Bristol SU Celebrates 100 Years of Student Representation
On Friday 11 April, Bristol Students’ Union celebrated a major milestone: 100 years of representing, supporting, and standing up for students at the University of Bristol.
To mark the occasion, we welcomed back over 90 former sabbatical officers to relive their Bristol SU experience and see how far we’ve come over the years.
There are people here today who I have not seen for 25 years or more! Its as although no time has passed really, which has been so nice!
Back in October 1924, we officially became the University of Bristol’s Students’ Union. Since then, we’ve been working hard to make student life better; creating spaces for students to relax and connect, fighting for positive change, and ensuring student voices are heard at every level.
From protesting tuition fees in 1998, to staging sit-ins for more student influence in university decision-making, to hosting the legendary ‘Beanaza’ in 1999. Bristol SU has long been a powerful source of inspiration, activism, and community.
These words were echoed by current Bristol SU CEO, Ben Pilling who said; “The fact that so many people have chosen to make the trip for this event is a testament to the impact that an SU experience has on people’s lives.”
Jonathan Phillips, the General Secretary for Bristol SU in 1994, also spoke at the event and said; “Every campaign, every decision, every action you’ve taken as Officers and staff has made a genuine difference.” Today, Jonathan works as the Chair of the Alumni Association at the University of Bristol, he attributed a lot of his current success to his time as a sabbatical officer.
In my first year, I felt unfulfilled… I looked for an opportunity. And I found it in the Students’ Union…For every hour I gave, I got tenfold back.
The centenary celebration began with guided tours of our spaces, led by the current officer team and SU staff. This was a chance to show off the unions brand-new home in Senate House, following the move from the Richmond Building last year. This shift brought Bristol SU even closer to the heart of campus, making it easier than ever for students to access support, get involved, and feel part of our community.
Into the late afternoon, guests gathered for a special reception where they had the chance to browse through archives of old Bristol SU materials, including campaign posters, Officer Team photos, newsletters, and more. For many, it was a trip down memory lane, sparking stories and joy from across the decades.
One of the highlights of the evening was welcoming back Mike Barnes, the oldest returning officer in attendance, who first took up their post as Treasurer in 1972. His speech reminded guests just how far the SU has come, and how much the spirit of student activism, community, and fun has remained constant throughout the decades.
Suzanne Doyle, the Governance and L&D Manager at Bristol SU, organised the event and was pleased to finally see a reunion take place in our spaces.
Speaking after the event, Suzanne said; “This event was a natural way to mark 100 years of the SU, but it’s just the beginning. We’ve built an incredible archive and reconnected with so many brilliant former officers and we’re excited to keep that momentum going through projects going forward. I want to pass on a huge thank you to everyone who made it happen, including SU staff, university colleagues and officers."
We’re incredibly proud to mark 100 years of Bristol SU, and we’re even more excited for what comes next.
Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate, and to the generations of students who have helped shape the union we are today.
