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Degree ceremonies > The Riviera Centre, Torquay

The Riviera Centre, Torquay

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10:45 13:45 Arrival, Registration and Robing The Riviera Centre, Torquay
10:45 14:00 Official photographer available during these hours only
13:00 14:15 Graduates and guests to be seated
14:30 16:00 Ceremony takes place
16:00 17:00 After the ceremony a glass of sparkling wine or orange juice will be served in the Arena Hall and Rosetor Room
16:00 16:45 Graduates to return robes to the robing area

On the day

Arrival and registration

Registration opens at 10:45. Please use the main entrance to the Riviera Centre at the front of the building and follow the Open University signs to the appropriate registration desk. At registration graduates will be given an envelope containing guest tickets and a presentation card with their name and seat number on it. Please keep your presentation card safe and make sure you sit in the seat allocated to you.

Robing

Please register before collecting your robe. Graduates who have paid to hire robes should collect them from the Robing Area in the Arena Hall (1st floor), which is clearly signposted. All robes should be returned by 16.45.
Details of gowns can be found under Helpful info.

The ceremony

The ceremony will take place in the Forum Hall, which will be open from 13:00. Graduates will be seated en bloc with fellow graduates in presentation order. It is important that graduates occupy the seat shown on their presentation card. Guest tickets are not numbered.  Guest seating is on a first come, first served basis.  Some seats may be reserved for those with mobility problems. Graduates and guests should be seated by 14.15.

Access

For graduates, there is a ramp onto the stage. Graduates will then walk across the stage, down another ramp and follow a circuitous route around the back of the hall to return to their seats. For further information please contact the Ceremonies Team on +0044 (0) 117 9299 641 or email: South-west@open.ac.uk

If any guests are wheelchair users or have mobility problems, please contact the Ceremonies Team at least 4 weeks before the ceremony to make the necessary arrangements. Telephone: +44 (0) 117 929 9641 or email: south-west@open.ac.uk

Pronunciation

If your name has an unusual pronunciation that you would like to clarify for your on-stage presentation, please telephone the Ceremonies Team on +44 (0) 117 929 9641 as soon as possible to ensure that the Graduate Presenter pronounces your name correctly.

Photography

The photographers will be available from 10:45 until 14:00 (scrolls are provided).
Details of the service provided by Ede and Ravenscroft Photography Ltd can be found under Helpful info.

Refreshments

After the ceremony the University would like to offer you and your guests a glass of sparkling wine or orange juice, this will be served in the Arena Hall or the Rosetor Room.

Contacts

Please note, all information about this ceremony will be sent via e-mail. If we do not hold an e-mail address on file for you this mailing will be posted. For any queries before the ceremony please contact The Open University in the South West, 4 Portwall Lane, Bristol, BS1 6ND.  Telephone +44 (0) 117 929 9641, Fax +44 (0) 117 988 8067 or e-mail south-west@open.ac.uk 

Address

The Riviera Centre
Chestnut Avenue
Torquay
Devon
TQ2 5LZ
 

Telephone number

+44 (0) 1803 299 992

Website

www.rivieracentre.co.uk

On the day contacts

If there are any urgent messages on the day of the ceremony please ring The Riviera Centre on +44 (0) 1803 299992. The Riviera staff will pass the message to the ceremony organiser.
 

The location

Torquay

Torquay has a pleasant charm with its white villas, coastal scenery, beaches and carefully kept gardens and in the nineteenth century was a fashionable haunt for the upper classes, including Agatha Christie who was born there in 1890 and referred to many places in this area in her best-selling books.
 

The Riviera Centre

Located amongst the seven hills of Torquay overlooking Torbay, the Riviera Centre is one of Britain's finest purpose built conference, exhibition, leisure and entertainment complexes.

There are several bars and catering outlets within the Riviera Centre, including the Bay Brasserie, an á la carte restaurant, you are advised to make a reservation to avoid disappointment. The Centre is also very near to the sea front and shopping areas of Torquay, where there are numerous restaurants, pubs and hotels.
 

Overnight stay

Information about overnight accommodation in the area is available from the English Riviera Tourist Information Centre on +0044 (0) 1803 297428. Staff there will be pleased to assist. Let them know you are attending the OU graduation ceremony at the Riviera Centre. Alternatively you can e-mail: torquay-tic@torbay.gov.uk or visit the website at: www.englishriviera.co.uk.

Further accommodation and tourist information is at: www.westcountrynow.com
 

Getting there

By car

The Riviera Centre is in the centre of Torquay and is only 6 miles from the A380 and the M5. The M5 connects Torquay with the national motorway network.

Please allow ample travel and parking time as queues are frequently encountered on the roads into Torquay at peak times.
 

Parking

There is limited pay and display parking at the venue. However there are a number of car parks in the vicinity, the closest being the Torre Valley South car park in Walnut Road, Shedden Hill car park in Belgrave Road, and Abbey car park, also in Belgrave Road.
Please allow plenty of time to negotiate the traffic and to park. Further information about car parks can be found on the following website: http://www.torbay.gov.uk
 

By train

High speed trains serve the Torquay area from all parts of the UK. The Riviera Centre is approximately 600 metres from Torquay Railway Station.
 

By bus or coach

Coach services to Torquay are available. National Express run from many destinations.

Facilities

Refreshments

The Bay Brasserie is an a' la carte restaurant. If you wish to book a table please contact the Riviera Centre well in advance of the ceremony. There are several bars and catering outlets within the Centre. The Centre is also very near to the sea front and shopping areas of Torquay, where there are numerous restaurants, pubs and hotels.

Access

There is reasonable access within the Riviera Centre for people with mobility difficulties or using wheelchairs. There is level access on the ground floor with a lift to the first floor where robing and photography take place.

Seating in the Forum Hall balcony is quite steeply tiered and there are steps to negotiate.
 

Cloakroom

Cloakroom facilities are available for a small charge.
 

Children

Children are welcome at the ceremony. However because of the length of the ceremony it may be unsuitable for very young children who may disturb the ceremony for others. Please note that children cannot sit with graduates during the ceremony, and that pushchairs are not allowed in the hall. Children of four and over must have a separate ticket and seat.
 

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