Balls, boats and bubbly in the Archive of the month

July's Archive of the month looks at the May Week celebrations at Cambridge. 'May Week: Ball, boats and bubbly' tells the history of the events that happen towards the end of June - the boat races (the 'Bumps'), May Balls and parties.

It shows photos, menus and dance cards from May Weeks held in the early twentieth century. It also includes a letter recounting the first May Ball at King's in 1892.

The letter was written by Eleanor Wager, who recalls how the bridge was lit by fairy lights, how a 'portly' Fellow asked her to dance and how, after all the excitement, she drove back to her lodgings 'in broad daylight in a hansom cab.'

See the July Archive of the month.

Posted: 4 July 2011 | News | News archive