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Issue 4 | Oct 2024

EXETER COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the autumn edition of the Exeter College alumni newsletter.

Many big sporting tournaments are now in full flow and some are still to get underway with rugby fans ready to enjoy some North hemisphere versus South hemisphere clashes through November. Alumnus Luke Pearce is now a professional rugby referee, and celebrated overseeing his fiftieth test match early in spring 2024. Read on for an interview in which Luke talks about his journey from College to world rugby, and beyond.

As always, thank you for being part of our Exeter College community!

ALUMNI STOP PRESS

We love to bring you good news stories about alumni who are finding success. Tell us about your latest achievements so we can share these across our channels.

Anna Grayson studied an Access to Art and Design course with Exeter College from 2012-13. She had previously enjoyed a successful career in science and broadcasting, before making the move to professional artist. Earlier this year, she was invited to feature for the fifth time in the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition. Anna told us, “I knew I would enjoy my third age career, but had not expected this level of success at this late stage of my life. Thank you, Exeter College.”

See Anna's work

Exeter College alumnus, Mike Tweedie, graduated from his Catering course in 2010, becoming South West Chef of the Year in 2012. He has worked in some of the best kitchens in the South West during his career to date. Mike recently gave an interview to Devon Life magazine in which he talked about his journey to Adare Manor and his position as Executive Head Chef of The Oak Room which, under Mike's expert leadership, has retained its 1 Michelin star for 5 years in a row. Mike's creations are led by the seasons, and he will be talking about this, and more broadly about the future of the food industry, at the Food on the Edge Festival at the end of October.

More on The Oak Room

Former student and College patron, Michael Caines MBE DL, will also be talking about food sustainability at the University of Exeter on 26 November.

Learn more and register

BOOK RELEASE | BRAND LAUNCH | AWARD | WHATEVER IT IS |

LET US KNOW

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FESTIVE SEASON

View menus and book

The College's student-run @ thirty-four restaurant is celebrating after achieving a Gold in the restaurant category of the Food Drink Devon Awards 2024. If you are starting to make plans for festive celebrations, the restaurant will remain open until mid-December. Book early to avoid disappointment.

RECENT COLLEGE NEWS

The College is supporting the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan with the provision of a new Level 5 Health Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship. The Apprenticeship is designed and delivered in partnership with Plymouth Marjon University.

Read the full story

Adult learners had much to celebrate in summer 2024 as they received results for subjects across a range of levels and specialisms. There were successes for GCSE students (Maths was 11.4% ahead of the UK average for high grades), Access to Higher Education and more.

Read the full story

Interested in returning to study at Exeter College?

Exeter College continues to offer an exciting and broad range of courses and training opportunities, from professional and Higher Technical Qualifications, to adult essential skills, and leisure courses. The Adult Advice Team welcomes enquiries - their Hub is open 9am-9pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4pm on Fridays. You can also contact them on 01392 400170 or by email at adultadvice@exe-coll.ac.uk.

The Adult Learning and Higher Technical Education Open Event will take place in the new year on 12 March 2025. Come along to ask your questions about returning to study.

More on adult learning at Exeter College

LUKE'S STORY

Luke Pearce will be a familiar face to rugby fans. These days he officiates on both the national and international stage, recently refereeing as part of the Rugby Championship in Australia and closer to home in Premiership matches. Joining the College in 2005, Luke studied A Levels alongside playing for the Rugby Academy. He went on to graduate from the College's Foundation Degree in Sports, Fitness and Coaching, achieving his full undergraduate degree at Plymouth Marjon University before his rise through the ranks of England Rugby.

Read the full feature

Photo credit: PPA UK

My first massive accomplishment was refereeing in the Premiership and then, like in any job, you have the ambition to go further and further. The European Cup, the World Cup and internationals, that’s the real pinnacle and the reason why we all do it. I won’t be refereeing forever though, so with the course at Exeter College I have something behind me and I won’t just be falling out of the sport in my mid-forties.”

WE NEED YOU

In 2025 we will celebrate 55 years of Exeter College being the UK's first tertiary college. To commemorate this marker in the College's history we would love to share any memories of your time at Exeter College. Please contact us with your stories and photos. Still in touch with friends and peers from your studies here? Ask them to do the same.👇

Perhaps there is another milestone or a theme you feel we should celebrate or recognise? We would welcome your thoughts and feedback.

Send us a message

Learn more

ISSUE 6 IS COMING...

Look out for the next issue of the EXE magazine in your upcoming newsletter early in 2025. This new edition will showcase some of the lesser-known areas of our provision, as well as providing a look back at our 55 years.

You can access all back issues of EXE magazine on the College website.

Browse all

The next Exeter College newsletter will be sent out in January 2025. If you wish to unsubscribe from these newsletters at any time, please do so using the unsubscribe link in the footer of this message.