Lord Laidlaw visits eponymous Music Centre

We were delighted to welcome Lord Laidlaw to the Laidlaw Music Centre last month to thank him in person for one of the transformational donations that made this wonderful building possible.

While he was here, Lord Laidlaw was also able to meet this year’s recipients of the Laidlaw Scholarship Programme in Research and Leadership, which equips students with the skills and values to become leaders in their chosen discipline beyond university.

University of St Andrews leads Hydrogen Train project

An innovative Hydrogen Train project led by the University of St Andrews has successfully completed its next phase of testing and is on track to help the Scottish Government meet its ambitious Net Zero carbon targets.

University marks the opening of the Entrepreneurship Centre

Renowned entrepreneur and business start-up strategy expert Hugh Chappell recently delivered a keynote speech at the official launch of the University of St Andrews Entrepreneurship Centre at the Eden Campus, Guardbridge. The Centre was officially opened by Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE, who said: "This is an important moment in our journey to embed entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking within the University of St Andrews".

Launch of Kaleidoscope Alumni Network

Join us in person or online on Monday 28 November 2022 at the Laidlaw Music Centre for the launch of the Kaleidoscope Alumni Network. Help us to celebrate the ethnic and cultural diversity of St Andrews graduates around the world and the significant contribution made to our society by underrepresented diverse ethnic communities. Programme details to follow.

Save the date: London Alumni Carol Service

We are delighted to announce the return of the annual London Christmas Carol Service at
St Columba’s Church, Pont Street on Wednesday 7 December 2022 at 7pm. Registration details to follow - please save the date now!

Save the date: St Andrews Alumni Carol Service

Join us in person or online for this year’s St Andrews Alumni Carol Service on Wednesday 14 December at 7pm (GMT) in St Salvator’s Chapel. The Service will be conducted by the University Chaplain – Revd Dr Donald MacEwan – and the carols led by the University of St Andrews Renaissance Singers. Please mark your diary now for this festive highlight!

General Council

The next meeting of the General Council of the University of St Andrews will take place on Saturday 26 November at 10.30am in Parliament Hall. The Chancellor, Lord Campbell of Pittenweem, will preside, and the Principal, Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, will deliver the University Address.

General Council members will be sent a link to the billet (meeting paper) before the meeting. Printed copies of the billet will be available at the meeting and can also be requested in advance from the General Council Office.

Alumni Stories

We welcome stories from alumni about your time here, your journey since leaving and what the University of St Andrews has contributed to that journey.

This month, Anita Lai (MLitt 2016) describes her journey via the US and St Andrews to becoming a successful entrepreneur and making the top three of the British Council Study UK Alumni Social Action Awards in 2021.

Email the editor if you would like to share your story.

SaintsFunder

This month’s spotlight falls on the Legacy60 project,  which is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the University of St Andrews Boat Club and building on its past achievements by fundraising for a new senior racing eight. This will help the next generation of rowers to compete at the highest level of UK university rowing.

We were delighted to hear that Ryan Glymond – a Boat Club member – has been selected to represent GB at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals 2022.

SaintsFunder is open to all students, alumni and University staff, so send your ideas to SaintsFunder@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Saints Talk

Our most recent Saints Talk – ‘How to make Sustainability the norm at the University of St Andrews’ – was by Sustainability Services Manager, Alexander Clark on Tuesday 18 October at 5.15pm BST.  

If you've missed this or any of the previous Saints Talks you can watch them again here.   

Meet the Author: Watch again

Head to our YouTube channel to watch Emma Seckel (MA 2017) discuss her novel The Wild Hunt.

The Wild Hunt is a stunning debut: it is rich with historical detail and is deeply imaginative. It has been named BuzzFeed’s Best Historical Fiction Book of Summer, Lit Hub’s Best Book of Summer and Crime Reads’ Most Anticipated Book of the Year.

Alumni Authors

Laidlaw Live

Many of our concerts are live-streamed on Facebook and on our YouTube channel where you can also watch recorded performances from previous events. 

We were sad to learn recently that Brian Johnstone (MA 1973), poet and founder of StAnza had died. A memorial concert was held in the Laidlaw Music Centre for him. Watch the memorial concert in celebration of Brian Johnstone.

Reconnect!

If you know someone who would like to reconnect and sign up for St Andrews in the News, they can do so using the links below:

alumni: Update your contact information 

parents/guardians of undergraduate students: Register to join the Family Programme

email: alumni@st-andrews.ac.uk for more information