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Exeter Cathedral *ARCHIVE*

From To Activity
08.30 10:15 Arrival, registration and robing
09:00 10:15 Official photography in the Chapter House
10:00 10:30 Graduates and guests to be seated
10:30 11:00 Organ music recital
11:00 12:30 Ceremony takes place
12:30 14.30 Post-ceremony celebratory drink
12.30 14.30 Robe return in the marquee

This page was last updated on 10.04.2017.  This is the FINAL version.

On the day

Arrival and registration

You are advised to arrive early and not later than 10.15. The registration desk is located in the marquee positioned left to the Cathedral. At registration you will be given a seat ticket for yourself and the number of guest tickets for which you have already paid. You will also receive a blue drinks voucher for yourself and your paid guests.  At the same time you will be given your presentation card. Please take this with you into the Cathedral as you will need to hand it to one of the marshals as you go up on stage to be presented for your award. Please ensure that you sit in the seat allocated to you.

At the end of the ceremony Graduates will follow the recession out of the Cathedral. Please arrange to meet your guests in the marquee for your post-ceremony drink.

Robing

The official robe hire company is Ede & Ravenscroft Ltd.  If you wish to buy or hire academic dress, you are advised to do this as soon as possible after booking your place, but absolutely no later than 10 working days before the ceremony. Further details of gown hire arrangements can be found under Important information. 

Hired robes will be available for collection on the day of the ceremony.  The robing area will be located in the marquee.

All robes must be returned by 14:30

Photography

The official photographers are Ede and Ravenscroft Photography Ltd. 

The studios will be located in The Chapter House which is on the right-hand side of the Cathedral and will clearly be sign-posted. Please allow plenty of time and be prepared for a wait.  The studios will be open 08:30-14:30.

Where possible, a photograph will be taken of you as you cross the stage for your presentation.  This photograph can be viewed and purchased online a few days after the ceremony, at http://edeandravenscroft.com (click on Graduation Services, then Online Gallery).

Cameras and hand held video cameras are allowed in the Cathedral during the ceremony. Please take care not to stand in front of other guests or in aisles where graduates are queuing when using this equipment.

The Ceremony

Graduates and guests may enter the Cathedral from 10.00 and should be seated by 10.30 at the latest. Graduates will be seated with fellow graduates in presentation order. It is important that graduates occupy the seat shown on their pink entrance ticket. Guest seats are numbered, guests will find their seat number on their yellow entrance ticket.

Pronunciation of your name

If you have an unusual name, please telephone the Ceremonies Centre on +44 (0)1908 541079 as soon as possible, at least three weeks prior to the ceremony, so that the Graduate Presenter can be made aware of the correct pronunciation.

Post-ceremony drink

Immediately after the ceremony, you and your guests are warmly invited to enjoy a celebratory glass of sparkling wine in exchange for your blue drinks voucher which will be served in the marquee, situated on the green to the left of the Cathedral. 

Access

There is level access to all areas of the cathedral. All wheelchair users need to be accompanied by a helper and for safety reasons are required to remain in their chairs during the ceremony. Graduates who are wheelchair users will be presented with their award on the stage (where possible). If you or your guests require special arrangements and have not advised us, please contact the Ceremonies Centre on +44 (0)1908 541079 or email Ceremonies@open.ac.uk as soon as possible.

 

Venue information

Contacts

All information about this ceremony will be sent via e-mail. If we do not hold an email address on file for you this mailing will be posted. Please contact the Ceremonies Centre on +44 (0)1908 541079 or email ceremonies@open.ac.uk if you have any queries.

Address

Exeter Cathedral
1 The Cloisters
Exeter
Devon
EX1 1HS
 
Website

Overnight stay

Exeter has a wide range of guest houses and hotels with many within walking distance of the Cathedral.

Getting there

By Car

Exeter Cathedral is situated in the centre of Exeter and is only approx. 6 miles from the M5 and is clearly signposted. Please allow adequate time for your journey and car parking, at peak times there are often queues into Exeter.

Parking

There are several car parks near to the Cathedral, the nearest is Cathedral & Quay Car Park which is approx. 5 mins walk away. It is a multi-storey car park with approx. 395 spaces. A list of all car parks can be found at www.exeter.gov.uk, transport and streets, parking. If you have any difficulties with mobility, please ask to be dropped off near to the Cathedral and then the driver can go and park the vehicle. There is no disabled parking that can be reserved near to the Cathedral.
 

By train

Exeter has good rail connections with most parts of Britain. The main Exeter St David’s station is a 20 minute walk (which is mainly uphill) and Exeter Central station is about a 10-15 minute walk from the Cathedral. There are better taxi facilities from Exeter St David’s station.

By bus, coach, air

Exeter has a good bus and coach network, see website
Airport - http://www.exeter-airport.co.uk/ (Please note that Exeter Airport is situated outside of Exeter City Centre)
 

Facilities

Refreshments

The venue is located centrally in the city and there are many café bars and restaurants nearby should graduates and their guests wish to have something substantial before or after their ceremony.

Toilets

There are toilets situated on the right-hand side of the Cathedral in the courtyard and also there will be a provision of portable toilets available immediately outside the main entrance of the Cathedral. Facilities for baby changing and those with disabilities can be found in the courtyard of the cathedral.

Cloakroom

There are no cloakroom facilities available at the Cathedral, so you are asked to only bring the essential items with you. Pushchairs will be able to be left at the sides of the Cathedral during the ceremony.

First Aid

First aid facilities will be available throughout the ceremony.

Emergency evacuation

Should the need to evacuate the Cathedral arise, an announcement will be made on the public address system. Graduates and guests will be marshalled out by Open University and Cathedral staff.

Children

Although it's natural for graduates to wish all their family to be in attendance at the celebration of their academic success, a degree ceremony is quite lengthy and can be rather tiresome for small children.  If you do decide to bring young children, we ask that out of consideration to other guests, you remove them from the hall should they become restless during the speeches.

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