Over 1000 visitors attended a family day out to celebrate the 100th anniversary of West Suffolk College and Eastern Education Group (EEG) – valued Chamber Patrons.
The occasion took place on Out Risbygate Street in Bury St Edmunds and offered the chance for the community to come to together to celebrate this centenary landmark.
The educational establishment was originally set up as an adult training centre at the back of The Rising Sun pub in Bury St Edmunds teaching around 100 students back in 1925.
Today it supports around 15,000 people via institutions that include not only West Suffolk College, but Abbeygate and One Sixth Form Colleges, University Studies at West Suffolk College, outreach centres in Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, as well as a number of SEND schools based across East Anglia.
Dr Nikos Savvas is the CEO of EEG. He said: “Eastern Education Group (EEG) is the community. We are driving society forward. We give people hope, ambition and we nurture them. We are preparing every new generation for the very exciting journey ahead of them. Today shows the deep foundations that EEG has within the community and the love and support that everyone has for us. Thanks to everyone who came along and our amazing staff for creating this fantastic event.”
Max Doherty, 17 from Bury is a performing arts student who took part in some flash mobs. Max said: “The college has been a staple for Bury that has been helping people for over 100 years – It’s amazing – and it’s helping me.”
Organiser, Carrie Edwards, the head of marketing and brand for Eastern Education Group said: “100 years is a massive achievement. The group is an educational stalwart and today was important to give something back to the community. “