and I volunteered to carry the mace during the medicine ceremony at Commemoration Day 2024.  

My job was to lead the President and Provost into the ceremony as part of the academic procession. It was really special to be part of Commemoration Day because although I graduated last year, a lot of my course mates, friends and my wife graduated at this ceremony. Because I knew everyone in the crowd, lots of people were smiling at me, giving me a little wave as I walked through the room. My family and my in-laws were watching on the live stream, and I got to enjoy front row seats at the ceremony!  

In preparation for my role as mace bearer I visited the Imperial archives where I was shown the mace, taught how to hold it properly (always with gloves) and learnt about its history. Going to the archives was interesting – it was great to see some of the historical scientific equipment.  

From my experience behind the scenes, the amount of preparation and logistics that go into coordinating such a large number of people is really impressive.   

Susi Underwood, Postgraduate Office Manager, Chemical Engineering  

Commemoration Day is one of my favourite days in the year. I love organising the choir and making it possible for choir members to sing in their own graduation ceremonies, making their day extra special. And I get to sing too!  

I am a member of Imperial College Choir and initially I just sang as an ordinary choir member. My role grew over the years from giving graduating choir members some instructions to managing the whole graduation choir. 

As there are three choirs involved, communication across the choirs is most important. I introduced a common sign-up form for the singers, which allows us to monitor the number of singers and choir balance for each ceremony and produce an accurate list of singers for the stage door. 

On the day itself, I stage manage the choir and make sure that everyone lines up in the right place at the right time and gets on stage in an orderly fashion. During the ceremony, I escort the graduating choir members to their allocated seats in their cohorts and back to their choir positions, and I help with the stewarding while I am in the arena.

Get involved next year 

Joanna Stachowicz, Head of Graduation Events, said: “Each year we welcome thousands of graduands and their families to the Royal Albert Hall and celebrate their years of hard work at Imperial. I would like to thank everyone who supports these events, without which they would not be possible.” 

Information for next year's ceremonies and how to volunteer will be shared closer to the time. If you have any questions in the meantime, contact the Graduation Event team.