Welcome to your Alumni Community update for July 2026. 

In this month’s update, you’ll find the opportunity to book your place at the Alumni Reunion Weekend 2026, details of the Festival of Ideas, the latest Alumnae book publications, details of a special visit from the son of a former Chester College Principal, the latest news from the University, and much more. 

A huge thank you to all Alumni who completed the Alumni Reunion preferences survey earlier this year. The Alumni Team have been hard at work using your feedback to shape this year’s reunion programme. 

We are delighted to announce that bookings are now open for our Alumni Reunion Weekend 2026, taking place from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th September at Exton Park. 

The weekend’s programme is designed to be informal and flexible. Friday (11th September) will feature the main organised activities, with the rest of the weekend offering time to explore Chester and reconnect with fellow Alumni at your own pace.  

Whether you’re reconnecting with old friends, revisiting familiar places or simply curious to see how the University has changed, we would love to welcome you back to campus. 

Booking Deadline: 11th August 2026 

Find out more and book your place 

Did you know we’re on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn? 

Stay connected with the University of Chester Alumni community by following our social channels, where we share the latest news, events and opportunities from across the university and the Alumni team. 

We also love to feature our Alumni stories! If you have any updates or stories you’d like to share about your time here or what you’ve gone on to do, please get in touch with alumni@chester.ac.uk - we’d love to hear from you! 

Last month, the Alumni team had the honour of hosting Tim Astbury, son of former Chester College Principal Canon Stanley Astbury, at Exton Park. 

During his visit, Tim shared personal memories of life at the College, including returning to the very room where he was born (the Oswald Room), now part of Senate House, and recalling moments from his childhood there. 

He also reflected on attending the 1939 ‘cutting of the first sod’ ceremony alongside his mother, Mrs Ida Astbury, marking the beginning of the Fisher and Astbury accommodation buildings. 

As part of the visit, Tim generously donated a commemorative plaque from the original ceremonial spade to the University Archive (as seen in the photo above), helping to preserve an important part of our history for future generations. 

Read more about his visit here

The Festival of Ideas begins this Thursday (2nd of July) and runs through to Sunday (5th of July). Join us for an exciting programme of over 100 FREE events exploring a wide range of themes.  

This year’s headline events include appearances from David Baddiel, Mariella Frostrup, Greg Jenner, Mya-Rose Craig and Gary Younge as well as a timely discussion on Mobile phones in schools: Necessary tool or toxic distraction?   

Other highlights include:  

• The Royal Institution: Do it yourself community show – explosive science for all ages 
• A Wild Futures afternoon – drop-in session with activities for every age; bring your household electrical, joinery and clothing items for repair at our pop-up repair café!   
• Research is a laugh – stand-up comedy with a research twist 
• The science of fuelling for endurance sports: what’s on the plate? – for those wanting to learn how to get more out of their training. 
• And much more… 

Booking is recommended, but you are also very welcome to drop in on the day - we hope to see you there! 

View the Festival Programme here

Photo credit: Simon Rooney Photography.

Congratulations to our Vice‑Chancellor, Professor Eunice Simmons who has been named Change Maker of the Year at the 2026 Downtown in Business Cheshire & North Wales Business Awards. 

The awards celebrate the very best organisations and individuals across the region, and the Change Maker of the Year award is a new category recognising those making a positive impact within their organisation and beyond. 

Read more about the award win

The contribution of staff and students at the University of Chester to advancing gender equality has been recognised among the top 20% of universities globally in influential rankings released this week. 

This recognition comes from the Times Higher Education (THE) 2026 Impact Rankings, which measure how universities are helping to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The University was ranked in at least the top half for all eight SDGs it submitted evidence for, and saw an increase on its overall 2025 ranking, which was the first year it took part. 

Find out more

Congratulations to Alumnae Rachel Munro (2009) on the publication of her book Ephemeral Power (a science fiction thriller), and to Susan Brownrigg (2025) on the upcoming publication of her book The Secret of Abney Hall (a historical mystery). 

Rachel and Susan both credit their time at the University, and the support of academic staff, as playing a key role in the development of their books. 

Find out more about Rachel’s story 

Find out more about Susan’s story 

Universities UK has opened submissions to their 50 Future Innovators campaign: a UK-wide celebration of people driving impactful, innovative work which is related to a university.  

Anyone over the age of 18 can be nominated, including self-nominations, as long as their work is linked in some way to a UK university 

Submissions are welcome from staff, students, alumni, spin-out founders, or those whose work draws on university research. 

Nomination Deadline: Friday 17th July 

Find out more

A selection of key events are taking place throughout the summer at the University.  

All Alumni are warmly invited to attend. 

Please note: some events may require a paid ticket, and this will usually be indicated within the event details. 

For full information about upcoming University events, please visit  

University Events

• Friday 3rd July  
• 4.30pm - 5.30pm  
• Senate House, Exton Park  
• Free

Explore the University’s history from its opening in 1839 through to the present day through 15 objects.  

The University of Chester Alumni Archive team, alongside undergraduate students from the experiential learning module Curious Chester, will be highlighting 15 objects from across the decades, with discussion on how each connects to an important moment in the University’s history. 

Book your ticket 

• Saturday 4th July  
• 12pm - 1pm 
• Chester Town Hall, CH1 2HQ 
• Free 

Greg is a public historian, author, and broadcaster best known as the historical consultant of the award-winning TV series Horrible Histories. Come and join us for a family friendly event with Greg Jenner exploring how, why, and when the Romans first invaded.  

Book your tickets 

• Sunday 5th July  
• 1pm – 2.30pm 
• Chester Town Hall, CH1 2HQ 
• Free

Join us for an in‑conversation event with David Baddiel: award‑winning comedian, bestselling author, and acclaimed cultural commentator. 

This event offers a rare opportunity to hear David share sharp observations and thoughtful perspectives from his remarkable and wide-ranging career. 

Book your tickets

• Tuesday 18th August 2026 
• 12.30 PM – 1.30 PM 
• Online 
• Free

Join us for an informal online session to find out more about our flexible, career-focused degrees. Discover how you can learn while you earn, make an impact in your workplace, and achieve your career goals. 

With over 25 years’ experience supporting professionals through work-based learning degrees, we would be delighted to tell you more about this flexible route to an MBA or Master’s qualification, or a top-up BA or BSc. 

Book your place 

Each month the University shares a wide range of news updates which you can follow on the website’s ‘News Page’.  

This month’s highlights include: 

• New Psychology Of... podcast episode looks at what makes a psychopath 
• Chester student champions charity with research 
• Esther Ghey joins Cheshire education leader and Police and Crime Commissioner for festival event discussing mobile phones in schools 
• Research explores how TV show Drive to Survive has transformed Formula One 
• Double national award shortlisting for university student support team 

…and plenty more stories from across our university community.

Staying in the UK this summer? Make the most of the longest managed coastal walking route in the world here in England! Covering 2,689 miles around the entire English coastline, the King Charles III England Coastal Path officially opened in March 2026, taking walkers along free, picturesque landscapes.

Alumni Relations Office

E: alumni@chester.ac.uk
W: www.chester.ac.uk/alumni

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