On Saturday 6th July, 200 Bedford College alumni and former colleagues gathered at Regent’s University London as part of celebrations marking 175 years since the founding of Bedford College. Alumni also joined from around the world via a live stream.

The event, entitled ‘First Principles’ involved a series of talks, delivered by current and former colleagues and students, on the founding principles of Bedford College and how these principles remain relevant to the University today.

Now Regent's University London, the site in Regent’s Park was originally built for Bedford College - which relocated there in 1913. This was one several location changes for Bedford College as student numbers grew and course offerings expanded. Bedford College spent the best part of 72 years at this site, expanding to include buildings across Regent’s Park including The Holme, St John’s Lodge and Hanover Lodge.

Speakers at the event included Dr Katie McGettigan whose talk explored the founding principles of Bedford College as evidenced in Elizabeth Jesser Reid’s letters and Professor Felix Driver - who focused on four Bedford College alumnae who made an impact in the world, Madeline Rooff, Dora Smee, Shanti Rangarao and Monica Cole. Jenny Brock, a former Bedford College student and member of staff then spoke about the admission of men into Bedford College in 1965. You can watch the talks here.

Royal Holloway Archive Assistant Heathcliff Newman and Royal Holloway Art Collections Officer Peggy Ainsworth (on behalf of Archive Assistant Gareth Hughes) also presented their research project ‘Adventurers All, Bedford Travel Stories’. This project looks at the founding motives of Bedford College and the international direction of the College, identifying Bedford College as an institution with values and principles that transcended any one fixed place.

The 175th anniversary is being celebrated throughout 2024 and you can watch recordings of the flagship events that have taken place so far on our anniversary webpage.

There have also been smaller gatherings, including a recent visit of former Bedford College colleagues and alumni to the Bedford archive, which is part of the archives housed on our Egham campus.

The Bedford College archive is extensive and contains some of the earliest records relating to the history of higher education for women. Anne-Marie Purcell, Archivist and Special Collections Curator, and Dr Naomi Lebens, Head of Cultural Services, guided guests through the archives, highlighting how they are stored and categorised and drawing out key pieces.

Throughout the anniversary year, Bedford College alumni, past colleagues and friends are being invited to bring alive, and preserve for future generations, the essence of Bedford College by helping to fund a Project Archivist to work on the Bedford College collection.