5 June 2007

Dundee alumni set for homecoming

Former students of the University of Dundee will return to the city from every corner of the globe this month to help celebrate the institution’s 40th anniversary.

A special Homecoming weekend is being staged in and around the city from June 15th to 17th, with events ranging from golf on the Open Championship course at Carnoustie and a picnic at Glamis Castle to a gala dinner and dance in the Caird Hall.

As well as events for alumni, the general public are also being invited to join the celebrations, with the Michael Peto exhibition of rare photographs of The Beatles open throughout the weekend and a series of keynote lectures led by broadcaster, comedian and former University Rector Fred Macaulay.

The Homecoming weekend is part of the year-long celebrations marking the University’s 40th anniversary.

"We are delighted to be having former students coming back to Dundee from as far afield as Australia, Singapore and the United States for our Homecoming weekend," said Dianne Pemberton-Pigott, Head of Alumni Relations at the University.

"This is a chance for them not only to catch up with old friends and classmates, but also to witness how the University and the city have progressed. I am sure many of them will see a tremendous change both on the University campus and in the city as a whole."

"We have put together a tremendous programme for the weekend and we would be delighted to see the people of Dundee join us and help to make it a really special event."

The public lectures all take place on Saturday June 16th and will be held in the Tower Building and the Queen Mother Building. The talks will cover the activities of all of the colleges in the University, and include contributions from Baroness Clark of Calton, Fred Macauley, Professors Nick Wade, Andrew Morris, Mervyn Rose, Peter Garland, Peter Mossey and Chris Whatley, and curator of the University’s museums collections Matthew Jarron.

The Michael Peto exhibition of Beatles photographs - "Now These Days Are Gone" - is on display in the Queen Mother Building in Balfour Place, in the heart of the University’s city campus. There will be a special opening over Homecoming weekend, with viewing times from noon to 5 pm on the Saturday and 11 am to 4 pm on the Sunday.

There is also a virtual gallery of artwork from 50 prominent graduates of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design being displayed online. The work of artists including Derek Robertson, Eunice Harvey, Francis Boag, Angus McEwan and Jackie Cartwright can be viewed and bought through the website at www.dundee.ac.uk/homecoming2007/art

More information on all Homecoming events is available on the website at www.dundee.ac.uk/homecoming2007 or by contacting the Alumni Relations office - tel 01382 385608 or email alumni@dundee.ac.uk

For media enquiries contact:
Anna Day
Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: a.c.day@dundee.ac.uk