tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post7942038399563514499..comments2023-07-10T11:41:10.728+01:00Comments on RETIRED AND CRAZY- ME? SURELY NOT!: THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY GRADUATION CEREMONYwww.retiredandcrazy.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12130398756223000765noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-28912093708138221022013-05-31T07:38:29.929+01:002013-05-31T07:38:29.929+01:00congratulations! and good luck to your grandson...congratulations! and good luck to your grandson's career as he enters the real world. <br /><br />lee shin<br />www.trendone.netLee Shinhttp://www.trendone.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-58652103217901224092009-04-11T14:49:00.000+01:002009-04-11T14:49:00.000+01:00Yes, they certainly know how to put on a ceremony ...Yes, they certainly know how to put on a ceremony don't they? Centuries of practice I suppose! And as you rightly point out Morgan works for RBS. It actually gives me hope that young, highly ethical men like my grandson can change the banking world.www.retiredandcrazy.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12130398756223000765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-19406392852791680262009-04-11T09:17:00.000+01:002009-04-11T09:17:00.000+01:00"Retired & Crazy", Incidentally we h..."Retired & Crazy", Incidentally we had a FANTASTIC day at Cambridge last year for our son's 'MSci.' graduation: the weather was perfect, we had front row seats in the Senate-House and his sister turned up from Bristol. The buffet at Fitzwilliam in the afternoon was good as well, despite lack of chairs. A memorable day, thanks to Robin's four years hard work! MP<BR/><BR/>ps Do you mean "RBS", not 'RSB'?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-53763722604142895962009-04-10T14:11:00.000+01:002009-04-10T14:11:00.000+01:00Congratulations to your daughter. These youngsters...Congratulations to your daughter. These youngsters are so bright aren't they? My grandson went on to accept a graduate trainee job with RSB! Not the best timing, but he is doing great. He works in the city and although his division is being axed he has been offered another post. I think he will do well.www.retiredandcrazy.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12130398756223000765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-29095671556794576812009-04-10T11:01:00.000+01:002009-04-10T11:01:00.000+01:00"Retired and Crazy" in East Midlandsps My daughter..."Retired and Crazy" in East Midlands<BR/><BR/>ps My daughter has just accepted a conditional offer of a PhD at the Royal Veterinary College, not bad for 21! She did two years in the sixth form at a grammar school by the way. What is your "Fitzbilly" MPhil. grandson doing these days -my MSci. 'Fitzbilly' son works in Swansea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-47260827409949028542008-06-07T20:25:00.000+01:002008-06-07T20:25:00.000+01:00Dear "Retired & Crazy",My son [Robin] got a 2/1 MS...Dear "Retired & Crazy",<BR/>My son [Robin] got a 2/1 MSci (Cantab) in Nat Sci yesterday!<BR/><BR/>I DO agree with your 'grammmar school' comment as both of mine benefited from a King Edwards grammar school in Birmingham: he = 7 years (Cambridge), she = 2 years (Bristol); "onwards and upwards"?<BR/>Martin/anonymousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-86405863097436216322008-05-31T17:57:00.000+01:002008-05-31T17:57:00.000+01:00Dear "Retired and Crazy", I know as a gentleman I ...Dear "Retired and Crazy", I know as a gentleman I should let the lady (of mature years) have the last word, but did your grandson give you a 'Fitz' Billygoat before he graduated? My son had reluctantly bought THREE: one for his Mum, and one each for his old grandmothers! [Unfortunately the Porter's Lodge were running out of them and did not intend to re-order new stock.]<BR/><BR/>I appreciated your comments on my awful "Francis Crick" webpage by the way (the new biography is even better fortunately) but don't confuse the 'style' of Cambridge with its 'substance': as James D. Watson said (quote) "..if the university had not been so immersed in its history that its institutions were always more important to it than its inhabitants" and in the case of Francis Crick "Something had to move and it was not Cambridge".<BR/><BR/>I do appreciate that you were most impressed with the (old) Cavendish Laboratory, but in real scientific terms the events of 1953 and DNA etc are already ancient history of course, and most of the original participants in the 'story' are already dead, but my son had the pleasure of dining with Sydney Brenner last year (at my expense) at the CUBS annual dinner and I only wish I had been there too! <BR/><BR/>There is another good quote about Cambridge which I will try to find for you, but until recently I always felt much stronger about OXFORD - as a fan of E. Morse - and the fact that my late father once waited on table for Lord Nuffield (William Morris) in Oxford; but as a long-time ex-'Austin' employee, it has to be Cambridge first for the simple reason that Lord [Herbert] Austin endowed the then new Austin wing of the Cavendish, where DNA's structure was first discovered! All for now, Martin P./anonymousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-32608817889243959192008-05-30T17:48:00.000+01:002008-05-30T17:48:00.000+01:00Martin, we are in danger of becoming old and trust...Martin, we are in danger of becoming old and trusted friends, but I should warn you that I do abuse friendship. You website is very impressive and I will enjoy reading it but find the need to point out that the 2007 marathone has past. Touche?<BR/><BR/>Seriously though, I am greatly honoured by your interest in my 'umble blog.www.retiredandcrazy.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12130398756223000765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-88365391813494723502008-05-30T16:52:00.000+01:002008-05-30T16:52:00.000+01:00Hi "Retired and Crazy", thank you for such a long ...Hi "Retired and Crazy", thank you for such a long reply! Apart from the expensive multi-volume History of the University of Cambridge, I did notice that CUP have published a more modest single 'softback' book for the 800th anniversary next year. I have satisfied my own thirst for scientific knowledge over the past few years by trying to assist Professor Olby and you might like to see my web page:<BR/><BR/>www.packer34.freeserve.co.uk/rememberingfranciscrickacelebration.htm for more?<BR/><BR/>My son has just completed his penultimate exam. for his M.Sci and has another one tomorrow - to say that my wife and I are proud of his academic achievement is an understatement, but I am sure there is life - after Cambridge university. I was only joking about your guide being the "ghost of Rosalind Franklin", but am not sure about her being 'poor abused'(sic), see Brenda Maddox's biography of her, it's a good read, as hopefully will be the new (second) biography of Francis Crick! Finally the only other comment I would make is that the academic staff of the University's Departments are one and the same as Fellows of the Colleges, so university and colleges do overlap. Martin P/anonymous Birmingham.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-26691057003932001582008-05-30T08:43:00.000+01:002008-05-30T08:43:00.000+01:00Hello again Martin P from Birmingham (anonymous). ...Hello again Martin P from Birmingham (anonymous). Ah! you have rumbled that I shoot from the lips. What is it they say - a little knowledge is dangerous?<BR/><BR/>Well the guide was certainly NOT the poor abused Rosalind Franklin because our guided walk was in the 1990's!.<BR/><BR/>This lady guide worked out of the TI office in Cambridge. Maybe they would have helpful information? I would guess that all guides would be accredited? <BR/><BR/>You jogged my memory again. I seem to remember that she stood in front of the unassuming building and said something like "That humble building was the workplace of 4(5?) Nobel Prize winners. I know, because I worked for 3 of them". <BR/><BR/>And again from memory I don't recall that she was anyone important herself, probably a typist. <BR/><BR/>I knew when I was struggling to descibe the structure of the university that I hadn't quite got it right, but hey, why let accuracy get in the way of a good story! What I was trying to convey was that it was unique. <BR/><BR/>Is there anywhere that I can read up on this? And when I say "read up on this" I mean don't mean dry as old ditchwater stuff, but honest to goodness anecdotal, blood, guts and thunder stories! <BR/><BR/>Or maybe you could do a short piece on it yourself? Things like the students getting run out of Oxford and finally settling in Cambridge and the fact that at one time you could walk from Oxford to Cambridge on university land?<BR/><BR/>As you can tell, an academic I am not, but an old lady thirsting for knowledge I am. <BR/><BR/>You are correct in your deduction, my Grandson is a Fitzbilly. He took his MA at Edinburgh and then went to the Fitzwilliam for a year for his MPhil.<BR/><BR/>Once again, have a great day on the 28th. Nice to talk to you oh hallowed one! <BR/><BR/>And don't apologise for the critisim, I love it. I'm too thick to take offence. My friend DogLover is an ex Rugbarian, went to Cambridge, and then became an "Establishment" man, so you can tell I am used to it. My idiosincratic writing, spelling and mis-information drive him nuts!www.retiredandcrazy.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12130398756223000765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-51237567975842916882008-05-29T22:57:00.000+01:002008-05-29T22:57:00.000+01:00ps Dear "Retired and Crazy",I forgot to say that j...ps Dear "Retired and Crazy",<BR/>I forgot to say that judging by the image at the top of your blog page, your grandson was obviously at Fitzwilliam, the same as my son?<BR/>To paraphrase something the Master of Clare (Tony Badger) recently said 'Cambridge is not about the historic buildings, it is about the people who study there'. Sorry to sound rather critical but your description of the University's odd structure (quoting that 'ancient' female guide) is incorrect - but it is a bit complicated! So your grandson is also a 'Fitzbilly'? Kind regards, Martin P./anonymous.[Birmingham]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-55023896105573449362008-05-29T20:47:00.000+01:002008-05-29T20:47:00.000+01:00"Retired and Crazy", I only wish you could have gi..."Retired and Crazy", I only wish you could have given me the 'old' guide's name as she might have been useful for Professor Robert Olby's new biography of the late Francis Crick [which is going to press for December publication]! Could your guide have been the ghost of Rosalind Franklin (who died in 1958) I wonder? The other 1962 Nobel Prize winners from the Cavendish were John Kendrew and Max Perutz. We are looking forward to the 28th June and I have sent your blog to Professor Olby in US & Robin.Best wishes,Martin P.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-18295149609798561952008-05-29T16:50:00.000+01:002008-05-29T16:50:00.000+01:00By the way anonymous, enjoy the ceremony on 28th J...By the way anonymous, enjoy the ceremony on 28th June and congratulations to your son.www.retiredandcrazy.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12130398756223000765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-29117757732026437332008-05-29T16:45:00.000+01:002008-05-29T16:45:00.000+01:00Thanks for you comments anonymous. You are quite r...Thanks for you comments anonymous. You are quite right and your comments jogged my failing memory further. What she had actually said was two were on the DNA team and then there had been another (I can't remember who or why he received the prize) who she had also worked with in the same unpretentious building with. How amazing is that?www.retiredandcrazy.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12130398756223000765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-12375457922797438342008-05-29T16:39:00.000+01:002008-05-29T16:39:00.000+01:00Jeni, the thought of family cheering from the balc...Jeni, the thought of family cheering from the balcony makes me smile. Cambridge is to stuffy for such rowdy behaviour!www.retiredandcrazy.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12130398756223000765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-48477749212220425782008-05-29T15:28:00.000+01:002008-05-29T15:28:00.000+01:00I loved your description of the Cambridge graduati...I loved your description of the Cambridge graduation and read it aloud to my wife; our son (at Fitzwilliam graduates on 28th June) but I must correct what the guide said ("told us that she had worked there alongside 3 Nobel Prize winners") as only Watson/Crick worked there on DNA, while Wilkins worked at King's College, London..sorry! Martin P.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-26689736584384118682008-05-16T22:00:00.000+01:002008-05-16T22:00:00.000+01:00Thanks to David, I stopped by and very much enjoye...Thanks to David, I stopped by and very much enjoyed your post. The pride that comes from receiving a college degree is immense -for the recipient, as well as the family too. I know how excited and proud I was when I got my degree (at age 50) and my daughters were up in the balcony cheering for me! The ceremony here sounds so dignified though, full of pomp and circumstance, which really is how it should be.Jenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425701332785470116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-58792367124538122652008-05-15T14:39:00.000+01:002008-05-15T14:39:00.000+01:00Welcome to you too momma and mrsnesbitt, that Davi...Welcome to you too momma and mrsnesbitt, that David is a good bloke isn't he?www.retiredandcrazy.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12130398756223000765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-53202160592875099482008-05-15T14:38:00.000+01:002008-05-15T14:38:00.000+01:00Welcome David and thanks for your valued comment.Welcome David and thanks for your valued comment.www.retiredandcrazy.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12130398756223000765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-91723220970120987972008-05-15T14:35:00.000+01:002008-05-15T14:35:00.000+01:00Aims, you have it, in a nutshell.Aims, you have it, in a nutshell.www.retiredandcrazy.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12130398756223000765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-40029597688365182552008-05-15T14:34:00.000+01:002008-05-15T14:34:00.000+01:00I agree with you Valleys Mam, I believe that we ha...I agree with you Valleys Mam, I believe that we have a totally unique country here and should embrace it with pride.www.retiredandcrazy.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12130398756223000765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-37503214565803212802008-05-15T12:13:00.000+01:002008-05-15T12:13:00.000+01:00Good old David sent me here and as I read your pos...Good old David sent me here and as I read your post the pride you felt oozed through your writing!<BR/>Well Done that boy!<BR/>It is a quality not all youth share...the want to make our family proud, I tried to make my parents proud, it was my decision. Congratulations again. I have never been to Cambridge but I have visited Oxford. Myself, I went to Durham....college that is, not the prison! LOL!mrsnesbitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16882736507772457598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-2814573759959655052008-05-15T12:09:00.000+01:002008-05-15T12:09:00.000+01:00Sounds like an absolutely wonderful day! I know yo...Sounds like an absolutely wonderful day! I know you must be proud of your grandson!<BR/><BR/>Peace - D<BR/><BR/>(David sent me)RiverPoethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846730934649303857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-54023883626348463532008-05-14T23:49:00.000+01:002008-05-14T23:49:00.000+01:00Thanks for that wonderful description. We share yo...Thanks for that wonderful description. We share your pride!david mcmahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009095220051075552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7185955142944545750.post-90367506790244748582008-05-14T22:58:00.000+01:002008-05-14T22:58:00.000+01:00Wow! Wow! Wow!Wow! Wow! Wow!aimshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12685252628734838159noreply@blogger.com