Plantings
Global celebration
On 4 October 2021 we marked our 100th Birthday in a celebration which brought together our students, staff, partners, alumni, friends and supporters from all around the world. As part of this auspicious day we planted our first 'Centenary Tree' a Liquidambar styraciflua next to Centenary square at the heart of campus. The tree planted by our Vice - Chancellor Professor Nishan Canagarajah, Chair of Council Gary Dixon, Students Union President Rhiannon Jenkins and Students Union Education Officer AnneMarie Deeb is shaped like a flame, symbolising the hope for the future on which the University was founded 100 years ago.
Brookfield launch
On 27 January the University of Leicester Business School's Brookfield Campus was formally opened. The ceremony included the planting of a Centenary tree by Professor Dan Ladley, Dean of the University of Leicester School of Business, Professor Henrietta O’Connor Head of College of Social Science, Arts and Humanities and and VIP guest Sam Barnett (LLB Law 2004).
Brookfield was once home to Thomas Fielding Johnson, founding benefactor of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland University College.
Linda and Ray Perham
In true Centenary style, Linda and Ray Perham celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary on 9 April this year, after meeting as undergraduates at the University of Leicester in 1967. To mark the occasion they sponsored two of the University’s 100 Centenary Trees, choosing pear trees in honour of their name which means ‘pear tree by the village’. The trees stand together, planted outside John Foster Hall in Oadby, aptly placed across the street from Stamford Hall – Ray’s former hall of residence - which he remembers also looked out a fruit trees, back in the 1960’s.
The couple have enjoyed a wonderful 50 years of marriage, have two daughters and 4 grandchildren. Linda is the only female Leicester graduate to have been elected as a Member of Parliament (1997-2005) and was also a London Borough of Redbridge councillor and Mayor in 1994. Ray, a first class Engineering graduate, rounded off his career as Director of Surveying and Engineering for the Metropolitan Police.
American Friends
Whilst in the UK for the Centenary Celebration Dinner on 12 May 2022, members of the American Friends of the University of Leicester planted a Centenary 100 sequoia tree at Brookfield. Dr Lukas Stahl, President of the Board, and Debbie Stahl, Board Member, were joined by Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, to mark this momentous occasion and to thank the Board for their support of the tree and the Sanctuary Scholars appeal.
Michael Attenborough
On 9 June 2022 Michael Attenborough CBE helped to plant the University of Leicester: Citizen of the Century tree, a gingko at College House on main campus. This tree was planted to celebrate the University’s connection with the Attenborough family, who resided in College House from 1932.
Michael was on campus for the ‘Evening with Michael Attenborough’ event, one of several celebrations marking the University’s Centenary and coinciding with the Attenborough Arts Centre’s 25th year. The Centre was established in 1997 by Michael’s father, Lord Richard Attenborough.
Space Park Leicester
To commemorate the opening of the new Space Research Centre at Space Park Leicester, a horse chestnut tree was planted during the Centre’s launch event on 5 April 2022. This tree was planted by Emeritus Professor Alan Wells, founding director of the Space Research Centre, Emeritus Professor Ken Pounds CBS, founder of the University of Leicester’s Space Research Group, and Professor Mark Sims, Director of the Space Research Centre.
Alumni Association
The University of Leicester Alumni Association marked the centenary by supporting a sorbus tree at College Court. The tree was planted by members of the Alumni Association Committee, Martin Cullen, Chair and Lynda Wight, Vice Chair. Members of the Alumni Association were on campus on 1st October 2022 to enjoy the Friends and Alumni Day and for the Annual Alumni Meeting.
University of Leicester
A Victoria Plum tree has been planted on the Fielding Johnson lawn on behalf of the University of Leicester to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II marked 70 years since the accession to the throne, and the first platinum jubilee to be celebrated in the history of the British Monarchy. A Victoria Plum was chosen to mark the occasion as it is a native variety and named after Queen Victoria, the great-great-grandmother of Elizabeth II.
This tree was planted by John Oketch – Postgraduate Researcher in Genetics and Genome Biology, Dr Charly Feldman – post-doctoral research associate in the School of Physics and Astronomy, and John Thomas – Deputy Director of the University of Leicester Archaeology Services.