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Women's Reunion September - Update and Report

7 October 2026
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Grey Principal with a group of female alumni

Alumnae back in Durham for reunion and networking

We welcomed alumnae back to Durham on Friday 18 September for a women’s alumni reunion, offering an opportunity to reconnect with College, renew friendships, make new ones and share experiences.

The gathering included a discussion with College Principal Professor Sonia Virdee, giving attendees the chance to reflect on their time at Grey and contribute ideas for the future of the women’s alumni programme. The evening continued with dinner at The Cellar Door in Durham.

The conversations have provided a valuable starting point for future gatherings. Ideas being explored include a follow-up event in London and a dedicated women’s alumni gathering alongside the College’s annual reunion in April. Below is a selection of the comments and suggestions that we received from attendees for how we might better engage alumni, particularly with the 70th anniversary of Grey College on the horizon in 2029.

Handwritten alumni suggestions and feedback

As a (hopefully fairly accurate!) transcription, please see below:

Top row

  1. Build relationships between different age groups.

  2. Engage — send pictures, memories.

  3. Regional alumni dinners.

  4. 70th Anniversary:
    Bring back the bands from through the years, e.g. Grollingwood (2020s), Penfold 8 (2005-ish), for reunions.

  5. In College, create cross-year-group support groups.

Middle row

  1. What can we do for Grey? How? TESTIMONY
    To share our memories, as we did today, more publicly — maybe on social networks/website — to inspire the future students to apply to Grey! Tell to them our best memories with a little paragraph (maybe a photo) telling what Grey was for us.

  2. Women History in Grey

    • Work with History, Sociology [crossed-out word] students from Grey.
    • Email/e-letter/publish.
    • Capture women’s stories.

  3. History/real voices
    Event? By ages?

  4. Finding a common thread

    • Sports
    • Subjects
    • Hobbies

     

  5. 70th Anniversary:
    Inter-generational sports competitions on Sunday of Grey Day weekend.
    Sports Presidents to organise. Awards ceremony in the evening?

Bottom row

  1. What can Grey College do for you?
    Some insider knowledge around current recruitment methods (AI intervention, online interviews etc.).

  2. Pull on the heartstrings + leg muscles.

  3. 70th Anniversary:
    Bring back the Greasy Pole for Grey Day 70.

  4. 70th Anniversary:
    Open invitation to ALL alumni to come back.
    Stash [i.e. 70th Anniversary Related Stash!] would be non-negotiable.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped shape these discussions! We look forward to building on the connections made in September and welcoming more alumnae to future events.

You can always provide feedback, ideas, or a response to the ideas above! Get in touch via grey.alumni@durham.ac.uk.