RESIDENTS, alumni, staff and students are being invited to share their fondest memories of the University of Reading, as the institution prepares for its milestone 100-year anniversary in 2026.
The Centenary Memories project provides a unique opportunity for anyone connected to the University to contribute their personal stories, photographs and videos that reflect their fondest university memories, how the campus has changed over the years, and highlights from their time at Reading.
These memories will help inspire a series of events that will form part of the University’s centenary celebrations in 2026.
All collected memories will be preserved in the University of Reading Archive and curated into an immersive programme of activities for 2026
The Centenary Memories project team includes representatives from across the University, Reading Students’ Union, the Friends of the University, and local partners.
The memories project represents the first phase of the University’s centenary celebrations, designed to honour its past while building connections for the future.
The events will be open to everyone and will include SITELINES, a theatre in unusual places, co-created with South Street Theatre; A Window into the Past, a trail of curated pictures displayed across Whiteknights and London Road campuses, in collaboration with Jelly; and a new RAG Parade, in which the RAG parades of the past will be reinvigorated.
The celebrations will also see the University of Reading Alumni Varsity, during which alumni will be invited back to participating in a series of sports matches against current sports clubs, and a programme of heritage tours and new heritage leaflets designed by The Friends of the University.
Molli Cleaver, Community Engagement Manager at the University of Reading, said: “We want to hear from everyone who has been part of the University of Reading story.
“Whether you’re a current student, a graduate from decades past, or a member of the local community, your memories help tell the rich history of our institution.”
Submissions can be made on the dedicated page via: reading.ac.uk/centenary
