Trinity College Dining Hall, University of Cambridge. For my new "Trinity College" set (the first one I've done for a college).

I had the privilege this week not only of meeting the Manciple of Trinity College but also of being shown some rare sights (I didn't think this was possible) in the college. Having been at the college for 20 years, Mr Day (he's too much of a gentleman for me to be informal with him:-) is a mine of information and tells a good yarn as well. One gets an immediate impression that he's an ex-army man: booming voice, disciplined, formal, and has extra-ordinarily shiny shoes:-))

I suggested that he should write a book on his college tales. (Apologies to old Geoff Chaucer for his original The Manciple's Tale, which is a part of The Canterbury Tales.) I'm not a "wow" man, that is, you won't easily hear me go "wow"! However, when I was taken down some underground passages and then into a secret chamber containing the college silver and other goodies, I did go "wow":-) It was like coming across Tutunkhamun's treasure deep in a pyramid. Royal stuff! Not even college members had seen that. Well, I tell you, I did feel privileged. Mr Day made my day:-)

But what kind of tales did he tell me? How the Prince of Wales' initials got on some silverware. The mouse up at Neville's Court. Why the Chapel bell rings out twice. The secret passage in the Dining Hall. Student pranks in the old kitchen. That kind of "stuff" :-)

I am rather dissapointed with the quality of this shot. He wasn't too keen on photos, the light was awful, and I had to up the ISO for this quick snap. But I got him, and that at the high table in the "no photography" dining hall. That's Henry VIII, the founder of the college, above him.

Manciple, by the way, is a rare title these days. Only Oxford and Cambridge use it. In Cambridge, as far as I'm aware, only Trinity uses it. To be crude, he's the head butler, to be modern, he's the stores or catering manager.

PS: Don't ask me where the Trinity treasure chamber is for I was blindfolded when I was taken there:-) I can imagine a new series coming along: Underground Cambridge!

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Explore: Jul 8, 2008 #333. Trinity College, University of Cambridge.

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Explore: Jul 13, 2008 #190. Trinity College Chapel, University of Cambridge.

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Explore: Jul 17, 2008 #126. Cambridge University Messenger Service. You've seen the famous blue bikes, now here's one of their vans delivering mail at Trinity College. That's St John's College along the street.

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The Mitre pub, Cambridge. (Back to the pub series:-)

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