The event, organised and hosted by the UoB Alumni Association Hong Kong branch Chair, Professor Veronica Pearson (MSc 1971) at the Hunan Garden Restaurant in Exchange Square, Hong Kong, presented an opportunity for the branch’s younger members to meet with Professor Thomas to reminisce over their time spent studying in the city.  Professor Pearson shares the Vice-Chancellor’s belief in the importance of young alumni as ‘ambassadors’ for the excellence of the University, and has encouraged their participation in running the Hong Kong Alumni Association, a responsibility which they have embraced with commitment and enthusiasm.

The dinner was an informal and relaxed evening attended by seven invited alumni. Those present represented both the distance learning MEd and EdD programmes and those who followed their studies in Bristol. For Jan Lee (1997) her time at Bristol was 'the most memorable and best year of her life', while Kenneth Ng (LLB 2010) remembers being impressed by 'how friendly and welcoming Bristol was', and Francis Hon (MSc 2005) recollected how 'the international experience, having made friends with fellow students from across the world, provided him with a much wider view of the world'. Patrick Lo (EdD, 2009) was impressed by the commitment of his teachers to their students and the collegial and supportive attitude among classmates.