Long time alumni volunteer on inspiring the next generation

CONNECTED – Reading's digital alumni and supporter magazine – spoke to Reading graduate and ex staff member, Peter Must, about winning the Alumni and Supporter Volunteer of the Year at the 2024 Celebration of Volunteering.

We'll be sharing more CONNECTED stories on the Staff Portal, showcasing the impact our alumni make on the world once they've graduated from Reading. 

Here's Peter's story. 

Peter studied Philosophy and English Literature at Reading, graduating in 1965, but his connection to the University goes back over 100 years. He explained: “My mother was a student, alongside her sister – my aunt – at the University College Reading back in 1923-25, both reading domestic science. They were amongst the last college students before it became a university in 1926.

“I also met my future wife, Sheila, at Reading when we were both members of St David’s Hall on the London Road campus. We’ve now been married for 57 happy years.”

Shortly after graduating from Reading, Peter returned as a member of staff – and here he stayed for 32 years until his retirement. Peter said: “In 1972 I became the first Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Urban and Regional Studies, followed by Examinations Officer and then Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Social Sciences, which was largely housed in what is now the Edith Morley building.

“Having gained my education and spent much of my employment at Reading, alongside my family ties here, I’ve always been very grateful and affectionate towards the University.”

‘Inspire the next generation’

Peter’s volunteering journey began when he took over as Secretary of the Old Students’ Association (OSA) in the 1970s and helped to produce the OSA magazine, which then became Reading Reading, and is now known as CONNECTED. Peter then became a Committee member of The Friends of the University of Reading in 1984 and was instrumental in arranging for The Friends to become a registered charity in 2017, when he became its Secretary. Peter also volunteers as Chairman of the Wokingham Society, which be began in 2009.

On winning the Alumni and Supporter Volunteer of the Year award, Peter said: “I was astounded when I was nominated for the Celebration of Volunteering award, not least when I discovered I’d won it. I’m very grateful but totally surprised. I hope I can inspire the next generation of volunteers with my story. I really am chuffed.”

Stay CONNECTED

Read more of Peter’s story in CONNECTED – the University of Reading's digital alumni and supporter magazine, which shares inspiring stories from our alumni community. Want to stay connected to what's happening in our alumni community? Sign-up to receive CONNECTED via email by contacting alumni@reading.ac.uk.