Stephenson College: join our 25th anniversary celebration

The Railway 200 celebrations fittingly coincide with the launch of our upcoming Connection 25 campaign to mark Stephenson College’s 25th anniversary, starting in January 2026. Our College was established in 2001 along with John Snow College as part of the University’s Stockton campus, moving to the city of Durham and into our current home in 2017.

The focus for the anniversary is to connect current students and staff with alumni and supporters of the College, to celebrate our wonderful history, and to create opportunities for students, alumni and friends to contribute to shaping the community now and in the future. We will be sharing our aspirations for the next five years and fundraising to make those plans a reality.

“It is an exciting time for Stephenson College as we mark the remarkable convergence of milestones — 200 years since the world’s first passenger railway journey right here in the North East, and 25 years since the founding of our college. Both are powerful reminders of how far vision, determination, and community can take us. As we get ready to celebrate our 25th anniversary, we’re excited to connect with alumni over the next 18 months for a series of special events that honour our shared past and look ahead to an even brighter future.” Katie Stobbs, Principal of Stephenson College

Railway 200 themed event

We will mark the Railway 200 anniversary Michaelmas Term with a Railway 200 Locomotion Dinner in College, which promises to be ‘an opulent Orient Express-themed evening, with elegant attire, jazz music and décor reflecting the glamourous train journey’.

George Stephenson

Pioneered by the College namesake, George Stephenson, rail transport was one of the most important technological inventions of the 19th century and a key component of the Industrial Revolution.

Built by Stephenson and his son, Robert, Locomotion No 1 was the first steam locomotive to carry passengers on a public rail line.

George went on to build the first public inter-city railway line in the world to use locomotives, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, which opened in 1830.

Starting the anniversary celebrations early…..

Alumni and friends of the College will be welcomed to an informal out-of-hours Christmas get together hosted by the Principal on 4 December at The Railway Tavern in Whitechapel, London. All are welcome and you can register for the event here.

There is also a spring event planned for the 11 March, again in London, and a reunion weekend in Durham in July 2025. All are welcome. Details will be circulated at the start of October.

Looking to the future

The anniversary will continue into the 2026-27 academic year. We will be producing a special anniversary issue of our Year in Review publication – this one will be 25 Years in Review and will be collated through the year to mark the milestone. The anniversary will seek to secure funding to support our community and engage our alumni to share advice and experience with students.

Read more: 

• About Stephenson College 
• About Railway 200 
• About our alumni community 

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