About OKA
The Old Kingstonian Association (OKA) is the alumni organisation for former students of Sutton Bonington Campus. Now home to the world leading University of Nottingham's School of Biosciences and School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, the campus has seen many changes during its history.
The origins of the campus stem from the Midland Agricultural and Dairy College, which was situated in the nearby village of Kingston-on-soar. The former college site is now long gone but it still lends its name to the organisation. After the First World War, the college was relocated to the current, larger, site in the village of Sutton Bonington. Prior to the opening, the residential buildings of the new college were used to house German prisoners of war during 1914-1918.
Following the first student reunion in 1910 and the establishment of a student association in 1911, the Old Kingstonian Association was formed in 1921 by former students of both Kingston and Sutton Bonington sites. In 1948, the University of Nottingham was awarded its Royal Charter. The college at Sutton Bonington merged with the university and became the School of Agriculture & Horticulture. Since this time many new buildings have been built and the campus developed to house world leading teaching and research in biosciences. More recently the campus expanded significantly and 2006 saw the opening of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science.
Further major developments continue to this day with the most recent being the completion of ‘The Barn’ in December 2014, centralising all student amenities into one new space. OKA plays a very important role in campus life. OKA distributes generous donations from alumni to projects that enhance life for current staff and students at Sutton Bonington. In the past this has included funding for the entertainment marquee, the SB Bake off and assisting the start up of the very popular Sutton Bonington Farmers' Market.
While major infrastructure and the student & staff body is constantly changing, the aims & ethos of OKA have remained unchanged. Every year OKA put together a record of campus life during the past 12 months, this becomes the campus journal - Agrimag; which can be viewed online by OKA members. As well as Agrimag, reunions are organised in November and June for graduates to come back together on campus.
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