Bradford alumni celebrate 50-year reunion

A group of 23 alumni from the University of Bradford gathered in November to celebrate a 50-year reunion.

The ophthalmic optic graduates from the class of 1977 celebrated 50 years since they first met in freshers week.

The alumni took a campus tour, revisited the sports hall and newly-refurbished Student Central, and received a tour of the optometry clinics, now situated in the Phoenix Building.

Kath Stott, one of the alumni, said: “The group was interested to hear of the developments in the optometry course, but saddened to hear how many of the local pubs had closed!”

Alumni spent an evening reminiscing over a meal at the Midland Hotel.

“All remembered the day they turned up in fancy dress for a Saturday morning clinic, after being reprimanded for wearing jeans the week before – and there was a photo to prove it,” Stott said.

The following day, the group visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire, with a walk along the canal, and a visit to the David Hockney exhibition Arrival of Spring.

The day ended with a curry at the International, which first opened in 1976.

“All agreed it was an amazing two days,” Stott shared, adding that the group were already discussing “when to have the next reunion.”