Welcome to your Alumni Community update for September 2026. 

In this month's update, you’ll find an opportunity to share your Chester memories from when you joined the University, an Evening Languages class discount offer for Alumni, a call out from the University Archive, highlights of what our Alumni community are getting up to, the latest University news and much more. 

It’s that time of year again! 

As we draw closer to the start of a new academic year, we're preparing to welcome a new cohort of students to the University of Chester later this month as they begin their university journey. 

To mark the occasion, we’re reaching out to our Alumni community and asking how the experience of joining the University has evolved throughout the decades. Whether you graduated a few years ago or several decades ago, we'd love to hear about your experiences and any memories, highlights or photographs from your first days at Chester. 

If you would like to share your memories or find out more, please contact the Alumni Team at alumni@chester.ac.uk

Our Part-time Evening Language courses are back and now open to our Alumni, starting the week commencing 5th October 2026.   

Courses will run for 20 weeks at Exton Park, with weekly classes from 6.30pm to 8.30pm across a range of weekdays. Languages available include French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish and Welsh. 

As an Alumni of the University, you are eligible for a £40 discount off the total course fee. Simply send your former student number or a copy of your degree certificate to ahsstudentrecruitment@chester.ac.uk, and the team will provide you with a discount code. 

If you're interested in finding out more, please visit the course pages or book directly onto a course once you've received your Alumni discount. 

Do you remember singing the Chester College song? 

In the University archive we have two Chester College Songbooks from 1913 and 1939. These books contain hymns and popular songs as well as the College song of ‘Hail Chester Coll!’ and the hymn for Founders’ Day. We’d love to hear from you if you have any memories of singing these songs; please let us know at alumni@chester.ac.uk

Two University of Chester Alumni who met while studying on the same degree course have tied the knot in a unique charity shop-themed wedding, with the bride stunning guests in a £2 wedding dress. 

Gina and Jacob Dodds, both graduates of the University's BA Popular Music Performance degree, exchanged vows at Chester's Storyhouse, surrounded by family and friends who embraced the couple's passion for sustainability and charitable giving. 

In keeping with their values, Gina purchased her wedding dress and Jacob bought the engagement ring from a Hope House Children's Hospice charity shop. Guests were also encouraged to wear outfits sourced from charity shops or second-hand retailers, helping to raise money for a range of charitable causes while reducing waste. 

Congratulations to Gina and Jacob on their special day. We wish them every happiness for the future! 

Find out more about their wedding

A University of Chester Alumnus was recently reunited with his former lecturer as students helped prepare Chester Football Club players for their new season. 

Health and wellbeing coach Ash Armstrong, who studied Sport and Exercise Sciences and later completed a Master's in Sports Sciences (Strength and Conditioning) at the University, now runs the OPH Performance Centre at the Deva Community Stadium, home of Chester FC. 

Ash recently welcomed Professor Jamie Highton and students from the Sport and Exercise Sciences programme as they carried out strength testing with first-team players ahead of their National League North campaign. 

Find out more about the session

We're delighted to share that the University-run Chester Festival of Ideas has received international recognition, earning a Silver 2026 CASE Circle of Excellence Award. 

The CASE Circle of Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in educational advancement, recognising institutions that demonstrate creativity, innovation and impact in strengthening communities and transforming lives. 

The Festival was recognised in the Special Events (In-Person, Multi-Day Events) category, standing alongside institutions from across the world. 

Read more about our award success

The University of Chester's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eunice Simmons, has been elected Vice-Chair of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Council. 

The ACU is the world's longest-established international university network, bringing together institutions from across the Commonwealth to promote collaboration in higher education and address global challenges. 

In her new role, Professor Simmons will work alongside ACU Council Chair Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, supporting the organisation's Road to 2030 project, which aims to strengthen higher education, support sustainable development and foster international partnerships. 

Find out more about the Vice-Chancellor’s appointment

A University of Chester academic has played a leading role in the production of a landmark Church of England document addressing the climate and environmental crises. 

Dr Ben Fulford, Associate Professor of Christian Theology, chaired a working group of the Church of England's Faith and Order Commission which produced Hope for All Creation, a major new teaching document approved by the House of Bishops in May.  

Dr Fulford was also among those who presented the document to the Church of England's General Synod in July. Drawing on both Christian theology and current scientific understanding, Hope for All Creation explores the climate and environmental crises and encourages churches, faith leaders and communities to engage with these challenges through faith, hope and action. 

Find out more about the publication

• Saturday 12th September 2026 
• 10am – 4pm 
• Wheeler, Chester 
• No booking required 
• FREE

Based in the basement of the Wheeler Building on Castle Drive, the Museum is home to a fascinating collection of items from the worlds of medicine, nursing, midwifery and social work. Visitors can also view an original letter written by Florence Nightingale from Balaclava. 

Whether you have an interest in health and social care or local history, visitors are always welcome. You'll also have the opportunity to meet volunteers from the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Society Historical Society, many of whom have backgrounds in healthcare. 

Find out more

• Wednesday 16th September 
• 4pm – 5pm 
• Exton Park, Chester  
• FREE

Professor Joyce Harper will be delivering a talk titled 'Towards a New Understanding of Menopause: Growth and Empowerment'. 

Professor Joyce Harper, Professor of Reproductive Science at University College London, has worked in the fields of fertility, genetics and reproductive science since 1987. She has published more than 240 scientific papers and authored several books focusing on women's health, fertility, menopause and reproductive health education. 

Book your ticket

• Wednesday 14th October 2026 
• 7pm – 8.15pm 
• Online

Join us for a virtual introduction to our MA Clinical Counselling course. Discover how the programme combines counselling and psychological theory with practical skills development and personal growth, helping prepare students for professional practice. 

You'll also have the opportunity to meet the course team and have your questions answered during a live Q&A session. 

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: 

• Partnerships across University push new boundaries in dance 
• Humour and human nature explored by psychologists in University of Chester podcast 
• Archaeological dig returns to site of Roman villa in North Wales 
• University of Chester to welcome charity runner on 100-mile challenge in memory of student Aaron Mills 
• New study finds international students bring £100 million economic benefit to Chester area 

…and plenty more stories from across our university community.

Check out your local Farmers’ Market! 

Did you know that by supporting your local farmers you’re protecting your local green spaces because you’re helping them to practice sustainable farming practices? Lots of areas now host their own Farmers’ Market, and with these markets come more seasonable and nutritious foods, less packaging, a reduced need to travel and a boost in community spirit! 

Alumni Relations Office

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

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