Mrs. Taylor – see above – always looked so regal in her costume.The headmaster and deans sat at the top table and the seniors came in singing the Boars Head Carol.
The boar’s head in hand bring I,
Bedeck’d with bays and rosemary.
And I pray you, my masters, merry be
Quot estis in convivio (Translation: As many as are in the feast)
CHORUS
Caput apri defero (Translation: The boar’s head I offer)
Reddens laudes Domino (Translation: Giving praises to the Lord
The boar’s head, as I understand,
Is the rarest dish in all this land,
Which thus bedeck’d with a gay garland
Let us servire cantico. (Translation: Let us serve with a song)
CHORUS
Our steward hath provided this
In honour of the King of Bliss;
Which on this day to be served is
In Reginensi atrio. (Translation: In the hall of Queen’s College, Oxford)
There was a Christmas tree bedecked with ornaments and streamers made by the students and entertainment galore. Throughout dinner we had jesters and tumblers come through the hall. Each dorm then showed off their little acts of song or dance or theatrical creations. The faculty always sang Silver Bells and after dinner we sat at our tables singing Christmas Carols with overhead lights dimmed and the Christmas Tree lights sparkling in the night. The evening culminated with our Elfie reveal and each dorm had an appointed Santa. It was a leisurely evening full of fun and excitement and for our children – just a little bit of magic.
