OXFORD DAY OUT

I am beginning to wonder if the dream was some kind of sinister warning. If it was, it had not worked. I have decided that the time had come to start the search for my lost family. Nothing would deflect me from that.

We had an interesting day out in Oxford today. I actually live in High Wycombe, but will soon be moving to Oxford for the start of the University term. The college that I will be studying at is Lady Margaret Hall (LMH). Rosie and I have already seen the college when I attended for an interview, but today was Jim’s first look around.

We checked in at the Porters Lodge and were met by Brenda a third year undergraduate. She had kindly agreed to give us a tour. As we stood in the front Quad Brenda related a bit of background information on the college.

Jim’s attention was drawn to the architecture of the Quad. Looking around he asked if the College had been built in one go, or had evolved over a period of time. Brenda said that the original site of the College was a Victorian building, essentially a large house. Wordsworth, the first of four buildings for LMH, designed by Reginald Blomfield, was opened in 1869. She pointed to a building at the far end of the Quad, on the right. The Talbot building was completed in 1910. It is named after the founder of LMH, Edward Talbot. We could see the building straight ahead. It is the focal point of the Quad, and for many years served as the main entrance to the College.

Jim inspected the imposing building at the far end of the Quad. It was built in the Greco-Roman style from red brick and ornate limestone. The entrance to the Talbot building was bordered by five long curved stone steps. Above the steps was an elegant porch with a domed roof, supported by pillars. Jim asked when the building work was completed. Brenda said that she believed that it was finished in the mid 1960’s - That’s when the library on the left, and the Wolfson West building, containing the new main entrance and Porter’s Lodge were built.

Jim’s face registered a little surprise. He indicated that he thought that the builders had done a grand job, as all the buildings blended very well together, and the bricks matched perfectly. There followed a quick tour of the Talbot building, with its wood-panelled walls, main lecture hall and the original college dinning room. The library was visited and then we were guided back outside and into the Quad. The whole effect, the quadrangle, the red brick and the arches, reminds me of a Roman palace, I said.

Centenary Gate was a rather grand name for a passageway between Eleanor Lodge and the Wordsworth building. It led out into the College gardens. The grounds are truly stunning - beautiful trees, and stands of wild grasses and flowers. Walking down a gravel path to the side of the Wordsworth building, we entered the Sunken Garden. Even Jim, who was not a great gardening buff, just a humble mower of lawns, was impressed by the enormous copper beach tree, which took centre stage in this part of the College grounds. Iridescent copper red leaves danced in the breeze, with branches fanning out to brush the ground in an explosion of vibrant colour.

The College is very close to the river, and punting is a favoured activity of the students in the summertime. We set off down another gravel path and through a trellised walkway, decked with climbing plants that had grown to form an enchanting green tunnel, splashed with white and pink flowers. The tunnel ended in a path that traced its way along the edge of a narrow canal. To the other side of the canal was the University Parks. The canal served as a mooring for punts (a type of boat) and fed directly into the glimmering grey-green waters of the Cherwell. On the far bank of the river was a pretty meadow dotted with ancient trees. We finished our tour by visiting the student accommodation at the Deneke building, and also took a look at the college chapel.

This was going to be a great place to hang out. I was already looking forward to it.

Next up, Brenda led us off to meet with Dr Frank Malone.......