History students do it in style: lecture and Formal Hall at the House

Last term saw Dr Andrew Hopper of Leicester University visit Hinchingbrooke to deliver a lecture on ‘Turncoats and Renegadoes: changing sides in the English Civil War’. It was delivered to Year 13 World Historians who are studying the period 1629-1667 for A-level. The talk was based on a book recently published by Dr. Hopper on this previously unexplored topic surrounding the issue of side-taking during the ‘Great Rebellion’. In so doing it linked directly to one of the historical controversies that students have to explore as part of their Unit 3 exam.

Dr. Hopper met students as they enjoyed reception drinks before listening to the lecture in the Assembly Room. After taking questions, Dr. Hopper agreed to join the students for ‘Formal Hall’ and dinner was served in the Inner Hall of the House. This remarkable opportunity to talk to a leading historian who also serves as admissions tutor for his university was not lost on the students.

As if the historical environment of the House was not enough, the dinner was enhanced by period entertainments in the form of topical readings by Mr. Wheeley connected to the history of the House and by musical performances. Matilda Haymes, accompanied by Miss Cassedy on the piano, performed a seventeenth-century royalist ballad entitled ‘When the King enjoys his own again’ , and Fergus Moran sang the radical leveller song, ‘The world turned upside down’, playing his own accompaniment on the guitar. The latter turned out to be Dr. Hopper’s favourite Civil War song and was met with thunderous applause.

A remarkable occasion in a remarkable setting by a remarkable department!