Two black tie dinners for students and their fathers were held on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 March organised and hosted by students. With over 330 undergraduates two nights are needed across the dining hall and JCR to accommodate the demand for this very happy event. The College is in indebted to the Holmes à Court family and Vasse Felix and the Toll Family for their generous support of the event.

Friday’s line up of speakers began with the Chaplain Rev’d Antony Weiss welcoming the gathering and pronouncing the College Grace, then Senior Student Tilly Walker gave a rousing toast to the fathers with her dad and old Pauline Dr Matthew Walker (in College 1986) responding. Dean of Undergraduates Matthew Newcombe proposed the toast to the College followed by Kristian and Michael Masi performing ‘Sultans of Swing’ by Dire Straights.  After dinner the gathering enjoyed great music in the Salisbury from the student band ‘Downhill Romance’ with Daniel Paridis on drums, Rex Bouvier on guitar, Felix Power on bass, voice and keyboard and Lockie Walter on voice, keyboard and guitar.

The line up for Saturday again began with the Chaplain, then Harry Scambler proposed the toast to the fathers with his dad David Scambler giving a tremendous reply about the St Paul’s values and traditions he had learnt about since becoming a Pauline dad. The toast to the College was proposed by the Warden, followed by musical item ‘I’m on Fire’ by Bruce Springsteen played by Adam Wong on guitar and voice and Helen Jordan on voice. They both continued to entertain the guests in the Salisbury with the addition to their ensemble of Rex Bouvier on guitar, Deuchar Taylor on drums and Michael Masi on bass.

“Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice.” Charles Kettering, prolific American inventor and head of innovation at GM.