City College Plymouth welcomed back over a dozen of its alumni yesterday (Wednesday 22 October 2025) for a very special anniversary dinner celebrating 50 years since the hospitality students first started their courses in 1975.
The anniversary dinner, attended by 14 of the class of 1975-1977, took place in the College’s student-run PL1 restaurant and featured a nostalgic menu full of specially selected classic dishes from the 70s – all of which were carefully recreated by the College’s current hospitality and catering students.
The menu choices included prawn cocktail with Marie Rose sauce, chicken chasseur with creamy mustard mashed potatoes, and upside-down pineapple sponge cake with custard.
The event represented a significant “full-circle” moment for many of our guests, some of whom have not returned to the College site since they completed their course in 1977.
Jos Wellman – a semi-retired chef whose five-decade career has seen him cook for royalty, heads of state, and multiple US presidents – said: “It’s nice to come back to the College environment where I feel comfortable. I’ve only been able to have the career I’ve had from the grounding I got from the College.
He added: “My advice to current students is simple: learn the classics. Get them down and then progress from there. Get to know the science behind the food.”
Current level 3 student Lily Boultwood, who was serving at the event, said: It’s really special to see the alumni back here, and to see how they’ve gone from completing a course similar to mine to achieving so much in their careers over the years.”
Jamie McMurrich, City College’s Chef Lecturer who helped coordinate the event, said: “It’s a privilege to work at an event such as this. For our guests to be returning students of 50 years ago is extra special. I started my own catering career here at City College back in 1996, and I think an event like this represents the strong connection we have with our alumni as a department. This type of event is also so important for our current students, as it can help inspire and motivate them in relation to their own aspirations.”
