Kent students, local residents and alumni from across six decades gathered in Canterbury this weekend for a first-of-its-kind festival celebrating life at the University of Kent and its 60 year legacy.
The three-day cultural festival combined student-led exhibitions and performances, campus walks and dance parties in an eclectic programme that showcased the full breadth of the University’s educational offering, research and campus culture.
‘It’s been a delightful weekend,’ reflected David, an alumnus who’d travelled from Beckenham with his partner Diane. ‘We’ve enjoyed all the music – even the rap music! the medieval mapping of the world exhibition for the Humanities in the Templeman was excellent, and the comedy was good last night.’
David refers to the Weekend Warm-Up in the Colyer Ferguson Hall, where an all alumni cast – Laura Lexx (host of the comedy Bureau), Adam Dorr and the legendary punk poet Attila the Stockbroker entertained with their talents late into the night.
For those like David, who that weekend watched people play pickleball in the same sports hall that hosted Led Zeppelin in their prime, the event offered a reminder of how much has changed since they first attended university.
‘I graduated in 1972 when it was all peace and love. We came in the summer of ’69 and in the six-week period of July and August you had the Stones in the Park, the moon landing, Dylan at the Isle of Wight and Woodstock. And then at the end of the summer, you came to university, so it was a good time!’
The Saturday saw a full day of exhibitions, performances and talks across Kent’s academic schools and societies. Student entrepreneurs pitched their wares at the Business Marketplace on the lawn, visitors toured the campus’ new River trail, and the FREEDOM exhibition took community members on an exploration of freedom through the eyes of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.
All of this culminated in Kent Students’ Union’s Culture Fest on the Templeman Lawn, which featured some outstanding performances from up-and-coming student musicians, including Tayo Fanifosi, Kent Gospel Choir and the Kent Gospel Choir.
Himadri, Kent Students’ Union President for 2025/2026, said, ‘It has been an honour to be able to present the immense talent we have across Kent. This is one of the events which shows why Kent is special. Kent is community, Kent is ambition – Kent is Kent because of its people and we need to cherish that for ever.’
As the Solstice sun began to set, festival-goers gathered on the slopes for a picnic overlooking the city, soundtracked by Kent’s student DJs and glittering in festival make-up courtesy of Kent collaboration partners Fenwick. Tracey Connage, Justina Emanuel, Wendy Roach, Natasha Fearon, Angela Haynes, who all made friends whilst studying at Kent in the 1980’s, returned together in matching ‘Fabulous at 60’ t-shirts. ‘I loved my time here,’ Wendy told us before heading off for a costume change for Alumni Diamond Gala Dinner. Held in Rutherford Dining Hall and supported by Chartwells, the dinner provided a more formal occasion for reflection and celebration between students and Alumni. Speeches from Captain John Platt – one of the ‘First 500′ students in the 1965 Group -, current Sanctuary scholar Aws Khalid and Kent Students’ Union President Himadri celebrated Kent present, whilst Chancellor YolanDa Brown who will be taking on the role as Chancellor of the London and South East (LASE) University Group when it forms on 1 August, heralded the next era of Kent.’
The evening also featured a special Diamond Draw, generously sponsored by Fitzgerald Jewellers of Canterbury, adding an extra touch of excitement to the celebrations and supporting the University’s anniversary fundraising activities. The lucky winner kept the precious stone close, wearing his backpack all night long at The Venue’s Dance through the Decades dancefloor!
After a moment of reflection on the past 60 years led by Medway Chaplain, Reverend Christa Brodie-Levinsohn on Sunday morning, the festivities came to a close to the bossa nova rhythms jazz musician, Earl Okin, another of our first 500 students who regaled us with tales of those pioneering students who created the culture of Kent in 1965. His performance over brunch in the Colyer Fergusson Hall was the perfect end to a weekend of connection, collaboration and community.