2003 saw the successful 2003 Reunion and AGM as well as the 1977-79 reunion organized by the Alumni Office of Kings College. Over 70 QEC’ers attended this year’s Reunion on 18 October, and about 20 attended the 1977-79 Reunion.

At the 2003 Reunion Pat Cox mentioned that in 2004 she and her QEC friends will be celebrating 50 years since they graduated.

Everyone who attends reunions looks forward to the next one, so we plan to use this part of the web site as a ‘clearing house’ for those who are thinking of arranging a reunion, based perhaps on year of graduation, course, or any old excuse for a get-together.

Just e-mail the webmaster with the details of your reunion - even if it’s just in the ‘wouldn’t it be a good idea’ stage, and I’ll put whatever information you want to give me here. Don’t forget also that the Membership Secretary may be able to help with contact details for people, and of course Friends Reunited is organized by graduation year.

So to start you all off...

Graduates of 1950’s reunion

At the 2003 Reunion some of our oldest members reminded us that they in fact never attended QEC, they were in fact students at King’s College of Household and Social Science, which became QEC in 1953. Pat Cox, stalwart of the Association, mentioned that she and her friends will have graduated 50 years ago in 2004 and will be planning their own reunion.

1953 was a turning point in the history of Queen Elizabeth College. The renaming and Grant of the Royal Charter had taken place at the start of the year, and by October the rebuilding of the East Block was complete. This was reopened on 20 October 1953 by Her Royal Highness Princess Alice. (The picture shown hangs in the QEC room at Kings). Also in 1953 the first 2 male undergraduates were admitted to the College, and at that time QEC became the first woman’s university college to admit men in Britain (but there were no further applications by men for another 3 years).

On 22 June 1955 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother first visited the College. In the picture (from Neville Marsh’s book “The History of Queen Elizabeth College”) The Queen Mother is receiving a bouquet from Students Union president Jane Walker whilst Sir John Atkins looks on. The portrait, given to the College, is by Maurice Codner. It was commissioned by Woman’s Journal who donated it to the College.

Well, plans for this reunion are now well and truly under way, so follow this link for the details of the Class of 1954 Reunion.

This page last modified 28 April 2004