{"id":14496,"date":"2025-04-24T07:53:10","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T07:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/?p=14496"},"modified":"2025-04-28T12:09:42","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T12:09:42","slug":"reuniting-the-tribe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/2025\/04\/24\/reuniting-the-tribe\/","title":{"rendered":"Reuniting the Tribe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For English language and literature<\/a> alumna Celeste, the University of Reading\u2019s oldest hall of residence, Wantage Hall, holds a very special place in her heart. Whilst Celeste\u2019s first year was actually spent in St Andrew\u2019s (now MERL), it was Wantage where she not only \u201cfound her tribe\u201d but also where she married in 2003.<\/p>\n

Celeste and her friends have reunited plenty of times over the years since graduating in 1997, but she revealed to CONNECTED why this reunion \u2013 held in November 2024 \u2013 was particularly special.<\/p>\n

Memories of Reading<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOur best shared memories were nights at \u2018the Nob\u2019 [Queen\u2019s Head], a \u2018cheeky half\u2019 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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cOne of my best memories was helping to organise an \u2018Anti-Valentine\u2019s\u2019 party when I was secretary of the English Society. The strapline was \u2018ditch your partner, bring your mates\u2019 and it was in the cellar of what is now Be At One on Gun Street \u2013 it went really well!\u201d<\/p>\n

The reunion<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Celeste shared what the group got up to and how the reunion came together. She said: \u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the start of 2024 I realised that it\u2019s been 30 years since starting at the University, so I contacted the group and suggested we celebrate the fact we\u2019ve known each other for all this time! And where better to do it than back where it all began \u2013 in Reading.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThis reunion was also extra special because we were joined by one friend who we hadn\u2019t seen for nearly 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"The group spent the day reminiscing and revisiting the landmarks which featured in their favourite memories \u2013 mostly pubs! Celeste said: \u201cWe 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 \u2013 just as beautiful today as it did in our student days and when I got married there.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe explored the grounds, followed by the dining room and the Junior Common Room \u2013 which is where my wedding ceremony was held in 2003 \u2013 and we managed to take some photos to commemorate us being back.\u201d<\/p>\n

After leaving Wantage Hall the group went on a tour of their old stomping grounds. Celeste said: \u201cWe had lunch at \u2018The Nob\u2019 which looks very different inside now, then we went to The Lyndhurst which is exactly the same as it was 30 years ago \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friends for life<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Reflecting on this special day, Celeste shared that the reunion brought a tear to her eye.<\/p>\n

\"\"She said: \u201cWith my eldest son going to university this year, I have been reflecting on how these friends have been the ones that I\u2019ve made for life \u2013 university can be a place where you can \u2018find your tribe\u2019 \u2013 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: \u2018Every pint a toast anew, to the friends we never outgrew.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSeeing each other again really cemented the fact that the song is right \u2013 we\u2019ve never outgrown each other.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Celeste added: \u201cHuge thanks to the Alumni Team for helping me to organise the day with the visit to Wantage Hall, which made it all the more special for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you are thinking about organising your own alumni event and would like some advice and support, please email\u00a0alumni@reading.ac.uk<\/a>. You can also\u00a0find out more information about organising your own reunion here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\u2019s oldest hall of residence, Wantage Hall, holds a very special place in her heart. 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