Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen
More than 200 former students from the University of Portsmouth attended the first formal alumni event at the House of Lords in London last night.
Graduates of every discipline signed up to attend the event in the hours after it was advertised as an opportunity to catch up with old friends and renew their ties to their alma mater. The invitation to attend a formal get together was so popular a further 150 people asked to be placed on the waiting list.
The event was hosted by honorary graduate of the university, Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen, and included a tour of both houses of parliament followed by drinks and canapes in the Peers’ Dining Room.
Baroness Gibson was made an honorary graduate thanks to her work on trade unions and bullying and harassment at work, much of which she carried out with Professor Charlotte Rayner at the university’s Portsmouth Business School. She gave a speech about her strong relationship with the university developed over many years.
Vice-Chancellor Professor John Craven welcomed the more than 210 alumni. He spoke of the enormous value the university places on building and maintaining relationships with them and how they were the university’s ambassadors and champions.
The event was also attended by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Rebecca Bunting and the Deans of all five faculties.
One of the event organisers, Lauren McPeak, said: “It was wonderful to see so many former students from a wide range of courses and a wide range of graduating years come together at such a beautiful venue. The atmosphere was very convivial and there was a lot of fond feeling from many graduates about the great start that Portsmouth gave their careers.”
