We are delighted to invite all former students (alumni) of Chelsea School which, over its significant history, has developed through the following iterations:
- Gymnastics Teachers’ Training Department
- Gymnastics Teachers’ Training College for Women
- Chelsea Physical Training College
- Chelsea College of Physical Education
- Chelsea School of Human Movement
- Chelsea School of Physical Education, Sports Science, Dance and Leisure
- Chelsea School.
As you know, today Chelsea School is a vibrant, active and academically robust school within the University of Brighton. We appreciate fully that alumni who studied with us before the creation of Brighton Polytechnic in 1970 (and subsequently the achievement of university status in 1992) will have had significantly different experiences as compared to our more recent graduates. Regardless of when you studied at Chelsea School, we hope that you will choose to join us for this reunion to celebrate the progress that the institution has made and to reminisce fondly on your own personal memories as a student.
The Chelsea School still occupies Hillbrow building but has expanded considerably. The school now has over 1,000 students. You may not have seen the sports journalism newsrooms, the suite of sports science laboratories (no longer in Bishop Carey and Sunneymead but in the old Welkin library which has been converted), or the new sports centre built round the swimming pool, Gaudick and Middle gym.
Chelsea Reunion Programme
The Chelsea reunion will take place on Saturday 13th November and the programme of activities will be focused upon the Hillbrow site in Eastbourne (map enclosed).
We hope that the reunion will provide all our alumni with an excellent opportunity to come back and catch up with friends and former colleagues, as well as meeting current students and staff.
During the afternoon, you will enjoy an exclusive private view of the Chelsea School’s student exhibition, The exhibition is a new feature at Chelsea. Annually, the best students will be invited to submit their work in a competition for posters, oral presentations and written work.
You will join guided tours of the facilities including our sports laboratories, watch sports matches between current and former students and hear all about the latest developments at Chelsea.
Professor Jonathan Doust, current head of the Chelsea School, will present a history of how the school has changed and developed, drawing on the Chelsea archive of photos from the very beginning, in the nineteenth century through to today. Year groups and other photos from the archive will be displayed.
Professor Doust said: “The Chelsea School is one of the oldest in the country and one of the few original PE colleges which has survived and developed into the twenty-first century as from the 1980s we added to the outstanding PE by expanding into sports science, sport and leisure cultures, and sport journalism. The school is proud of its alumni and I look forward to meeting you in May.”
As an added bonus, all our reunion attendees are invited to attend a special Fuelling the Flame event at 6pm, which looks at some of Chelsea School’s connections with the Olympics. The panel-style format provides first-hand insights from former athletes, coaches and other participants in Olympic events.
Speakers will include:
- Dr Steve Ingham, head physiologist for the English Institute of Sport. He’s worked with dozens of Olympics, been on numerous Olympic training camps, and attended the Games.
- Kate Allenby, Olympic Bronze medal pentathlete and member and former chair of the British Olympic Association Athletes Commission.
We are working closely with colleagues at Chelsea School to finalise details for the reunion and the Fuelling the Flame event and a full programme will be available in due course.
Tickets for the reunion are priced at £10 per person and can be booked online at www.brighton.ac.uk/bga/events/chelsea2010.php or contacting the Development and Alumni Office 01273 642600. Non-alumni guests are obviously most welcome to attend the reunion if you wish to bring friends and/or family members. As mentioned above, all reunion attendees will be invited to attend the Fuelling the Flame event following the reunion afternoon at no additional cost.
We hope that you will wish to join us for this reunion and look forward to hearing from you soon.
If you would like us to assist in making contact with any of your former course mates, would like information on booking accommodation or have any other questions about either event, please do not hesitate to contact us.
With best wishes
Sarah Grant
Alumni engagement manager
PS – As part of this reunion, we would be especially interested to identify alumni from all years who would be willing to participate in a new alumni chapter for Chelsea School, which will form part of the existing Brighton Graduate Association, but which will seek to maintain the unique Chelsea School spirit and to advise on future activities and events.
