Cambridge Letter

May Week: June, 1979

Several informal O.P. dinners have been held this year, as usual, as well as an immense tea in honour of G. Fawkes, Esq., O.P., in Richard Sharpe's rooms; the other principal events have been the now annual party after Cambridge Regatta, when we are especially pleased to welcome present members of the School and O.P.s from the mud-brick universities, and the so-called Literary Luncheon, when this collection of half-truths is fabricated.

Senior O.P. and man of letters is Richard Sharpe (Temple 1967-72), whose published writing this year has been confined to contributions to such popular journals as `Eriu' and Tigse'. He has continued his rise towards the Head of the River and is now a regular boat oarsman. Unlikely to leave Trinity in the near future, a porter has said of him, 'They'll put up a statue when that chap leaves.'

Ph.D. students Richard Harland and Paul Townsend (both Manor, 1968-73) have continued active in lab, office and elsewhere this year: Paul has played hockey for Christ's, while Richard has been playing regular away matches in London. Our other graduate, James Harrison (Queen's, 1969-74) led a Corpus rugby tour to Jersey this year and was returned by courtesy of Larry 0. Watsaprin of the local constabulary. He leaves Cambridge without an oar, but with the distinction of having coached the fastest women on the Cam.

Alone in the third year is Ian Heavens (Temple, 197o-75), a mathematician who has developed a sudden interest in legal matters. Oarsman and cox, he now claims that the notorious Clare-Homerton Badminton Club of previous O.P. letters never even existed. Other notable sportsmen in Clare are Christ `Yorkshire Grit' Harland (Manor) and Stuart Newstead (Queen's both 197176). A blue, and next year's university squash captain, Chris confines his aquatic interests to Trinity fountain. Stuart has been particularly active in college cricket, football and hockey; has represented the university in the Varsity Arres Match and has also been involved in the Clare Punts and May Ball, He regards as his major achievement this year the restoration of the late-night bar; the college is paying him to go away this summer.

Our sole political hack is Howard Gatiss (Queen's, 1971-76), C.U.C.A. member, Trinity J.C.R. secretary and economic adviser; he describes himself as somewhere to the right of Genghiz Khan. This year his musical prowess has been largely restricted to the famed Corpus Bar Piano, where he has displaced the Dean of College as our resident accompanist. Christ Hirst (Temple 1971-6), in St. John's, was unlucky to miss a cross-country half-blue this year, but made up for it by winning the Boundary Run (for the second year running) and the Varsity Orienteering Match; being an orienteer, he has changed to physics.

Across the backwater from Chris lives Julian Turner (Queen's, 1971-76), our star oarsman and stroke of Magdalene 1st boat. A May-ball profiteer, he still insists on wearing a cravat for his rare appearances in the engineering labs. At the other end of the rowing scale is Graham Pattie (Temple, 1971-76), whose boat failed to secure a place on the river. Occasional vegetarian and founder-member of the short-lived Caius smoothies society, his Acapulco style has seemingly failed to impress his landlady. Graham is a Stop Pre 114