King Gong!

This is the great gong in the Hall of Christ Church (the Hall is used as Hogwart's Hall in the Harry Potter films) that will signal the beginning of a College Feast that essentially marks the start of the new Academic Year. At the "Autumn Gaudy" this year we welcomed back as our guests those who first arrived as undergraduates between 1966 and 1971. So these are former undergraduates who are at or nearing retirements, and many have achieved great distinction in their careers. Here we see the Hall filling up with some of the guests.

After the gong is struck, the Latin grace will be intoned, and at the conclusion the world-renowned cathedral choir will take over with the "Grace Anthem", always a musically moving moment as one voice is replaced by many at exactly the correct pitch. This evening's anthem was a setting of Psalm 33 by Ludovico da Viadana (1560–1627).

Before the singing starts, the choir study their parts. And here is their conductor, our Director of Music, in the resplendent robes of a Doctor of Music. I could not resist this further photograph of the conductor talking to one of our "Honorary Students", Lord [Robert] Armstrong, Secretary to the Cabinet 1979–1987, and credited with bringing the phrase 'economical with the truth' into popular usage! The point of showing this couple together is that Lord Armstrong's father, Sir Thomas Armstrong, formerly (1933–1955) held the posts of Organist and Director of Music here, before he became Principal of the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Well, a Feast requires good food and wine, and the oferings on this occasion were very fine indeed. We might as well have a look at the menu, which will show what we ate and drank. Before me here is the spectacular main course, with its Beef Fillet and Braised Short Rib..

Here you see the view I had looking at the sparkling silverware on High Table.

I had the pleasure of sitting next to a former pupil of mine, now Baron Neuberger of Abbotsbury. He is President of the Supreme Court of the UK, and was Master of the Rolls 2009–2012. I said that our guests have reached high distinction, and David's case illustrates the value of a rigorous training in science (in his case Chemistry) in a wide range of subsequent careers.

Within the body of Hall, most of the guests are obviously enjoying their Feast, despite someone's belief that bright coloured LED lighting enhances our magnifient Tudor Hall!

An excellent evening with fine food and wine and outstanding company! The Academic Year is off to a promising start...