ABERYSTWYTH University marked its 149th anniversary on Friday, 15 October with a Founders’ Day procession from Old College to kick the bar at the north end of the Promenade.

The annual event commemorates the day when 26 students were welcomed to the Old College, a converted hotel, by Principal Thomas Charles Edwards in October 1872.

The procession was led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Elizabeth Treasure, and featured student representatives, members of staff and elected representatives and members from the local community.

With the Old College closed for renovation, this year’s Founders’ Day reception was held in the Medrus conference facilities on the Penglais campus.

This year’s guest speaker was The Right Hon Liz Saville-Roberts, MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, an alumna of Aberystwyth University having graduated in Celtic Studies in 1987.

Speaking at the reception, she said: “It’s great to be back here in Aberystwyth, and to be invited to mark such an important date in the University’s calendar.

“It gives me great pleasure to see the university’s commitment to Wales as a nation progressively confident among the nations of the world.

“The students who travel here from far and wide, as I did myself, come to Aberystwyth to be transformed.

“The knowledge and skills offered to them by this university will be the tools with which they fashion a future for humanity in our fragile environment.

“And for this, I think our founders would be proud.”

Prof Treasure said: “It was a delight to be able to host our Founders Day celebration this year.

“The past 18 months have been most challenging for everyone and it was wonderful to be able to meet representatives from the town and the wider community in person and to thank them for all their support during the pandemic.

“The history of the University is one of people from all walks of life coming together to realise a vision, that is today providing one the best student experiences in the whole of UK.”