Welcome to your Alumni Community update for June 2026. 

In this month’s update, you’ll find a ‘Save the Date’ for our Alumni Reunion, update on our award nominations, the Festival of Ideas line-up, alumni success stories, the latest news from the University, and much more. 

A very warm thank you to all Alumni who have taken the time to share their feedback on the Alumni Reunion options form. Your input has been greatly appreciated.  

In the meantime, we would like to announce a ‘Save the Date’ for this year’s Alumni Reunion which will take place from Friday 11th September to Sunday 13th September 2026. 

We hope you will be able to join us for an opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni and spend time back at your home away from home. Further details, including how to book, will be shared in due course. The Alumni team are very grateful for your continued patience as we work through the feedback to shape this year’s Alumni Reunion programme. 

The University of Chester is celebrating a hat-trick of award successes, having been recognised across multiple schemes for our exceptional service to the student community.

Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs) 2026

The WUSCAs are the only UK higher education awards entirely voted for and judged by students. Now in their 13th year, they draw on more than 42,000 verified student reviews from over 85 university campuses nationwide, offering independent insight into the real student experience. 

At a ceremony held last month, the University was named first in the North West for University of the Year for the third consecutive year, reinforcing our strong reputation among students. 

The University was also named: 

• First in the North West and second in the UK for Halls and Student Accommodation  
• First in the North West and third in the UK for Student Support  
• First in the North West and third nationally for Postgraduate Study  
• First in the North West for Lecturers and Teaching Quality  
• Second in the North West for International Study

Read more here

Educate North Awards

The Educate North Awards are among the most respected education awards in the region, celebrating achievements across the University, higher education, further education and sixth form sectors in the North of England. 

At a ceremony hosted by University of Salford Chancellor Lucy Meacock, the University was named winner of the Student Experience Award (University Sector) for the Chester Credentials Nano-credentials project. 

Assistant Hindu Chaplain and Psychology student Ramitha Nittore Ramnath, nominated in two categories, also received a Highly Commended award for University Student Achievement of the Year.

Read more here

Student Nursing Times Awards

The Student Nursing Times Awards bring together the nursing and midwifery community each year to celebrate excellence and innovation in student education. 

The University of Chester won Teaching Innovation of the Year – Curriculum in recognition of an outstanding and innovative approach to preparing student nurses for the realities of clinical practice.

Read more here

You may remember that in a previous edition, we showcased one of the most treasured pieces from our Alumni Archive, a 1935 Bible, donated to the University in 1955 by alumni of the then Chester Diocesan Training College, now the University of Chester, in memory of a fellow student, Billy King. 

Over time, the Bible had fallen into disrepair, with its front and back covers becoming detached and the spine significantly damaged. 

To help preserve a valuable piece of our University’s history, we recently commissioned a specialist restoration from Chester Bookbinders, led by owner Phill Woods, a local craftsman with more than 40 years of experience. 

We are delighted to share that, following this careful restoration, the Bible has been sympathetically conserved and is now securely housed within the University’s archive. 

The restoration represents not only the preservation of a historic artefact, but also the enduring legacy of Billy King and the alumni who honoured his life and contributions more than 70 years ago.

Read more here

Bookings are now open for the eagerly anticipated four-day Chester Festival of Ideas 2026, organised by the University of Chester in partnership with a range of collaborators across the city.  

This calendar highlight returns for its third year, following the success of previous festivals which welcomed thousands of visitors to nearly 100 events each year. 

This year’s festival runs from Thursday 2nd July to Sunday 5th July and will take place in various venues across the city. 

Celebrating imagination, inspiration, learning and culture, the festival programme includes talks, panel discussions, exhibitions, performances and interactive activities. Visitors can also enjoy hands-on workshops covering everything from art to animals, alongside spectacular shows, guided walks and more. 

Some notable guests include: 

• David Baddiel – Award-winning comedian, bestselling author and acclaimed cultural commentator  
• Mariella Frostrup – Journalist, broadcaster, author and campaigner  
• Professor Gary Younge – Author, broadcaster and former editor-at-large at The Guardian  
• Greg Jenner – Historical consultant on the award-winning BBC series Horrible Histories  
• Dr Mya-Rose Craig – Environmentalist  
• Professor Dame Jenny Harries – University of Chester Chancellor and former Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England 

View the Festival Programme here

Alumnus Aaron Agbanu recently graduated from the University of Chester with a Master of Science in Haematology and was part of a specially selected group of students invited to deliver a speech on behalf of his graduating cohort. 

In one of the standout moments from our March graduation ceremonies, Aaron’s speech marked an important milestone in his personal and academic journey. It followed years of hard work, during which he overcame a stammer while completing his Master’s degree and presenting his research. 

We wish Aaron every success in the future as he looks to contribute to advances in the study of blood and blood disorders. 

Read more about Aaron’s story

Congratulations to Alumnus Dr Anthony Annakin Smith (2007) on the publication of his second book, Left But Not Forgotten: The Children of the Foundling Hospital at Chester. 

Published by University of Chester Press, the book explores the history of the Chester branch of the Foundling Hospital charity, based at what is now the city’s Grade II* listed Bluecoat building on Upper Northgate Street. It brings together the stories of the 306 children who were cared for there, examining their lives before, during and after their time at the Hospital. 

Find out more

Congratulations to alumni Kyle Richardson-Nickle and Liam Pickering, whose band Passionflower has secured a record deal with Marshall Records and management from Future History Management, known for working with major acts including Sleep Token and Bullet For My Valentine. 

Passionflower was named the winner of Kerrang! Radio’s The Deal, a competition offering emerging artists the opportunity to take a significant step in their music careers. 

As part of the prize, the band will also perform at the iconic Download Festival, hosted at Donington Park in mid-June. 

Find out more

A selection of key events are taking place throughout June 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

The University’s Health and Wellbeing Research Institute presents: ‘Madness in Fiction and Art’ with Professor Graeme Yorston  

• Wednesday 3rd June  
• 1.30pm-2.30pm  
• Room CBB115, Best Building, Exton Park 
• FREE

Writers and artists have always been fascinated by mental health. Many of them have had to navigate their own problems - some more successfully than others – and some have come to be defined as much by their illnesses as by their creative output.   

In this lecture, Professor Graeme Yorston draws on his 30 years’ experience in psychiatry and lifelong passion for history and the arts to explore the lives and mental health issues of writers, artists, musicians and icons of cinema and why it is important for their stories to told.  

Book your tickets

• Wednesday 10th June 2026  
• 5.30pm – 7pm  
• Exton Park, Chester

Thinking about further study or your next career move? Join us at our Postgraduate Open Evening this June to meet our academic teams, explore our postgraduate courses and discover how studying at Chester can support your professional ambitions.  

As alumni of the University of Chester or one of its Associate Colleges, you may be eligible for our Graduate Loyalty Discount on tuition fees.

Book Your Place

• Monday 22nd June – Wednesday 24th June   
• 9am – 4pm   
• Binks Building (Room 107), Exton Park, Chester 
• FREE

This three-day event features student presentations, student posters, staff research posters, workshops, plenary talks, and a range of opportunities to network with like-minded researchers. 

There will be a wide range of postgraduate research presentations and workshops, alongside opportunities to connect with both students and staff. It is a fantastic opportunity for those considering postgraduate study to explore the range of research taking place across the University. 

Registration to attend closes soon! 

To register for the event, please click here. If you have any questions, please contact pgrevents@chester.ac.uk.  

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: 

• Psychology team analyses star-studded Celebrity Traitors 2026 line-up 
• University secures National Lottery funding for immersive Roman amphitheatre VR experience 
• What will be unearthed at the Grosvenor Park dig this year? 
• Study reveals fragility in a high value shark population 

…and plenty more stories from across our University community. 

Consciously engaging in relaxation exercises can help to reduce stress, relieve tension and improve sleep. Breathing techniques are a simple and effective place to start, forming the basis of many relaxation practices. 

Next time you have a quiet moment, try one or more of the following: Square or box breathing, the 4-7-8 breathing exercise or the Abdominal Breathing. For the greatest benefit, try practising at a time of day that works for you, in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed. 

Alumni Relations Office

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

Copyright © 2026 University of Chester - Corporate Communications, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are a graduate of the University of Chester. You can unsubscribe below, at any time.