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Illustrated with slides we were entertained with an account of the Historical Pageant of 1907. Our speaker made the point that events which were chosen for enactment were not always the ones that organisers of such an event today might pick although some were.
The Pageant took place at the end of July; 27th - 31st. Each show lasted for three hours and some 3000 University and local people were involved. Entry to Magdalen College Cricket Ground to see each enactment was by ticket which were purchased from high Street shops at £1..1s (£1 5p), 10s (50p) and 5s (25p) and produced a profit of which ?, £220 , went to the Radcliffe Infirmary and smaller amounts to various other charities.
The organiser was an actor called Frank Stevens who used the stage name Lacelles, who had been a student at Keble College. A number of prominent people were invited to attend making for good publicity including Lord Curzon and Mark Twain.
The Legend of St. Fridsewide, the beginning of the University and the coronation of Harold Harefoot c. 1036 were among the events enacted. Others included the visit of Henry VIII with Katherine of Aragon and the expulsion of the Fellows by James II in 1687.
There was Grand Finale with mast of the participants.
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