Colours and Supper

Allied to Rule 17 is 'The Uniform of the MBC 1929'

'The "colours" in ordinary use in the Boat Club at the time of writing are as follows: Any member of the Club: Lavender and indigo socks and scarf.

  • 2nd Lent Boat: White zephyr with lavender and indigo silk trimming on sleeves; indigo blazer with lavender silk trimming round edge and cuffs.
  • 1st Lent Boat: White zephyr trimmed on sleeves and breast, socks; blazer trimmed on edge, cuffs and pocket.
  • 2nd May Boat: White zephyr trimmed on sleeves and breast, socks; and Lent blazer with cannibal badge on pocket.
  • 1st May Boat: White zephyr trimmed on sleeves and breast, socks; blazer trimmed on edge, cuffs and pocket, and wyvern on pocket; lavender cap with wyvern in indigo on front; lavender scarf; trimmed sweater; lavender and indigo tie.'

How about re-instating MBC socks and caps - I'm sure they would be the height of fashion at Henley this season!

Whilst on the subject of early tradition, in 1837 the first of which so properly was to become a very important feature in the life of the Club took place - THE BOAT CLUB SUPPER !

The first Boat Club Dinner was attended by about 25 members and they were gifted two dozen bottles of claret by Dr Waud, one of the Fellows. (maybe we can revive this tradition?) Indeed, the MBC prowess seems to have been chiefly measured in the liquid capacity of its stalwarts rather than its performance on the Cam! The following is the account on the occasion when F C Penrose relinquished the post of Captain in 1842. 'the College Hall was applied for, but refused by the Master' (it seems the Boat had earned itself a reputation quite early on) Not a single hotel, inn or pub in Cambridge would house them either, but eventually they procured 'Swann & Garner's Auction Rooms' to hold the Bump Supper. Apart from Club members the Captains of the first 8 boats were invited as well as Mr Viallis late University Captain. Apparently, the Supper 'went down extremely well' - no doubt due to the 'Champagne which was sent for from London (Nisbet's) and needless to say was 'universally approved of '. On this occasion 54 bottles of champagne, 12 sherry, 12 bottles of wine and 20 bowls of punch 'were emptied'!

Interestingly though, the first boat that Magdalene put on the river in 1828 was nicknamed the 'Tea Kettle' by many other colleges owing to the preference that the Simeonites (Methodists) who abounded in the College, had for tea over beer! There also used to be a rumour that punts would become grounded on the tea leaves deposited in the river near Quayside. My. How things quickly changed in such a short period!

MBC certainly had mixed fortunes during the first hundred years of its existence.

Some of the earliest rowers in the College are amongst its greatest. Take the like of F.C. Penrose for example (late Fellow), who was jointly Captain and Secretary of MBC and the University Boat during the three years he was up 1840-2! Incidentally his portrait painted aged 71, hangs in the MCR common, and belies little of his former rowing prowess. Penrose, it was he too, who devised the system of recording bumps which is still used in the coloured charts hanging in the rooms of the Union Society.

He was succeeded as MBC Secretary by Mynors Bright, well known later as munificent benefactor to the College. 'Bright's Building' perpetuates his name of course. Although he never gained his Blue, on several occasions he came very near it, and was amongst those who one year practiced during December for the next University Boat Race and rounded off this period of practice by rowing a course in the driving snow on Christmas Eve! Bright re-deciphered Pepys's Diary and later became President and Tutor of the College. He was in turn succeeded by L.W. Denman, another first-class Secretary and Captain, who as a Blues rower, actually rowed in two, and would have rowed in three, University crews had there been a race in his last year - oh and by the way, he was a Blues cricketer and played cricket for England too! He also enjoyed the reputation of being 'the most stylish oar of his day'.

Charles Kingsley the literary genius (Westward Ho! And Water Babies fame) also rowed in the second or 'Cannibal' crew, for 3 years during this time up at Magdalene. All College 2nd boats were known as Cannibal. This name that has now disappeared, originated from the name of the captain of the first second boat to appear, who was known as 'Cannibal Carlton'. Of all the colleges Magdalene was the last to have kept the traditional Cannibal badge of 3 shark's teeth as the emblem of the second crew.

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