A little triumph in a city with a long history.
Last week, on a cold and windy night, my wife and I went to the heavily converted Oxford Castle to see a play performed by one of our local primary schools. The play was called “An Oxford Christmas” and it was written by the school’s headmistress based on the writings of a 17th century Oxford diarist.
Despite the blowing cold that swirled around the high prison tower and ducked down in the open courtyard where the audience sat, it was a fun night that was enjoyed by all. Not just that, but those who cared to pay attention might just have learned a thing or two about the history of their great city.
I (finally) learned the origin of Boxing Day – the day in which people gave little boxes of money as a thank you to those that had helped them throughout the year. I learned that during the great plague, the royal family relocated to Oxford, a city untouched by the disease. I heard the sad story of the people who picked up a dying homeless man and dumped him on the other side of the city, so that a different parish would have to pay his burial fees.
I also learned about how St. George battled the Dragon and a Turkish Knight in a long and rambling fight that was narrated by Father Christmas – actually, that part might have been made up.
Anyway, congratulations to years 5 and 6 of Pegasus Primary School from Blackbird Leys who put on a great show, sang some wonderful carols, and even taught me a few things about Oxford’s history.
