°µÍø½ûÇø

Robert Christian (1962) and his fiancee came to visit the College last month and whilst here viewed the current exhibition on display in the Quincentenary Library which looks at its history since opening in 1996. 

Robert was particulalry interested in the ‘memories’ sent in by old members that are inclued in the exhibition and we were vey pleased to receive the following poem from him inspired by those memories and his visit to the exhibition.  Permission has been given for us to reproduce the poem here. Robert also added that "Mr West was Head Porter, always(?) with a top hat and tails, and pinstripe trousers.  Kindly and firm it seemed".  Old members are encouraged to send in any of their reminiscences or items from their time in College to the College Archivist so that they can be added to the College Archives.  

"In Response"

Thank you, modern thorough representative

giving us all the pleasure

of a tour through books but more

 

importantly the places of thought,

talk, art central enough

to withstand diminishing

 

It was after I rang a bell

fearing the worst and happy

as anything we could see inside

                  ***

My research can only be

within the confines of my poetry

if this maybe honestly

 

that before I tell of what

happened to me:

exact preparation for interview

 

with Raymond Williams un-noticed

when he told of what

I now see as hope

 

And Mr Fisher seemingly warm

towards me, looking back

and subsequently.

                ***

And so, soon, (my pigeon-hole

was ‘C’) letters

signifying I did not kneel

 

yet did to have that other’s hands

upon my head

as my parents watched.

                ***

I have memories of the fun

of my blue transistor radio

and my own

 

door. The staircase, arguably-

dramatically perhaps the

hugest in the university (N)

 

echoes now to the cowed mystery

of being there. Mr West

was to be obeyed.

 

And the others! Dick, Stu, Jim,

Short, Coates, Andy, Bob, David,

Savage, perhaps we were

 

all baffled in the same way

by degrees we somehow had

to work towards

 

I’m not sure why- to stay

there, of course, the necessity.

Who would dare

 

ignore the rank of wonder

the chances also to waste

love as if it were

 

free, though looking back (again)

it cost much as did

the work

 

repaying both in alignment

towards memory

and shared victory

 

Robert Christian (1962-5)

For Rhona Watson, Librarian,

The Quincentenary Library, °µÍø½ûÇø,

Cambridge, with thanks

April 14^th 2017