I made it back to Oxford this week just in time to attend the Encaenia -- the ceremony in which Oxford bestows honorary degrees on worthy recipients.
Sometime mid-morning the Heads of Colleges, university dignitaries and the honorands gathered in their full academic dress, at one of the nearby colleges. They then walked in formal procession to the Sheldonian Theatre. Since I was seated inside the Sheldonian, I missed the procession walk this year.
The University dignitaries entered the theatre in procession; those who are to receive honorary degrees waited in the Divinity School where they signed their names in the Honorary Degrees Book. They were then escorted into the theatre by the Bedels, the folks with the large staffs.
The proceedings were opened by the Chancellor and each honorand was introduced by the Public Orator with a speech in Latin and admitted to his or her new degree by the Chancellor. This year's honorands included the playwright Tom Stoppard.
Also included were Honourable Andrew Li Kwok Nang, Dame Anne Owers, Professor Anthony Grafton, Professor Ingrid Daubechies, Baroness (Tanni) Grey-Thompson (one of Britain’s most successful Paralympic athletes), Mr Colin Smith, and Murray Perahi.
Sir Tom Stoppard received his degree from the Chancellor.
After the degrees were conferred, the Orator delivered a very funny Creweian Oration (in English) on the events of the past year and in commemoration of the University's benefactors. This year (being an alternate year) the Professor of Poetry delivered the second part of this speech and it too was very witty. Then everyone was off to the garden party...
....what I call the Venerable Wizard's Party, or Dress-up Day at Oxford.
Case in point!
My favorite wizard wore his Stanford robe.
The party was held this year at Trinity College and the grounds were absolutely lovely. Tea, strawberries and cream, and small sandwiches were served, along with champagne and lemonade.
I know the caps and gowns are supposed to make one look dignified and accomplished but who thought of a lamp shade for a hat?
I used to think that J.K. Rowling was so creative and clever as she described the young wizards in training at Hogwarts. Now I know that much of what she described came from what she saw at Oxford and Cambridge.
Clayton and Christine Christensen and family (Anne, Kate and Mike) attended the garden party with us. It was such an honor to spend the afternoon with them! Even Clayton got in on the act and wore his Harvard robe while Kate sported a lovely hat.
If you go down in the woods today you're sure of a big surprise
If you go down in the woods today you'd better go in disguise
For every Wizard that ever there was will gather there for certain
Because today's the day the Oxford Wizards have their picnic
