people, dressed in formal attire including tuxedos, suits, and elegant dresses, pose together in an ornate room with deep red wallpaper, dark wood paneling, and a large chandelier. The setting appears to be a historic or official venue, possibly a parliament or stately building, with a framed portrait and a large painting hanging behind them. Everyone is smiling or looking pleasantly at the camera in a celebratory group photo

Alumni, Fellows and supporters of Rose Bruford College with Professor Randall Whittaker | Photo by Paul Cochrane

Rose Bruford College marked its 75th anniversary with a celebratory reception at the House of Lords, with The Baroness O’Neill of Bexley OBE – Leader of Bexley London Borough Council and an Honorary Fellow of the College. 

The event brought together alumni, Honorary Fellows and supporters from across the creative industries and higher education. It was a moment to reflect on the College’s legacy while looking ahead to its future and the next chapter in its journey. 

Founded in 1950 by three visionary women – Rose Bruford, Edith Scorer, and Mary Henniker-Heaton – the College was established with a bold ambition: to redefine the boundaries of arts education. Today, that pioneering spirit remains central to its identity. With a new strategy focused on artistic innovation, inclusivity and social impact. 

Speaking at the event, Professor Randall Whittaker, Principal and CEO of Rose Bruford College, reflected on the College’s enduring influence and its ambitious plans for the years ahead: 

“Rose Bruford, along with Edith Scorer and Mary Henniker-Heaton, founded this College with a clear and radical vision: to make arts training accessible, socially purposeful, and rigorous. Rose imagined a place where arts education could be a force for personal growth and social impact, a vision that still resonates today. Seventy-five years on, we are proud to carry that legacy forward. But we are not doing so by repeating what came before. We are reimagining what arts education means in a world that is rapidly evolving.

 

And we cannot do this alone. The future of arts education demands collaboration. Not just between disciplines, but across industries, sectors, and borders. It requires the courage to move away from siloed thinking and embrace porous, unexpected partnerships. At Rose Bruford College, we are embracing this complexity. We are building new alliances, with technology, with industry, with communities, and with causes. We are making space for research, experimentation, innovation, and for the voices not yet heard.”

Alumni in attendance included Ray Fearon (current President) and Bernardine Evaristo (former President), as well as David Ajao, Michele Austin, Katie Brayben, Andrew Bruce, Ruth Connell, Rosalie Craig, Gordon Griffin, Jessica Hung Han Yun, Sara Huxley, Alex Jordan, Matthew Kemp, Joseph Millson, Jake Orr, Nick Stafford and Roy Williams OBE. Honorary Fellows present included Professor Maria Delgado and Toby Jones. 

As well as celebrating 75 years, 2025 has seen a number of successes for Rose Bruford College alumni and fellows – including recent wins at the BAFTA Television Awards, Royal Television Society and the Oliviers. You can also read our recent round-up of Alumni, staff and student news.