This past July, I joined friends from around the world in Oxford, England to celebrate our time spent studying there 30 years ago. I was there during the fall of 1993, as part of a St. Olaf study abroad program, at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (CMRS), affiliated with Keble College. Ours was the very first reunion over there for any CMRS group.
The first day of the reunion included a tour of the beautifully-renovated facilities at CMRS, a look at the rare books collection housed there, and a memorial for our beloved friend and fellow student, Phil Morehead (Carleton, ’95), who passed away from cancer in 2019. That was followed by a private guided tour of Christ Church, New College, the Divinity School, and Keble College, led by erudite Blue Badge guide Aaron Hunter. It was wonderful to spend time in the Side Chapel at Keble, being awed once again by the original of William Holman Hunt’s The Light of the World. Finally, we met our beloved CMRS tutor, Nigel Frith, for dinner and drinks at The Turf, a popular Oxford pub.
The next morning, Nigel hosted our group at his charming home in Old Headington (think Bag End), where we enjoyed a poetry reading, lectures on Frith family architectural history, Nigel’s paintings, and tea and yummy treats. Conversation in Nigel’s garden, a tour of the local chapel and other historic sites, and lunch in the garden at The White Hart completed the afternoon. The group then visited the Ashmolean and Blackwell’s, enjoying dinner at The Kings Arms afterwards.
The next day, friends broke off into smaller groups, some staying in Oxford, to go running, have lunch, and attend church, while others headed off to London.
The group, which keeps in touch regularly, cherishes their memories of their special days in the United Kingdom, and is looking to plan another reunion in the coming years.
Prior to the reunion, I spent time in London. Highlights included the Radical Romantics exhibition at Tate Britain, focusing on the Rossettis, time in the Treasures of the British Library Gallery, The Book of Mormon at Prince of Wales Theatre, and watching four matches live at Wimbledon with my best friend and fellow CMRS alumnus, Scott Hildebrecht (Carleton, ’95), including the men’s doubles quarterfinals on No. 1 Court and several exciting juniors matches.
My experience recently, as well as 30 years ago, highlights the genuine benefits of participating in one of St. Olaf’s study abroad programs.
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