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| Oxford University Open Day
An unplanned stop at Kemble due to a rather confused stations master provided a roundabout route to Oxford University! Despite the delay, we managed to fit in a visit to ‘moo-moos milkshake bar’, after dropping off our luggage at Merton College. Next, a stroll to Trinity College where we discovered its beautiful grounds and historical buildings. Following this we visited Exeter College, ironically. At Lincoln College, we were offered a personal tour. This was the smallest of the places we were to visit. On our return to Merton College, Alec, the medical student, provided an insight into student life for under-graduates at the College. We stood on the sun dial lawn at ‘the centre of the universe’. Conveniently situated next to the tree that provided Tolkien the inspiration for the ‘Ents’ in the ‘Lord of the Rings’. Alongside the city wall bordering the gardens was the stone table around which C S Lewis based Aslan’s stone table. It was also the college of choice for Andrew Wiles, who solved Fermat’s Last Theorem. In the Quad we heard how at the change of the clocks the students traditionally dress formally and walk backwards around the quad for one hour until 3a.m. This is to balance ‘the space/time continuum’, all whilst drinking port! Dinner in the Hall was an impressive affair, during which we met a second year law student, Tom Elworthy. After a ‘non-alchofrolic’ evening in the Merton College Bar, we returned to the Grove. This beautiful building, consisting of student and tutor accommodation, gave us the opportunity to experience real Oxford life and a good night’s sleep was had by all. Waking up to another blisteringly hot day, we donned our sunscreen and headed to breakfast in the Hall. After a notification of Mrs Searle’s smashed car, back at school, we decided on a relaxing walk alongside the river. We sat on a bench surrounded by geese and ducklings, before returning to begin the morning itinery at Merton. This consisted of an informative talk from the Head Admissions Tutor and the opportunity to meet with the subject tutors. Armed and dangerous with a map, we followed lunch with a visit to the faculties of Law, Medicine and Mathematics. Mrs Searle also ventured around Keble College, discovering its vast and impressive grounds – it has the largest dining hall of all of the Oxford Colleges. A final treat awaited us in Radcliffe Square…… Brasenose College was recommended as one of Oxford’s leading colleges for Law. A very enthusiastic Mathematics student enlightened Mrs Searle. It transpired that a friend of C S Lewis, also a tutor at Brasenose, lived within the college. Having a reputation for waking late, his wardrobe had a door in the back, through which he could dress and immediately enter into the Chapel. This inspired C S Lewis’ magical wardrobe in the ‘Chronicles of Narnia’. All the while, we discovered Brasenose’s future potential as the college for us! Its friendly and welcoming entrance was full of happy and approachable students. Our tour guide, George, was not only easy on the eye but a true gentleman. He then kindly went out of his way to show us the Law Library, unique to Brasenose. After our inspiring two days at Oxford University, we enjoyed a gastronomic delight in the comfort of the air conditioned Wagamamas restaurant. Finally, while we sat in the busy station, waiting for our delayed train, it was not difficult to see ourselves on the very same platform in two years time. Our trip to Oxford offered not only the unique opportunity to gather information first hand from students and tutors but also reaffirmed our aspirations for the future! Lannie Churchill and Lydia Kay
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