SOME of Oxford’s traditional May Day celebrations were cancelled 100 years ago because May 1 fell on Ascension Day.

Magdalen College decided it would be inappropriate to hold the usual festivities when Christians were marking the day Jesus left his disciples and went to heaven.

There was no singing of the Latin psalm from the top of the tower and as far as we can tell, no big gathering in the street below.

Our sister paper, The Oxford Times, reported on April 29, 1913: “There will be no May Day celebration at Magdalen Tower this year in consequence of Ascension Day falling on May 1. The May Day custom has been in existence since 1750 and this year will constitute the first break in its continuity within living memory.

“It was suggested that the ceremony should take place on May 2, but according to the Rev C R Carter, of Magdalen, it was felt this would destroy the whole point of the custom.

“The difficulty has not arisen before, so far as one can remember, and it is not likely that it will occur again within the experience of any person now living.”

There was a May Day celebration later in the day, however, when Halls Oxford brewery held its annual parade through the city.

The Oxford Times reported: “A procession of gaily-bedecked horses and drays left the stables in St Aldate’s and was much admired as it proceeded along High Street to St Clement’s.”

 

High price for portrait...

THE National Trust paid £600 for a portrait of Lord Nuffield, but could have got it for half the price.
The portrait hung outside Lord Nuffield’s office at the old Military Academy at Cowley and was moved to the foyer of Nuffield Press in the same building when he died.
When the Press closed in 2011, former commercial director Alfred John Blake offered to buy the picture for £300, with the intention of handing it to the National Trust to put on display at Nuffield Place, Lord Nuffield’s home from 1933 to 1963.
He was told it had to go to auction. Later, he discovered that the National Trust had put in the highest bid – for £600.
Lord Nuffield, who died on August 22, 1963, aged 85, left his home to Nuffield College, which handed it to the trust. The house, a perfectly preserved 1930s ‘time capsule’, and its grounds are now open to the public.

It then proceeded through Pembroke Street (now Rectory Road) and Marston Street to Iffley Road, then back along High Street, Holywell, Parks Road, Bevington Road and Woodstock Road to St Giles.

There, the 36 teams and 47 horses, which had taken part in the parade, were inspected Mr A N Hall, the brewery’s managing director, and prizes handed to the winners.