Back to Campus after 50 years

We were delighted to welcome the class of 1974 to The Park campus, and Francis Close Hall, for a reunion with more than 40 former students and their guests.

They were welcomed to The Park by the Chaplaincy Team, led by Reverend Canon Simon Witcombe, and toured the grounds with colleagues including our Student Ambassadors.

The group then visited The Chapel at our Francis Close Hall campus, for a service lead by Reverend Nigel Scotland, who was Chaplain while the group were attending St Mary’s.

University of Gloucestershire has evolved in the county over decades, and St Mary’s is one of our predecessor institutions. It was a nationally recognised teacher training college for women, while St Paul’s College – based at what is now known as Francis Close Hall – offered teacher training to men.

The two colleges merged in 1979, becoming the Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education in 1990. If you are planning and reunion and would like us to help you spread the word, or if you have any other queries, please get in touch at [email protected]