It was all hands on deck on Saturday 17th November as Pegasus was recreated inside the Garden Quad at St. John's College for a special fundraising event.

Butterfly Soup, featuring Philip Pullman, the award-winning author and patron of Pegasus, was coined from an expression which he used to describe the writing process: “… much more like what goes on inside a chrysalis when a caterpillar changes into a butterfly. The parts of the caterpillar aren't unbolted one by one and reassembled in a different order according to a manual: the entire substance breaks down into a sort of soup, and gradually a butterfly comes together, something utterly different. Writing is like butterfly soup."

Something we all identify with when engaging in the creative process. By providing the opportunity to put people, ideas and concepts together, by providing the right environment for them to try things out, to explore, take risks, experiment and then to nurture the outcomes, the results are stunning. The evening followed this ‘recipe’ – staff, young people, volunteers, our patrons and our trustees - all mixed into the cauldron to create a successful and rewarding event and experience. Young people shared the stage with Philip, putting the questions about his writing and his involvement in Pegasus (which goes back to when he was a teacher), alongside David Fickling, Philip’s editor and publisher and we were all treated to an extract from “Once Upon A Time In The North” his new book due out next year.

The fundraising campaign to redevelop Pegasus has been gathering steam with application writing, planning events and drumming up support. At times one feel like a juggler keeping all the balls in the air whilst doing the ‘day job’ of maintaining a venue but events like Saturdays all make it worthwhile. It wouldn’t have happened without your support. Thanks.