University of Brighton Alumni Association

13

Chelsea College 50 year reunion!

On Saturday 8 June a group of 25 class of 1969 Chelsea College graduates met to celebrate 50 years since leaving the university. They gathered in a classroom on Hillbrow campus where they had the opportunity to catch up and reminisce over a cup of coffee. The room was set up with displays of photographs from 1967-69 and the cloaks and swimsuits worn by Chelsea students at the time. One particular highlight was when Annemarie Burgher recognised herself in a couple of the black and white photographs of synchronised swimmers.

After a quick introduction from the alumni team, Fiona Smith (Principal Lecture: Sport & Service Management and Chelsea alum 1983) gave a talk about how the course and the university has changed in the last 50 years. She discussed which aspects they would find very similar to when they were studying and other things that are very different for modern students. The group were very surprised about the relatively small number of teaching hours compared to when they studied the course.

Next, Fiona escorted the group to the dance studios where they enjoyed two dance performances: one male group and one female. The graduates and the students then had the opportunity to chat to each other about their different experiences of studying at the University of Brighton.

Fiona and the students then gave the ladies a tour of the facilities, who stopped to do some headstands and cartwheels in the gymnasium which they recognised from 1969! We rounded off the morning with group photographs in the sports centre and the graduates headed out for a well-deserved celebratory lunch!

The group are very proud of their Chelsea education and were very complimentary about the performances from the students and the modern facilities they enjoy.

Jane Tearle who was one of the organisers of the event and instrumental in getting the group together said

“Thank you so much for the College morning. I think being in Eastbourne made it special for our 50th and being able to look around our old haunts and see the buildings.. some similar some changed.. but it rooted us back to 1966-69!

A big thank you to Fiona too, updating us on present day courses as well as maintaining the ethos of what we remember as ‘Chelsea’ was very encouraging! 

The dance performances were wonderful please pass on our thanks to the lovely students. We were so pleased they accompanied us a round ‘their school’..and we wish them well for their futures in education.”

If you would like to organise a reunion for your class, do get in touch by email on alumni@brighton.ac.uk and we can help you out!

Nic Ashton • June 20, 2019


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Comments

  1. Christine Murrell June 20, 2019 - 4:40 pm Reply

    I am so sorry to have missed this. I started Chelsea in 1969 but knew nothing about the reunion. How fantastic.
    What do I need to do to keep in touch please. I would like particular news of my once room mate Mal Roberts but news of anyone would be fantastic
    Chris Murrell( nee Robson).

    • Nic Ashton June 21, 2019 - 7:48 am Reply

      Hi Chris,

      The reunion was for the class who finished in 1969. Very happy to help you with a 1972 reunion though :-).

      Best
      Nic

  2. Christine Murrell June 20, 2019 - 5:02 pm Reply

    What a great event. Well done! It would be good to organise one for my year group. Perhaps alumni can help me to get in touch?
    Chris Murrell (nee Robson) 1969-72

    • Janet Osborne nee Bryant June 1, 2023 - 1:31 pm Reply

      I was at Chelsea from 1969-1972 maiden name Janet (Jan) Bryant now Janet Osborne. I would love to have contact with students from that time and learn how they are doing.

      I have lived in Røros Norway for the past 36 years

      • Alex Petrovic June 8, 2023 - 10:49 am Reply

        Hi Janet – thanks for your comment. Might be worth checking if there are any Facebook groups for that time period. I’ve also passed this comment on to my colleague who will be in touch about another option 🙂

  3. Christine Murrell June 21, 2019 - 8:08 am Reply

    Hi
    I was so excited to see Chelsea and 1969 I got carried away! I am not in touch with any of my year group so is there an OGA I can join in order to make contact. Good place to start?
    Chris

  4. Nic Ashton June 21, 2019 - 8:56 am Reply

    Hi Christine,

    You can update your details here

    https://www.brighton.ac.uk/alumni/about-you/update-your-details/index.aspx

    This will get your correct information onto our database so you will hear from us (if you don’t already). I have actually had contact from one of your classmates in the last couple of days who might arrange a reunion so watch this space!!

    Best
    Nic

  5. Jane Tearle June 24, 2019 - 10:12 pm Reply

    Thanks Nic.. great to read about ‘our’ reunion so quickly! It was a great day and hope you get some other year groups to do the same..We realised this was our 8th get together since the early 90s..so have the advantage of having kept in touch with a fair few of the year. 45 in total..can’t compete on numbers with the year behind us though!!.. and we would love to get in touch with a few more.. maybe the word will get out through the Alumni page! Hope so!

  6. Alex Wilson May 16, 2021 - 5:48 pm Reply

    Nic,

    I was interested to find this site with the Chelsea College 50 year reunion. I graduated from Chelsea College in London in ’69. If you have a moment, could you tell me if this is the same Chelsea College as the reunion and what is the connection with Brighton?

    Regards, Alex.

  7. Barry porter February 19, 2022 - 6:38 pm Reply

    I have just come across this post. I lived and worked in eastbourne in early 70 s at the age of about 20 I dated a girl who was in Chelsea college for about a year. Her name was Marilyn Ford. Was known as Marley. From stoke on Trent. And lived in digs in silver dale road I know it’s a long shot but does anyone know how I can go about trying to find her or any details on the above as this is a genuine enquiry to try to find her and get in touch. Please respond to my email. Bbplatinum@aol.com many thanks

  8. Anne Rust July 21, 2023 - 8:17 am Reply

    I was at Chelsea from 1968 – 1971 and would love to be in touch with any ex students and perhaps a reunion.
    Anne Rust ( nee Thomson )

    • Alex Petrovic July 24, 2023 - 11:59 am Reply

      Hi Anne, we’re due to announce plans for a 2024 event shortly 🙂 I’ll send you an email

  9. Sandra Rowse January 6, 2024 - 1:31 am Reply

    Hi I was at Chelsea from 1976 – 79 would love to hear from anyone who was there Alison Muir was a good friend but sadly lost touch if there is a reunion in the future would be keen to attend
    thanks Sandra Rowse

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