UEL gives 125th anniversary a fitting send-off
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Published
20 October 2023
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University of East London students, staff and community residents enjoyed a night of spectacle and celebration when the Stratford campus became a colourful funfair.
The festival was part of a wider gala night which proved a fitting grand finale for the 125th anniversary celebrations, which began in the spring with the visit of His Majesty King Charles III and closed on Thursday 19 October with a carnival of lights and merriment to the backdrop sounds of music and laughter.
As darkness fell, attendees were invited to gather in front of the historic University House. What followed was a mesmerising projection display that narrated the remarkable journey of the University through its 125-year history from its roots as the West Ham Technical Institute.
University House itself became a canvas for a visual journey that chronicled the institution's growth, milestones, and the spirit that makes it unique.
The culmination of the stirring story was a look to the future, focusing on our next chapter of change, including the expansion of our careers-first mission and our plan to become a net zero carbon institution by 2030.
The narration sounded out into the night, "We are immensely proud of the work we've done so far and bonds we've formed, not just in East London but across the globe."
Referring to the University's phoenix symbol, adopted after a catastrophic fire which forced the fledging institution to close and rebuild, the projection ended with this free verse sentiment:
"Our fate was tested but like our phoenix we bested the expectation that we would fail. We broke traditions in our mission to see everyone succeed, freed to change the world for the better. Now you know our legacy, 125 years to eternity, always part of this community. When they ask us who are we: We are the University of East London."
As well as the projection , the mini festival also featured a mix of activities, games, live performances from the stage and a range of food trucks with a wide variety of mouth-watering cuisines. Revellers banged drums, ate kebabs, took a turn on the Ferris wheel, tried out colourful face painting and enjoyed the spirit of the festival.
Namashwi Solanki, pictured left, who is studying for a Master's in Biomedical Science, said, "After a hard day of lectures it feels good to come to the funfair. I am going to make sure I enjoy myself." Standing by the hook-a-duck stand, she said, "I'm definitely going to try my best at that." But there was no chance of her trying the Ferris wheel. "No. I’m too scared!"
Juvieria Naaz, pictured right, who is doing the same course as Namashwi, said, "It's really nice. We are here for the first time and we're very excited to see all the wonderful things. It's very colourful. I'm planning to play all the games. I've already got my photos from the booth. We're going to have a lot of fun here."
For students, staff and locals alike, the 125th Anniversary Gala Celebration was an event to remember. It served as a testament to the institution's enduring spirit, commitment to education, and the strong bonds formed within UEL and beyond, showing that the founding West Ham Technical Institute of 1898 and its modern incarnation still share the same values and outlook as "the people's university".
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