Looking back at a remarkable 125th anniversary celebration

Ian Rowley is Harper Adams University's Executive Director for Institutional Impact and Engagement – and had a front-line seat as preparations for the institution's 125^th anniversary celebrations came together.

In this guest blog, he looks back at a remarkable two days for the University.

It’s hard to believe that this time last week, busy Events, Estates and Grounds teams were putting the finishing touches to transforming the Harper Adams University graduation marquee into a launch venue for its 125^th anniversary. 

The front of the marquee had been converted into a banqueting space for 250 guests and diners and a reception area was taking shape at the rear of the marquee with the feel of a contemporary gallery for presenting current research activities as well as important artefacts and images from the institution’s past. 

The scene in front of us looked amazing - thanks to the work of the Harper Adams Global Impact team and colleagues - and everyone’s excitement was palpable. 

The two-day launch of Harper Adams University’s 125^th anniversary celebration provided lots of high points – an insightful speech made by the University’s Chancellor Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal; the award of three honorary doctorates to actress Felicity Finch, comedian Ed Byrne and civic & business leader John O’Brien MBE; four panel discussions involving collaborators, alumni and former university leaders and staff; and the first of 125 special anniversary awards to students, alumni and employees in recognition of outstanding contributions to our community and wider society. 

And if that wasn’t enough there was a big wheel and an anniversary cake - enough for 800 slices!

Lots of these wonderful moments have already featured on social media and the wonderful photographs taken by Max MacGillivray at Beanstalk Media and the Harper Adams team provide authentic and lasting memories which I’m sure will find their way into the University’s archive for future generations to muse over. 

For me though, two aspects of last week’s launch events stand out as being especially noteworthy. 

Firstly, the importance of partnership and collaboration to Harper Adams University. 

Many critical aspects of last week’s activities were achieved through genuine collaboration with external individuals, organisations and businesses: the support of Noble Foods as principal partner of our anniversary celebrations; Tesco’s creation of a menu championing the best of British agriculture, prepared and served on campus by Tesco working alongside Harper Adams’ catering team; award winning wine from Halfpenny Green Vineyard and non-alcoholic drinks from Wenlock Water (both companies owned by Harper alumni); and financial support for the anniversary programme from members of the newly-formed 1901 Club.

I apologise in advance to those I’ve unintentionally excluded, but you get the idea!

I thank every one of the 125^th collaborators and supporters for their vision and support.  A specialist university like Harper Adams needs to work in partnership to access skills and ideas that are complementary to our own.  We call this “HA+” and have a lapel badge, which we present to all those we partner with.  I wear mine with pride. 

Second, those present at last week’s launch events would have heard our Vice-Chancellor Professor Ken Sloan describe Harper Adams as a “green brick” university.

Despite being founded in the same decade as the group of universities now known as “red brick” universities, Harper Adams forged a different path.

Located in a rural area, as a specialist science institution, Harper Adams’ research and teaching has always been grounded through working with food, water, land, soil and nature.

Intriguingly, brick makers have a name for a brick before it has been fired. They call it a green brick - it has shape, but it has not yet set.

We have adopted the term green brick to help us to communicate the impact of our research and innovation – past, present and future. 

Green brick will be the golden thread of our 16-month anniversary celebrations - it will be explained properly in December through an exciting collaboration with faculty and lighting design students at Rose Bruford College, and will frame a compelling case for support when we launch the University’s first ever Development Campaign next summer. 

Thanks to Jim Tudor and the brilliant Future Index team for working with academic and professional services colleagues on the creation of the green brick concept and narrative and to those colleagues - and the Global Impact team - for generating the first wave of green brick stories that were on display in the marquee last week and can be read at harper.ac.uk/125. 

Thanks to everyone involved – we came together to make the difference!