Merton Madness
In the early hours of last Sunday, Mertonians were seen walking backwards and anti-clockwise around their quad in an attempt to limit the damaging effects of "stationary jet-lag" caused by the return from British summertime to Greenwich Meantime.
The ritual is one of Oxford's more unusual ceremonial traditions, described by the JCR as "Merton's contribution to preserving the stability of the space-time continuum." Although the JCR also believes the ritual has "earlier origins, possibly in the form of an ancient Celtic autumnal ceremony", it was in fact begun as recently as 1971.
Following alcohol around the sundial in the Fellow's Garden, and the toast "long live the counter-revolution" at 1.55am last Sunday, those involved proceeded to the Fellow's Quad, walking around backwards, anti-clockwise in relays from precisely 2am.
Fiona Tansey, JCR President, stated that: "the good natured spirit of the event and the perfect weather combined to make the evening a great success".
However, former Merton JCR Treasurer Iain Campbell was less impressed: "It's really a pile of shite, Ken?"
23rd Oct 2003