University Developments Through Time: Rag

This blog post on University life will explore the world of Rag. These student-run, fundraising events and organisations have been part of student life for over 100 years.

Rag Day logo from 1953

The name ‘Rag’ is rather obscure and no one is entirely sure of its origins. The Oxford English Dictionary describes the act of ragging as “an extensive display of noisy disorderly conduct, carried on in defiance of authority or discipline”. The thought is that early fundraisers may have ‘ragged’ passers-by until they made a donation. Another idea is that the word came from the Victorian era when students took time out of their studies to collect rags to clothe the poor. More recently, ‘backronyms’ have been invented including ‘Raise and Give’, ‘Raise a Grand’ or ‘Raising and Giving’ to emphasis the philanthropic aspect of the activities.

Rag has been part of University life in Southampton since at least the 1920s. Alumnus Peter Smith describes how it was “a highlight of the Winter term, and it was always held on Shrove Tuesday, as if to get the festivities over before the strictures of Lent.” Over the years, it has consisted of a variety of activities, ostensibly aimed at raising money for charity, including a procession, ball, a show and the publication and sale of a ‘Rag mag’. As the years progressed, the antics became progressively wild. And, as you might imagine, the event has not always existed in harmony with Southampton residents.

The Engineering float depicting the Princess Flying Boat [MS 310/34 A1090 p1]

This excerpt from the University College Southampton Rag Bag published in May 1927 describes the early days of Rag:

There is probably little doubt in the minds of the public as to what a University Rag is, even though many have never seen one: and whatever opinions exist on the subject we can say quite safely say that whenever there is a University or a College there is bound to be ragging.  The tradition is established and will persist; and as Colleges grow and develop, so the quantity and quality of its Rags will alter. Up to the present the Rags arranged by the students of University College, Southampton, have been, it must be admitted, very mild affairs, and we apologise very humbly that we have been unable to provide the town with better entertainment. Better times are in store, however. The College is growing fast and by the time Southampton is a University City, Rags will be as permanent and prominent a feature of town life as they are in other seats of learning.

The earliest Rag magazine in our collection, the Rag Bag from 1927. Look out for a future blog post giving the history of Kelly the skeleton.

A key feature of Rag was the publication of a ‘Rag mag’, a small booklet traditionally filled with politically incorrect humour sold in the lead up to Rag Day.  The earliest Rag mag in the University Collection is a copy of Rag Bag dating from 1927. Over the years Rag has been abolished and revived on a number of occasions. Its revival in 1948 was followed by the publication of Goblio, the longest running Rag mag in the collection, with copies dating from 1949-64. From 1967 the University’s Rag mag took on a range of titles, including “Son of Goblio” or; Babel; Southampton City Rag; Flush; Dragon; and Southampton Students Stag Rag.

Apparently the 1958 edition of the Goblio was banned and later ritually burned at the Bargate. Consensus among the students was that this was an extreme response with one recounting how the Goblio “was certainly rude and scurrilous, largely satirical, but rarely offensive”. While these magazines might be considered tame by today’s standards, times have changed and we struggled to find any jokes we felt appropriate – or funny enough – to share. Copies of the Rag mags are available in the University Collection in the Open Access area of Special Collections.

The Gaslight Gaities show from 1948 or 1949 [MS 310/39 A2032]

The Rag mags bring our attention to another mystery in these matters: who, or what, is a ‘Goblio’? The origins or the word are again a little vague and it has now fallen out of use. It appears to have first been used around 1905. The New Zealand rugby team had just made their first tour of Britain. The story goes that a group of College students went to see the All Blacks depart from Southampton Docks and were deeply impressed by their goodbye ritual – the now famous haka. A “solemn conclave was held by night in the Cowherds’ Inn” to select a suitable yell that could be given in response and ‘Gobli-i-o’ was the outcome. It is described by former students as a “war cry at football matches and in Rags” as well as used as a farewell after student gatherings: the cheerleader would shout ‘Golbio’ and the rest of the group replied ‘Gee’. There was also a ‘Gobli dance’ performed during Rags. The students would form concentric circles around a policeman or tram aimed at causing disruption while, of course, also collecting money for good causes.

For many years, an afternoon procession was a key part of the Rag. Decorated floats on lorries lent by local firms, complete with ‘Rag Queen’ (usually a local girl), would parade through the town providing entertainment and collecting money.

Rag Day 1957 at civic centre with the ‘Rag Queen’ and local dignitary [MS 224/14 A941]. In some years the procession ended at the Guildhall with a trophy presented by the mayor for the best entry.

The Engineering Society were always very prominent during Rag, often accompanied by their human skeleton mascot “Kelly” and their 1920s vintage open single decker charabanc called “Toast rack”. In 1948 they are reported to have produced at 60 ft dragon for the parade!

Rag Day 1926 with the 1904 Bedion Bouton [MS 310/18 A1043]

Other events have included an annual Rag ball with dancing and fancy dress at the Guildhall and a Rag show with a revue format.

Obviously a key aspect of Rag – maybe more so for some years than others – has been raising money. The University has chosen various charities over the years. In 1927 “all money (less Rag expenses)” supported the children’s summer camps organised by the Rotary Club of Southampton. In the years following the Second World War, the festivities were called the Gaslight Gaieties and the money went to the Armed Forces Charity, formerly known as the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association. In 1958 the chosen charities were: Dr Barnardo’s Homes; British Empire Rheumatism Council; National Society for Cancer Relief and the Handicraft & Social Centre for the Blind. A Students’ Union handbook from the 1950s reported that sums raised in recent years ranged from £800 to £1,400.

Rag events programme cover [MS 310/39 A2032]

As with all University cities, there have not always been harmony between ‘town and gown’ and over the years, Rag has been a point of conflict. In 1927, the Rag Mag stated:

Horse play and hooliganism are not ragging, though unfortunately many think the terms are synonymous. We shall try to show they are not, and, indeed, what ragging has taken place in the past has, on the whole, been free from unpleasantness

R.G.Smith, an engineering student here in the 1940s recalls “jovial goings-on which were enjoyed both by ourselves and the citizenry of Southampton […] dressed as Long John Silver complete with parrot, I ‘held up’ the Ordnance Survey Office with a fearsome looking horse pistol and stung the personnel there for contribution to the Rag charity collections.” We wonder if Southampton residents have the same cheery memories of the Rag as Mr Smith?

Rag programme for 1948 [MS 310/31 A1087]

It is clear that, at times, Rag events did get out of hand. Alumnus Olive, who was a student here in the early 1960s describes the attempt to establish a “Charities Week Appeal” in November 1961: “to distinguish from its infamous predecessor ‘Rag’.” She describes how there was “a genuine attempt to get away from the unpleasant features of Rag and to concentrate on the worthwhile task of collecting money for local good causes.”

Things did not exactly go to plan. Olives gives the details: “The whole thing looked as if it was going to be too quiet and respectable until Students’ Council decided to ban Goblio. A packed Union meeting confirmed their decision and inevitably it was reported in the local and national press, radio and television. As there is no such thing as bad publicity £900 net was raised for charity. For the first time there were no letters of complaint either to the University or the local press.”

Souvenir Rag programme for 1948

Despite best endeavours, it was difficult to disassociate the fund raising from the pranks and “the annual flour and water fight” still took place in Charities Week. Although Olive reports positively that “no hard feelings, and a good deal of hard cash (£1450) for charities resulted”.  

Southampton students have organsied various stunts over the years. In the early years – when trams still ran through the town centre – the students used to process into town, stopping traffic and collecting money. May Ellis paints a vivid picture:

The Marlands was a large open space where eventually the civic centre was built. The men wore any kind of fancy dress, and we wore our gowns and were occupied with selling copies of the Rag bag. From the farflung parts of the town we converged on the Clock Tower, at noon. This was a large stone sculpture, Above Bar, in the centre of the road, at the junction of Commerical Road. (It has since moved into the gardens). Around it we formed four concentric circles – 4^th years inside and 1^st years outside, for “Gobli”, the college war cry. This very successfully halted trams (yes! trams!) and other traffic from every direction.

Rag ‘stunt’ at South Stoneham House, 1963 or 1964 [MS 310/80 A4150]

W.Tomsett gives a similar account:

I remember taking part in a Rag on the town during those years. We crocodile down the Avenue, snakewise over the tram lines. When a tram didn’t stop some lay down across the rails until it did. We were in all sorts of fancy dress. Some carried buckets of paste – others theatre bills. These were stuck on bonnets and side of cars (which were halted) and on side of trams.

As the years progress, the stunts got more elaborate and extreme. Various former students have recollected: a banner appearing overnight down the civic centre clock tower; a cannon being lifted from one of the Winchester army establishments by residents from Connaught Hall; painted footsteps leading from Lord Palmerston’s statue in Romsey Square to the nearby lavatory; the “kidnap for ransom” of a top Southampton Football Club player and a banner proclaiming Rag draped over Stonehenge. Parkhurst prison on the Isle of Wight was broken into by a group of Southampton students as a publicity stunt. The Rag of 1963 featured a trans-Atlantic advertisement as the Queen Mary sailed for New York with Rag painted on her stern; apparently, Cunard were very understanding!

Local M.P. John Denham and Student Union President Simon Coningsby, November 1996 [MS 1/Phot/7/4/5]

In the twenty-first century, Rag has become the major fundraising committee of the University. Along with volunteers, they spend the year raising money for dozens of charities. Events include speed dating in February, hitch-hiking events to Christmas markets and the ‘Big Give’. Don’t worry if this all sounds a little tame compared with the antics of previous decades – there’s still the option of getting your kit off for the annual Rag calendar!

Its not possible to calculate the amount raised for charity by Southampton Rags but, whatever the total, it is heartwarming to think about all the good causes that have benefited from Southampton’s students over the years and the many more thousands of pounds more that will be raised in the future.

The Great Exhibition in Print

To mark the day on which the closing ceremony of the Great Exhibition was held – 15^th October 1851, we take a look at how the ‘Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations’ was portrayed in some of the contemporary publications in Special Collections.

By the time Prince Albert presided at the ceremony, over six million people had visited the exhibition since May 1 when it had been declared open by Queen Victoria. The proceeds from admission tickets had generated a profit of £186,000 which was used to buy the land in South Kensington on which the Victoria and Albert, Science and Natural History Museums were built, as were the Royal Albert Hall and the Imperial College of Science and Technology.

The Closing Ceremony in: Dickinson’s Comprehensive Pictures of the Great Exhibition of 1851 (1854) Rare Books double folio T 690.C1

The enormous success of the Great Exhibition owed much to Henry Cole, editor of the Journal of Design and member of the Royal Society of Arts, who persuaded Prince Albert that the RSA’s exhibitions of industrial design could be developed into a much larger event. A celebration of art in industry was envisaged, with exhibits from all nations, helping to promote international peace and understanding as well as encouraging commercial, linguistic and scientific ties.

Peter Berlyn The Crystal Palace: its Architectural History and Constructive Marvels (1851) Rare Books NA 6750.L7

The problem of housing such an exhibition was solved by Joseph Paxton whose pre-fabricated glass and iron structure, built in Hyde Park, was christened the ‘Crystal Palace’ by Punch. Into this impressive building, the 14,000 exhibitors placed their 100,000 items for display, the principal themes being raw materials, machinery, manufactures and fine arts. Initially an admission price of five shillings guaranteed exclusivity for the well-to-do. When the price dropped to a shilling, excursion trains brought groups of factory workers and agricultural labourers to London, to the alarm of the railway operators.

Crystal Palace in: Dickinson’s Comprehensive Pictures of the Great Exhibition of 1851 (1854) Rare Books double folio T 690.C1

The Great Exhibition gripped the nation and generated a vast amount coverage in the newspaper and periodical press. The pages of The Times record various controversies over its organisation – Joseph Paxton calling for free admission, something dismissed as impractical and potentially dangerous by both the newspaper and other correspondents. The Illustrated London News provided lengthy descriptions of the objects on show, whilst Punch both satirised the event and praised it. One cartoon showed how fears of ‘horrible conspirators and assassins’ at the opening ceremony proved groundless, whilst another showed the centrepiece pink glass fountain replaced by barrels of beer on ‘shilling days’. But it also remarked that ‘the high-paying portion of the public go to look at each other and be looked at, while the shilling visitors go to gain instruction from what they see; and the result is they are far better behaved than the well-dressed promenaders’.

Punch (v.20 January -June 1851) Rare Books per A

Punch (v.20 January -June 1851) Rare Books per A

The Great Exhibition was also the subject of many individual publications by writers and artists. Unsurprisingly, publications by those connected with Punch display similar sentiments. 1851, or, The Adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Sandboys and Family written by Punch’s co-founder, Henry Mayhew and illustrated by George Cruickshank describes the misadventures of the Sandboy family en route from Butteremere to London. These culminate in Mr Sandboys being incarcerated in a debtors’ prison, only to be released the day after the Exhibition closed. Although humorous in intention, the book highlighted problems visitors expected to encounter, especially the shortage of and high cost of accommodation.

Henry Mayhew 1851, or, The Adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Sandboys and Family Part 1 (1851) Rare Books PR 4989.M48

Similarly, Richard Doyle, a comic artist who contributed to Punch published An Overland Journey to the Great Exhibition, later reissued as Richard Doyle’s Pictures of Extra Articles and Visitors to the Exhibition. This showed satirical processions of national groups visiting the Great Exhibition, that from Scotland bringing ‘extra articles’ associated with the Highland Games.

Richard Doyle’s Pictures of Extra Articles and Visitors to the Exhibition [1851?] Rare Books NC 1479

A publication of a different order was The Exposition of 1851, Or, Views of the Industry, the Science, and the Government, of England by Charles Babbage. Babbage had been rejected as head of the Great Exhibition’s Industrial Commission, owing to his radicalism and dispute with the Government over the funding of his Difference Engine. In the book, he criticised the organisation of the Great Exhibition and the Government and scientific community for failing to value science and technology in education. The University Library’s copy of the book bears an inscription from Babbage to his son, Dugald.

Chalrles Babbage The Exposition of 1851, or, Views of the Industry, the Science, and the Government, of England (1851) Rare Books T 690.B1

By far the most lavish book associated with the Great Exhibition is Dickinson’s Comprehensive Pictures of the Great Exhibition of 1851.  Its 54 chromolithographs reproduce water-colours commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert from the artists Louis Haghe, Joseph Nash, David Roberts, which record in vivid colour and great detail the national sections and objects on display. The book was first issued in 18 parts, each costing a guinea.

Textiles from France in: Dickinson’s Comprehensive Pictures of the Great Exhibition of 1851 (1854) Rare Books double folio T 690.C1

At the other end of the publishing spectrum is The House that Paxton Built: a New Story on an Old Model. This parody of the nursery rhyme ‘The House that Jack Built’ is described on its cover as ‘A gift book from the Great National Exhibition’ and cost sixpence.

The House that Paxton Built (1851) Rare Books PZ 10

As well as having printed books describing the Great Exhibition, Special Collections is fortunate to have the papers of one of those involved in its planning – the first Duke of Wellington. Papers relating to his role as Chief Ranger and Keeper of Hyde Park are available at WP/2/257.

 

University Developments Through Time: shaping the University grounds in peace and war, 1920-48

Within the Archives and Manuscripts are two volumes of the minutes of the University College’s Grounds Committee.

Minutes of the Grounds Committee [MS1 A4091/1]

These surprisingly interesting volumes cover the years 1920-48. The first committee meeting took place on October 19^th, 1920 and included much discussion of the provision of tennis courts, with the secretary of the Tennis Club present, along with the Registrar and the College Principal, who chaired the meeting. By the end of the year, part of the grounds had been allocated as a botanic garden and planting of shrubs, bulbs and perennials was taking place there and elsewhere. A contemporary plan [MS1/2/2/2] shows the botanic garden situated on a sloping site behind the Engineering Block, now the Eustice building. The George Moore botany building was later built on part of it, opened in 1928 and eventually demolished during the development for the new biological science building. The date plaque from the building has been preserved on site. As the Highfield campus developed and more engineering buildings arrived, the botanic garden was eventually moved to the site of the present Valley Garden, behind the new students union.

Plan of botanical gardens [MS1/2/2/2]

It was proposed that the gardening students should look after some of the flower beds and help with the botanic garden. In 1921, Professor Watkins constructed a rockery for alpine plants including “an extensive – probably unique – collection of Sempervivum plants [houseleeks], upon the classification of which he is working”. In 1923, the College purchased a Dennis motor mower, but until then all grass cutting was done by hand mowers, scything or with the help of a pony. “The strain placed upon the machine was a severe one, but it withstood it admirably”. Various plants and cuttings were donated to the college by local landowners. By 1924, the botanic garden was developing well, with plant family beds laid out and gifts from Kew and other gardens.

In the grounds of South Stoneham a rock garden was being rebuilt under the direction of Professor Watkin and a start had been made in making a bog garden nearby. The disused fountain was to be repaired with help from the engineering department.

Fountain at South Stoneham House, c.1920 [Cope Coll. photo SOU 64 ph2420]

The Grounds Committee also was responsible for the College’s playing fields at South Stoneham, with input from the students. There were to be one each of football and rugby pitches with two hockey pitches. A hut was to be erected for changing rooms, but meanwhile a tent would be provided! Cinder and grass tracks for athletics were proposed, also a cricket pitch, while a hard tennis court would be made suitable for netball during the winter.

Tennis club, 1921 [MS1/Phot/39 ph3164]

A furnace/groundsman was employed to look after the playing fields as well as to attend to the furnaces at South Stoneham. He lived in the cottage provided. In May 1925, the Grounds Curator wrote to the groundsman with a number of complaints about the state of the cricket pitch and tennis courts and accusing him of “some degree of negligence”. He was dismissed in 1926. The committee also had trouble with the boy employed to look after the tennis courts, who “seems unable to put in a good days work”. It appears that grazing was carried out during the winter, as it was necessary to protect the cricket pitch from cattle.

Tennis court at South Stoneham gardens [MS383 A4000/6/1/16]

The secretary of the Refectory Committee wrote in 1925 to ask if a hole about a yard square could be dug “for the storage of preserved eggs”. This was said to be a matter of some urgency. The Grounds Committee replied that this was agreed subject to the committee “having no responsibility for said eggs!” The first car park was called the “motor parking ground”. Cycling was still the main means of transport for the students, and accommodation for about 100 bicycles was proposed for South Stoneham. Traffic was beginning to be a problem by 1926-27, with several heavy lorries in Woodmill Lane colliding with the walls of South Stoneham House causing considerable damage. It was suggested that the AA should be asked to erect a “Danger” sign.

In 1927 considerable time was spent discussing the best way to manage the playing fields, and a table was drawn up comparing the practice at other colleges.

In June 1928 the committee recommended the erection of the marble statue presented by Mr Ellaby, dated 1735, “at the back of the central recess in front of the main College building.” Work had begun on a rock and water garden near the new botany building, with a generous donation of plants from the Red Lodge nursery. The greenhouses contained many interesting plants including a collection of South African succulents and a “fine specimen” of a banana plant with fruit. A College grown pineapple was raffled for 17 shillings and six pence for the appeal fund.

West’s Patent [MS1 A4091/1/9]

From 1928 the volumes include a regular report from the Grounds Curator, including details of gifts and exchanges of plants with other gardens and institutions, as well as the development of the grounds. In 1929, a professor from McGill University, Montreal, who was studying insectivorous plants, was provided with a specimen of a Utricularia (bladderwort). Gifts included a valuable collection of South American orchids in 1930. Some specimen blooms were later sent to Kew, where many of them were found to be unrepresented in the Kew herbarium. A piece of waste ground behind the engineering department was being developed as a wild garden with gifts of plants from local gardens. The grass at South Hill was being mown by “an old machine drawn by a very old pony”. The Curator recommended the purchase of a new motor mower as both the gardener and the pony were due for retirement!

The minutes include a lengthy consideration of the condition of elm trees at South Stoneham House. After storm damage in the winter of 1929-30, many of the trees were considered unsafe. The committee were agreed that “the position is serious in the extreme and that drastic action is urgently needed”. Sir Hugh Murray, the prominent arboriculturalist who had been instrumental in setting up the Forestry Commission, was approached for his expert opinion, and condemned most of the trees as highly dangerous. The committee were concerned that the loss of the trees would affect the beauty of the grounds, and wrote to Sir Hugh for a further report. He replied “As a lover of trees, I should hate to cut your beautiful elms, but from a point of view of safety first I think I should do so.” However, the Committee was reluctant to take action, and the arguments rumbled on until 1936 when some of the trees were finally removed. In 1935 Lord Swaythling got involved, stating that the trees were a danger to his property including his Fish House. The committee retaliated by saying the trees on his lordship’s property were also in a dangerous state, and sent a similar message to the vicar of South Stoneham regarding trees in his churchyard. This exchange does not appear to have injured relations with Lord Swaythling as in 1937, he sent gifts of rhododendrons for the grounds at South Stoneham as did Lionel de Rothschild of Exbury.

South Stoneham House [MS383 A4000/6/1/16]

In 1931 pools were being proposed for the biological departments by damming the nearby brook “for culture of live stock”. Much work was being done to level and turf the area near “the new building” (now the Hartley Library). In 1935, the warden of South Stoneham House reported “continual damage being done by the students to the flower beds”. The committee decided he should treat this as a disciplinary matter. It seems that not much changed in the next 60 years, as the gardener at South Stoneham was complaining about “18 year old children” damaging his trees in the 1990s.

By 1936-37, eight men and boys were employed as grounds staff, and were paid a total of £12 17s per week, reflecting the low wages prevalent at the time. It was recommended that these wages should be increased to £17 for the year 1937-38. The Head Gardener also had the use of a tied cottage. At South Hill the gardeners’ efforts were added to by the “enthusiastic Navigation staff utilizing its leisure hours in destroying weeds”.

The increased likelihood of war breaking out caused the committee to recommend the siting of ARP trenches behind the engineering blocks in March 1939. Much time was taken up discussing the new layout of the site in light of the new buildings planned and huts to be cleared. Lionel de Rothschild continued to donate shrubs to the College from his gardens at Exbury.

Aerial view of campus with huts still present, 1928-9 [MS1/Phot/39 ph 3211]

After the outbreak of war, all development work was discontinued. Several of the grounds staff were called up, including two in the Balloon Barrage Corps, so it was proposed to reduce the number of men to six. The Curator appreciated the importance of maintaining morale, “I regard it as essential that we should keep the grounds as bright and cheerful as possible”. The shortage of petrol caused one of the large mowers to be laid up, but it was hoped that the lawns could be kept in “fairly decent order”. In October 1940, the Ministry of Agriculture ordered that one acre of ground at South Stoneham should be used for growing food. This was duly ploughed up and potatoes, carrots, onions and swedes were planted. Considerable quantities of tomatoes, lettuces and haricot beans were also grown in the College grounds. Bananas were still being grown, presumably in a greenhouse, and some were sent to Southampton Children’s Hospital in 1942. Later, a land girl was employed. Unfortunately she injured her hand while digging and was forced to leave the Land Army in 1943. The students of Highfield Hall volunteered to undertake the care of their grounds.

One of the gardeners fell off a ladder when investigating damage done to his house by a land mine and broke his ankle and wrist. The Curator reported the misuse of land by military trainees, and the committee resolved there should be a strongly worded protest sent to the authorities. In 1944 the Head Gardener’s cottage suffered bomb damage and he was slightly wounded. A former gardener who had been a prisoner of war returned to work in 1945, but was recalled by the army soon afterwards.

When the war ended, some of the grounds had become overgrown as a result of the reduced manpower during the war years. It was proposed that the bomb shelter in front of the Botany Building be removed and replaced with a pond for aquatic plants. The Curator reported difficulties in recruiting new gardeners due to the lower wages that the college was paying compared with those paid by Southampton Corporation. He was anxious to give up the kitchen garden at South Stoneham, and this was authorised in 1946 when it was returned to lawns. He applied for the use of German prisoners of war, but this request was declined so he accepted the offer of land girls instead. The Committee proposed to return the South Hill kitchen garden to grass for use as tennis courts. The old gun sites in front of the College were filled in and converted to lawn.

In May 1946 the Curator wrote “… a start has been made on the return to something like peacetime amenities, although there is still a long way to go.” By November, the grounds staff were up to their pre-war number of nine “and the work of restoring the condition of the grounds is well in hand”. The last minutes in the volume date from June 1948, and continue to record progress in improving the grounds and the appointment of a new Head Gardener, Mr Montague, having finally retired at the age of 71.

The next instalment of University Developments Through Time will look at something completely different – namely Student Rag over the years – so do look out for that.