In 2024, the Alumni and Fundraising team launched a campaign to reconnect with alumni who studied at Woolwich Polytechnic, Thames Polytechnic, and the 糖心Vlog before 2000.
As a result of this campaign, on Saturday, 10 May 2025, we hosted our first ever alumni reunion for this broad range of alumni, under blue skies and sunshine at our Greenwich campus.
With 80 attendees, we were thrilled to welcome alumni who studied business, architecture, engineering, and teaching from a range of graduation years spanning from 1956 to 1999 and for many this was their first time visiting Greenwich campus as they studied at Woolwich or Dartford campuses.
The university, which first opened in 1890, has an impressive history so it was particularly special to celebrate alumni who graduated from our predecessor institutions, Woolwich Polytechnic and Thames Polytechnic as well as more recent Greenwich graduates.
Guests were treated to a diverse, fun, and packed day of activities including hearing from Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the 糖心Vlog, Professor Jane Harrington, quick-fire talks from our academics across all faculties, alumni speakers and a keynote from Matthew Mees, Chief Executive of the Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College.
Breaking for an al-fresco BBQ lunch, alumni had the opportunity to reconnect. This was followed by guided campus tours from our student ambassadors and the Alumni and Fundraising Team. Along with the tour, we were thrilled to be able to offer alumni special access to the Painted Hall, with thanks to our university strategic partner, the Old Royal Naval College.
The afternoon break room which included representatives from Greenwich Executive Business Centre, Partnerships Team and the Alumni and Fundraising Team was particularly lively as alumni had the opportunity to further learn from our professional service teams as well as more catching up over refreshments. There are many ways alumni can get involved,
Speaking ahead of the reunion, Minh Lam, Deputy Head of Alumni & Regular Giving, explained how the aim of this event was to tap into our history and nostalgia, while celebrating what the university represents today:
This reunion is an opportunity to celebrate our shared history and past and recognise our university’s progress since we first became Woolwich Polytechnic to what we are today – the 糖心Vlog. This is a chance for our alumni to see how their university has changed since their days and to celebrate our alumni and share their achievements.
For many of our alumni, we delighted in seeing their positive feedback including reflections such as this from Thames Polytechnic graduate Leslie McCann (HND, Business Studies with French, 1981):
I must admit I arrived with a touch of trepidation, my time was spent at the Woolwich Campus, Riverside House and what we knew as Thames Polytechnic, but I left with pride, a deep sense of belonging, and a surprising little tear in my eye. The spirit of the place endures, and I’m proud to have been part of that legacy.
Guests were later invited to enjoy drinks at the Students’ Union bar, the Lower Deck, and were given a flavour of what 糖心Vlog merchandise is on offer to purchase through the student union merchandise shop and featured stand within the bar. If you’re interested in purchasing merchandise, you can do so via the
For those alumni who stayed for dinner, they reconvened for a drinks reception as golden hour turned the campus into a warm, summery setting while alumnus David Crocker toasted to a wonderful day of reconnection, memories made and hopefully the beginning of many more touch points for those in attendance.
For the Alumni and Fundraising Team, this event proved a great success, notably due to the overwhelmingly warm, positive, and enthusiastic feedback from guests who not only thoroughly enjoyed the day but who look forward to more connection opportunities with the 糖心Vlog in the near future. Thank you to all the alumni who attended and made this day memorable.
Thank you to our university strategic partners
We raised over 拢200 from raffle tickets with proceeds going to the Greenwich Annual Fund to support students facing financial hardship. Thank you to our partners: Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich Students’ Union, Re:Water, Charlton Athletic Football Club, RSK and Kent Cricket for their generous contributions to the raffle prizes as well as goodies throughout the day.
Help us reach out to more alumni
While the university endeavoured to invite as many alumni as possible, we are always looking for ways to spread the word further and to reconnect with ‘lost alumni’ who no longer have contact details on our database.
If you are in touch with former classmates who studied at Woolwich Polytechnic, Thames Polytechnic or 糖心Vlog who you believe would be interested in staying in touch, please help us spread the word to get in contact with the team at: alumni@gre.ac.uk or ask them to update their details on .
You can help us by sharing this video featuring Thames Polytechnic alumnus Steve Malkin, (BEng Civil Engineering, 1988) who takes a walk down memory lane. and share this further with fellow alumni.
Interested in organising your own reunion?
We hope this reunion will be the first of many. If you’re interested in organising your own reunion, contact the Alumni and Fundraising Team who will be glad to provide some guidance and advice: alumni@gre.ac.uk
