Alumni Weekend

Friday 16 to Sunday 18 June 2023

Are you celebrating a special anniversary of your graduation this year, or looking for a good opportunity to return to St Andrews? Why not join us for Alumni Weekend?

We hope there will be something for everyone: from book browsing, drinks, live music and golf to a wine tasting, a barbeque and events at the Laidlaw Music Centre and the Wardlaw Museum… and of course no Alumni Weekend would be complete without the traditional pier walk following the Sunday Service in St Salvator’s Chapel.

Accommodation

Residential accommodation with a special alumni discount is available to book online, subject to availability. Please note that essential maintenance work is being carried out in Agnes Blackadder Hall over the summer. Rooms will be allocated in such a way as to keep disruption to guests to an absolute minimum if you choose to book accommodation there.

Book your accommodation

Registration

Please browse through the programme below then register and, where applicable, pay for the events you would like to attend.

A goody bag will be reserved for all alumni who register - for collection in Sandy’s Bar in the Students’ Association in St Mary’s Place on Friday or Saturday from 12 noon until 9pm. Amongst other things, the goody bag will contain a voucher for a free drink in Sandy’s Bar between 5 and 7pm on Friday or Saturday.

By registering, you will also help us with our arrangements and enable us to keep you up to date with any additions/changes to the programme of events.

Please note: the programme is subject to change.

Lost friends? Please do not hesitate to be in touch for help contacting former classmates and friends to attend as a group, or if you have any questions. Email: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk

Register now

Programme of events

• Friday 16 June

  12:00pm Alumni Clubhouse (Friday), Sandy's Bar, Students' Association
  Our Alumni Clubhouse will be open to you and your friends on Friday and Saturday from 12 noon until late as a place for you to meet and socialise. Goody bags will be reserved for all alumni who have registered to attend Alumni Weekend and will be available for collection from Sandy's Bar between 12 noon and 9pm. Come along to meet us and pick up your goody bag which, amongst other things, contains a voucher for a free drink at the Alumni Clubhouse between 5 and 7 pm on Friday or Saturday.
  Venue: Sandy’s Bar, Students’ Association, St Mary’s Place, KY16 9UZ
  Contact: Email: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk

  5:00pm After Many Days Club AGM followed by a buffet supper
  After Many Days Club members will be sent booking information in the upcoming Yearbook.
  Find out more about the Club and how to join on their website:
  www.standrewsaftermanydays.club
  Venue: St Salvator's Hall, 8 The Scores 9AZ
  Contact: Caroline Ford, Secretary (Communications and Membership)
  E: cford@mvnet.co.uk

  5:30pm - 7:00pm A Bookshop Evening with Fizz
  St Andrews graduates Robert and Louise Topping invite fellow alumni to discover the delights of an independent, newly expanded bookshop. With a log-burning stove, rolling library ladders, and over a kilometre of shelves, Topping & Company Booksellers is a true literary treat. From beloved classics to specialist non-fiction, and with a vast array of signed copies, Toppings stock books to suit all readers. Come and enjoy a browse in their new space with a glass of fizz.
  Free to attend but registration required
  Venue: Topping & Company Booksellers, 7 Greyfriars Garden, KY16 9HG
  Contact: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk

  6:30pm Live Screening of the Berlin Philharmonic Summer Concert (community event - please book via Byre Theatre)
  Venue: Byre Theatre Auditorium, Byre Theatre, Abbey Street, KY16 9LA
  Contact: Box Office: +44 (0)1334 475000
  Email: byreboxoffice@st-andrews.ac.uk

  7:15pm - 8:15pm Welcome Drinks Reception, Sandy's Bar, Students' Association
  An opportunity to meet up with old friends and make some new ones. Join us at Sandy's Bar when Robert Fleming, Director of Development, will welcome everyone with a complimentary drink. Later, there will be live music in the Main Bar area. Details of other events taking place in 'the Union' to follow.
  Free to attend but registration required
  Venue: Students’ Association, St Mary’s Place, KY16 9UZ
  Contact: Email: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk

  9:00pm Live music from St Andrews graduate band Calvin, Students' Association
  Enjoy a mix of nostalgia pop and some pop-rock music.
  Free to attend but registration required
  Venue: Main Bar, Students' Association
  Contact: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk

• Saturday 17 June

  9:30am Arnold Palmer Invitational, Torrance Course, Fairmont Hotel
  Fancy a game of golf in the home of golf? The Arnold Palmer Invitational is a friendly, one-day golf tournament for alumni, students, friends and supporters of the University, in support of our performance golf programme, Saints Golf. Teams of two will compete against the field in a two ball better ball stableford format. SORRY EVENT FULL - to be added to a waiting list, please email: developmentevents@st-andrews.ac.uk
  Venue: Torrance Course, Fairmont Hotel
  Contact: Email: developmentevents@st-andrews.ac.uk

  10:30am - 12:00pm Summer meeting of the General Council, Parliament Hall, South Street
  Graduates are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to catch up on the latest developments at the University, as well as its recent achievements and the challenges it faces. The Chancellor, Lord Campbell of Pittenweem will preside and the Principal, Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, will give the University address. Please register to attend to help us with our arrangements. Tea/coffee will be available from 10am.
  Venue: Parliament Hall, South Street KY16 9JU
  Contact: Email: generalcouncil@st-andrews.ac.uk

  12:00pm Alumni Clubhouse (Saturday), Sandy's Bar, Students' Association
  Our Alumni Clubhouse will be open to you and your friends on Friday and Saturday from 12 noon until late as a place for you to meet and socialise. Goody bags will be reserved for all alumni who have registered to attend Alumni Weekend and will be available for collection from Sandy's Bar between 12 noon and 9pm. Come along to meet us and pick up your goody bag which, amongst other things, contains a voucher for a free drink at the Alumni Clubhouse between 5 and 7 pm on Friday or Saturday.
  Venue: Sandy’s Bar, Students’ Association, St Mary’s Place, KY16 9UZ
  Contact: Email: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk

  12:30pm - 2:00pm Behind the scenes at the Laidlaw Music Centre, followed by a light buffet lunch
  Join us on a short, behind-the-scenes tour, led by Director of Music Michael Downes. Staff will be gearing up for Byre Opera’s production of Jonathan Dove’s scintillating operatic adaptation of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park showing from 23-25 June so, if all goes to plan and the timings work out, there may even be an opportunity to hear a short piece of music from the production and meet some of the cast! Payment of £5 per person for lunch can be made via our secure online facility. A link will be included in your confirmation email. 
  Please bring a printed copy of your payment confirmation, or be able to show confirmation on your mobile phone.
  Tickets for the Mansfied Park production (23-25 June) are available now from the Byre theatre: https://byretheatre.com/shows/byre-opera-mansfield-park/
  Venue: Laidlaw Music Centre, off Queen's Terrace, KY16 9QF
  Contact: Email: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk

  1:00pm After Many Days Club Reunion Lunch followed by a talk on the Pilgrim Way by Rev Professor Ian Bradley
  After Many Days Club members will be sent details on how to book and pay for lunch in the upcoming Yearbook.
  Find out more about the Club and how to join on their website:
  www.standrewsaftermanydays.club
  Venue: Lower College Hall, St Salvator's Quadrangle KY16 9AL
  Contact: Caroline Ford, Secretary (Communications and Membership)
  E: cford@mvnet.co.uk

  5:30pm - 7:00pm Wine Tasting event with award-winning drinks journalist Rose Murray Brown
  

  Join fellow alumni and friends for this relaxed, informal event when leading, award-winning drinks journalist and St Andrews graduate Rose Murray Brown will be presenting a selection of wines from around the world and matching these with fine cheeses from I J Mellis, one of Scotland’s top cheesemongers. You can also try your luck in a ‘mystery bottle’ competition.  One of only 414 Masters of Wine worldwide and one of only 149 female Masters of Wine in the world, Rose runs wine events and courses and hosts wine tours abroad - as well as working as The Scotsman’s weekly drinks columnist and expert for the past 36 years.
  Payment of £20 per person can be made via our secure online facility. A link will be included in your confirmation email.

  Please bring a printed copy of your payment confirmation, or be able to show confirmation on your mobile phone.

  
  Venue: The Beacon Bar, Students' Association, St Mary's Place KY16 9UZ
  Contact: Email: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk

  7:00pm Informal barbeque-style dinner
  Join fellow alumni for an informal, tasty barbeque-style dinner. During this event, the winners of the Arnold Palmer Invitational will be presented with a much-coveted trophy.
  Your confirmation email will include a link to make a payment of £25 per person using our secure online payment facility (opens in new window). Please note that the price includes a drink on arrival.
  
  Please bring a printed copy of your payment confirmation, or be able to show confirmation on your mobile phone.
  Venue: Students’ Association, St Mary’s Place, KY16 9UZ
  Contact: Email: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk

• Sunday 18 June

  11:00am - 12:00pm University Thanksgiving Service, St Salvator's Chapel (in-person event and livestreamed)
  All are welcome to join us, either in person or online, for the University Thanksgiving Service in St Salvator's Chapel. The Service will be led by University Chaplain, Revd Dr Donald MacEwan and the Preacher will be Revd Dr Robin Hill (PhD 1991). Music will be by the Renaissance Singers. To join the online congregation, visit the Chaplaincy's website at 11am on 18 June, scroll down and select 'Livestreamed services' and then the 'View livestream' link
  Please only register for this event if you are attending in person.
  Venue: St Salvator's Chapel, North Street, KY16 9AL
  Contact: Email: chaplaincy@st-andrews.ac.uk

  12:00pm - 12:30pm Pier Walk
  For those who wish to recreate the tradition, join the Presidents of the Students' Association and Athletic Union, Juan Pablo and Ailsa, who will lead the way.
  Venue: Leaving from the cloisters following the Chapel Service and heading to the pier.
  Contact: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk

  2:00pm - 3:30pm What makes us human? (Register to attend in person) followed by tea/coffee
  

  SORRY THIS EVENT HAS NOW REACHED CAPACITY - PLEASE REGISTER TO WATCH THIS ONLINE OR EMAIL US TO BE ADDED TO A WAITING LIST

  Join us at the Wardlaw Museum for an interdisciplinary panel discussion of the 'What makes us human?' exhibition. Bringing together experts from across the University, from theology to philosophy, psychology to biology, this discussion, which will be moderated by University Chaplain Rev Dr Donald MacEwan, will consider whether we are really as unique as we like to think.  
  The discussion will be followed by a Q&A session. Tea/coffee will be available in the Learning Loft afterwards.
  Free to attend but registration required.
  NB The exhibition runs from 28 May - 17 September 2023
  

  
  Venue: Wardlaw Museum - 7 The Scores, St Andrews, KY16 9AR 
  From North Street walk down Butts Wynd and the Wardlaw Museum is on the opposite side of the road.
  Contact: Email: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk
  www.st-andrews.ac.uk/museums

  2:00pm - 3:00pm Come and sing!
  University Music Consultant Gillian Craig (MA 1977) and current Director of The Renaissance Group (St Andrews Renaissance Singers) invites former St Andrews choir members to an informal choral session, guaranteed to bring back some musical memories and lots of nostalgic favourites!
  Venue: St Salvator's Chapel, North Street, St Andrews
  Contact: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk

  2:00pm - 3:00pm What makes us human? (Register to join us online)
  Join us online at the Wardlaw Museum for an interdisciplinary panel discussion on the 'What makes us human' exhibition. Bringing together experts from across the University, from theology to philosophy, psychology to biology, this discussion, which will be moderated by University Chaplain Rev Dr Donald MacEwan, will consider whether we are really as unique as we like to think. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A session. You will be able to ask questions using the Q&A function.
  NB The exhibition runs from 28 May - 17 September 2023
  Venue: Register now to be sent a Microsoft Teams link in June. 
  Please note: You do not require a Microsoft Teams account to join the event.
  Contact: Email: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk
  
  www.st-andrews.ac.uk/musems

Useful information

Visit Scotland’s St Andrews Office can be found at:
70 Market Street
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9NU

Tel: +44 (1334) 472021
Email: StAndrews@visitscotland.com

Map

St Andrews map