With just over a week to go, King Edward VI College Stourbridge is preparing to welcome former students and staff back to campus for its major KE50 Alumni Celebration Event on Saturday 26 September 2026.
The event is one of the centrepieces of the College’s 50th anniversary year, marking five decades since King Edward VI College became a sixth form college in 1976. While the institution’s remarkable history stretches back to 1552, KE50 is celebrating the generations of students and staff who have been part of College life over the past half-century.
Hundreds of alumni, former colleagues, current members of the College community and local residents are expected to come together for an afternoon of memories, music, heritage and celebration.
The College is also delighted that the Mayor of Dudley will be joining the celebrations, helping to mark an important milestone not only for King Ed’s, but for an institution which has played a significant role in the educational and community life of Stourbridge and the wider borough for generations.
Visitors will have the opportunity to rediscover the campus through guided tours running throughout the afternoon, revisit memories through a special archive and heritage exhibition, and hear from former students and staff as part of panels reflecting on life at King Ed’s over the decades.
The celebrations will also include the burial of a KE50 time capsule, capturing a snapshot of College life in 2026 for future generations, alongside a special art exhibition and plenty of opportunities for alumni to reconnect with former classmates and colleagues.
One of the newest additions to the campus will also be on display: a specially commissioned KE50 mural created by former King Ed’s student and local artist Stacy Hammond.
Completed as part of the College’s anniversary celebrations, the artwork brings together elements of King Ed’s history, heritage and College life and includes a number of hidden details for visitors to discover. Its completion has particular significance for Stacy, who finished the mural 16 years to the month after first arriving at King Ed’s as a 16-year-old student.
There will be plenty of entertainment throughout the afternoon too. Live performer ‘Back To The 80’s’ will bring some of the decade’s best-known music to campus, while a DJ will take visitors on a musical journey through the last five decades.
A local artisan craft market will showcase independent makers and businesses, while event catering will be provided by The French Deli, with food, refreshments and a bar available to purchase throughout the afternoon. Visitors will also be able to capture the occasion with friends and family at a special KE50 photo booth.
Holly Bembridge, Principal of King Edward VI College, said: “We are now just over a week away from our KE50 Alumni Celebration Event and there is a real sense of excitement building across the College.
"This anniversary is about people. Over the last 50 years, thousands of students and colleagues have walked through our doors, each becoming part of the King Ed’s story. We cannot wait to welcome so many of them back to campus, to hear their memories, celebrate their achievements and give them the opportunity to see how the College has developed.
"We are also incredibly proud to welcome the wider Stourbridge community onto campus and delighted that the Mayor of Dudley will be joining us. It promises to be a very special afternoon celebrating our past, enjoying the present and looking forward to the next chapter of King Ed’s.”
Although the event has a strong alumni focus, the celebration is open to the wider community, with local residents, families and friends warmly invited to visit the campus and join the festivities.
The Alumni Celebration forms part of King Edward VI College’s wider KE50 programme, celebrating 50 years as a sixth form college and the people, stories and achievements that have shaped King Ed’s since 1976.
The KE50 Alumni Celebration Event takes place at King Edward VI College Stourbridge on Saturday 26 September 2026, from 12pm to 3pm. Further information, including how to reserve your free tickets, can be found here.
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