A GROUP of about 40-plus international students from the Farnham campus of the University of the Creative Arts (UCA) was recently given a special welcome to the town at an evening reception in the Great Hall at Farnham Castle.

The evening, which was hosted jointly by Farnham Town Council and the Rotary Club of Farnham, was designed to introduce the town and the Farnham community to the students, who came from a wide and diverse range of countries stretching from Japan, China, and Mexico to Norway.

In his welcoming speech to the students, the Mayor of Farnham, John Ward, described to them the long history of the town. He recommended that they spend time exploring it, looking at its buildings and their architecture, and meeting and getting to know the residents.

Dr Roni Brown, deputy vice-chancellor of UCA, affirmed the value to UCA of its international students; through the wider background and experience that they brought to their studies, than their purely British counterparts. She also stressed the success that a number of the UCA international alumni had achieved, derived from their time at UCA.

George Alford, president of the Rotary Club of Farnham, in his welcoming speech, described the Rotary movement’s international work, singling out as a prime example, the partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the eradication of polio.

He paired this with a local Rotary event, the Cyclathon, being organised by the Rotary Club in Farnham on Saturday, February 25, 2017 in support of the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice and other local charities.

He encouraged the students to form teams to join in this, as a way of contributing to the Farnham community and also of making new local friends.

After enjoying the speeches, food and drink, the students were able to enjoy a tour of the castle.