St Mary's Calne
On Monday, the Academic Scholars met for our Annual Supper, however, this year there was a slight twist: rather than a traditional speech, we were entertained throughout the night by Michael King, a talented magician and member of the Magic Circle. Upon our arrival, he began to treat us with more minor – albeit, highly impressive! – close-up tricks, preparing us for his grander show later on in the night.
After being seated, each table began to compete in answering quizzes which had been provided, containing cryptic crosswords, number estimates, and ‘who said it?’ questions. Subsequent to a short struggle with these, we were distracted by the arrival of our supper, an incredible chicken Caesar salad swiftly followed by a brownie and ice cream. Michael continued to amuse us throughout the meal, presenting a number of tricks including the famous guillotine illusion, causing me to be very afraid for the future of my finger! He also presented us with an alternate quiz concerning magic, asking about renowned magicians such as Dynamo and Harry Houdini.
Once we had finished eating, it was time for the real show, for which I was fortunate enough to be chosen as an assistant. We were amazed by mind-boggling performances, which even I, despite my close proximity to them, could not wrap my head around. It was truly astounding! Following the impressive show, which involved fire, twenty-pound notes, and packets of crisps, Michael announced the winners of the quiz – our team! I even received a separate chocolatey prize for helping as a volunteer, which I was very pleased with.
To conclude the evening, I gave a short speech detailing my academic past and future, and sharing some advice that I consider helpful in all aspects of life:
- Things don’t always need to go exactly to plan.
- Take opportunities.
- Give everything a chance.
Overall, it was an amazing night, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to meet with other Scholars and experience the skill of someone such as Michael King! Thank you to him, the Catering Team, and Mr Smyth for creating such a successful evening!
Hannah, UVI