We are very pleased to confirm that HRH, The Duchess of Edinburgh, will formally open the Verena Holmes Building incorporating Kent and Medway Medical School, on Wednesday 26 April. She will arrive at the University at approximately 11.30-40am for a tour of the building before performing a short opening ceremony.

You will be aware that we realised the completion of the Verena Holmes building in early 2021, a significant new facility for Science, Technology, Health, Engineering and Medicine (STEM) in the South East, incorporating the Kent and Medway Medical School, complementing a medical school facility at the University of Kent, in joint collaboration. We are delighted to be able to name the building after Verena Holmes. Born in Ashford, Kent in 1889, Verena was the first female in the UK to be a full-time professional mechanical engineer, multi-field inventor and also prolific medical engineer who had twelve patents for medical devices of influence in her lifetime. I am delighted that Verena’s great-niece will be able to join us for the formal opening.

Unfortunately, due to a limitation on numbers and venue size, we are unable to accommodate everyone at the formal opening ceremony within the building. However, you are warmly invited to see the arrival or departure of the Duchess by gathering outside of the Verena Holmes Building on Abbey Plaza from between 11 and 11.15am and/or from 12.45pm. She will depart at approximately 12.55-1pm. The specific meeting points at both times will be facilitated by our Security Team and the Police. You are kindly invited to wear a lanyard displaying your Student smartcard if possible please, or have your Student ID visible. The Duchess will then travel to the University of Kent to formally open the Kent and Medway School and the Pears Building.

We look forward to seeing you on what will be an important celebratory occasion for our University.

How will the opening affect campus on the day

Verena Holmes building will operate normally, although there may be some brief restrictions in place.

Please also be aware of the following:

  • Closure of all parking at Old Sessions House (TOSH) including visitor parking and the Mauve car park at the back of TOSH until 3pm.
  • Pedestrians will be able to enter through Old Sessions House which will function as normal to pedestrians only.
  • The Polo Farm Shuttle service will move to the main Longport Road bus stop outside Governors House, restarting at the Old Sessions car park shuttle stop from 3pm onwards.
  • Please ensure that you have your student smartcard.

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