30 years on from stepping into Wantage Hall as students, Celeste Garib and eight friends huddled under its arched entrance on a rainy Saturday afternoon for a very special reunion.
For English language and literature alumna Celeste, the University of Reading’s oldest hall of residence, Wantage Hall, holds a very special place in her heart. Whilst Celeste’s first year was actually spent in St Andrew’s (now MERL), it was Wantage where she not only “found her tribe” but also where she married in 2003.
Celeste and her friends have reunited plenty of times over the years since graduating in 1997, but she revealed to CONNECTED why this reunion – held in November 2024 – was particularly special.
Memories of Reading
When this group of students met at the University 30 years ago, little did they know they would still be friends today. Celeste shared how their friendships developed and which landmarks of Reading played host to their favourite memories.
She said: “We were all at Reading between 1994 and 1997. Some of the group were at Wantage Hall in their first year but others, such as myself, came into the group through those who were on the same course.
“Our best shared memories were nights at ‘the Nob’ [Queen’s Head], a ‘cheeky half’ at the Fruit Bat [now the Monkey Lounge bar on Erleigh Road] whilst revising for our final exams, and meals at the Sardar Palace on London Road.
“One of my best memories was helping to organise an ‘Anti-Valentine’s’ party when I was secretary of the English Society. The strapline was ‘ditch your partner, bring your mates’ and it was in the cellar of what is now Be At One on Gun Street – it went really well!”
The reunion
Celeste shared what the group got up to and how the reunion came together. She said: “We have met up over the years for different occasions such as weddings, big birthdays or a Christmas celebration, but it is tricky as we live all over the country and most of us have children. We rarely get together in Reading.
“At the start of 2024 I realised that it’s been 30 years since starting at the University, so I contacted the group and suggested we celebrate the fact we’ve known each other for all this time! And where better to do it than back where it all began – in Reading.
“This reunion was also extra special because we were joined by one friend who we hadn’t seen for nearly 20 years.”
The group spent the day reminiscing and revisiting the landmarks which featured in their favourite memories – mostly pubs! Celeste said: “We began at Wantage Hall where we were met by a member of the University of Reading Alumni Team and a student ambassador who showed us around our old hall. It looked exactly the same – just as beautiful today as it did in our student days and when I got married there.
“We explored the grounds, followed by the dining room and the Junior Common Room – which is where my wedding ceremony was held in 2003 – and we managed to take some photos to commemorate us being back.”
After leaving Wantage Hall the group went on a tour of their old stomping grounds. Celeste said: “We had lunch at ‘The Nob’ which looks very different inside now, then we went to The Lyndhurst which is exactly the same as it was 30 years ago – even the toilets! We had a quick drink at The Retreat which is a tiny backstreet pub, to humour my husband, and then a bite to eat in town.
“Our grand plan was to end up at The Purple Turtle, but age, weather and the massive queue to get in scuppered that idea. Instead we returned to our hotel for a final drink and a chat.”
Friends for life
Reflecting on this special day, Celeste shared that the reunion brought a tear to her eye.
She said: “With my eldest son going to university this year, I have been reflecting on how these friends have been the ones that I’ve made for life – university can be a place where you can ‘find your tribe’ – and I certainly found mine at Reading. After the reunion, one of our group used an AI tool to write a song about the get-together and one of the lines brought a tear to my eye: ‘Every pint a toast anew, to the friends we never outgrew.’
“I would encourage other alumni to hold their own reunions. It takes a bit of planning but it was worth it and everyone was glad they had made the effort to join.
“Seeing each other again really cemented the fact that the song is right – we’ve never outgrown each other.”
If you are thinking about organising your own alumni event and would like some advice and support, please email alumni@reading.ac.uk. You can also find out more information about organising your own reunion here.
