Prometheus or ‘the quad is on fire!?’
As part of our ongoing community initiatives, we will be creating a communal BBQ area in the quad every evening from 4pm…
Or rather, this April Fool’s Day we decided to see who really clicks our links on social media! Over a month ago, we welcomed a fantastic reunion group to campus who shared a very interesting story about a performance they’d staged in the quad one year. Directed by their lecturers, Tom Fletcher, Tim Haunton and Bill Pinner in the 2000/2001 academic year, their staging of Prometheus will definitely have kept the performers warm!
When we first heard this anecdote, we weren’t sure what to think. Real fire in the quad? Surely not! But they say a picture says a thousand words, and this one certainly paints an interesting picture. Lisa, who sent us this photo, said:
They were 10ft fire poles, wrapped in rags and doused in petrol. We then performed in and around them (including people riding bikes with fireworks attached to them). It definitely wouldn’t get made today!
Judging by this photo we don’t think students, or staff, would get away with so much fire in the quad nowadays. Fireworks would also be prohibited, especially with so much live flame around!
If walls could talk…
But if walls could talk, we don’t think this would be the strangest thing the walls of the quad have witnessed. Over the years the quad has stood witness to:
- students setting up other students’ rooms outside on the grass
- sports day activities
- group photos
- student games including spinning, running and (maybe) one too many drinks…
- a lot of games of croquet
If you have any interesting photos of things happening in the quad, we’d love to see them! To share your quad memories with us, please email alumni@yorksj.ac.uk.
If you’re planning a reunion, make sure to check out our reunion guide for advice on planning your day. If you’d like a tour of campus as part of your reunion, please email alumni@yorksj.ac.uk and we’d be happy to discuss this with you.
