Oxford Inspires

Christ Church College, Oxford University

June brought me to Oxford where I hosted a spinal research symposium for our non-profit organization, the International Spine Research (INSPIRE) Foundation at St. Anne’s College at Oxford University.  

June is the perfect time to visit England – with moderate early summer temperatures and just prior to the summer tourist season.

I’ve been to Oxford a few times and every time that I visit I find myself immersed in scholarly desires. 

This is the quintessential College town.  Oxford University was the first University in the English-speaking world.  Students from over 120 countries make up its 20,000 student body.  The University is comprised of 38 Colleges each with its own distinct flavor for academia.  Walking around the historic city you can’t help but dream of what it would be like to attend Oxford.

I met up with my friends who convened for our course, and took a stroll through the city.  We came upon Oxford University Press, the origin of the famed Oxford English Dictionary and publisher of a myriad of over 4,000 books per year.

Oxford is historically renowned as a holy place in the annals of English literature.  Take the pub, The Eagle and Child, owned by St. John’s College, just a short walk from the city center.  In a small back room every Tuesday morning between 1939-1962, a writers’ group known as The Inklings’ would meet to chat over beers discussing their latest books and manuscripts in progress. 

The Inklings was an informal literary discussion group including the likes of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.  Tolkien penned ‘The Hobbit’ as entertainment for his four children and in 1933 shared the book with Lewis.  The rest is history.  The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy that followed were some of the first books I read in grade school for pure pleasure.

In June, 1950, C.S. Lewis distributed the proofs for ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’, the first of the Chronicles of Narnia, which he read aloud to Tolkien – who is said to have absolutely hated it.  More recently, Tony Blair who studied law at St. John’s College in the 1970’s was also a regular at the Eagle and Child.

New graduates exit Hertford College under the Bridge of Sighs

Oxford is known as “The City of Dreaming Spires” so nicknamed by poet Matthew Arnold in regard to the steeples pointing to the sky throughout the historic city.

With the conference over, my work for the day done, I set out for a pint at The Bear Inn public house.  This is the kind of place that I seek out – one of the oldest pubs in town, dating back to 1242. 

Unique to this pub is its collection of over 4,000 snippets of ties, given by customers in exchange for a pint.  The tie pieces are displayed in glass cases on the walls and ceiling in the pub.

Walking throughout this magnificent city the stone architecture is appreciated to have stood the test of time.  The landscape is meticulously manicured everywhere you look.  Dating back to 1525, the grounds of Christ Church College are impeccable and impressive.  This college has produced thirteen British prime ministers, equal to all other Oxford Colleges combined.Popularity in the public eye, the college is the setting for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.  More recently, the Harry Potter adventures were notably filmed at Christ Church.  Notably the dining hall scenes among others.

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The Bodleian Library, the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe.

Across the street from “The Bod” is the King’s Arms pub, one of the main student pubs in town.  A popular local myth is that the King Arms has the highest iQ per square foot of any pub or bar in the world.  I had to see what all the fuss was about.  Students having just finished exams were enjoying themselves in relaxing celebration.  I brought my journal along that I use to write to my kids when I’m away, and took the opportunity to sit and write to my son about all Oxford had to offer.

My last stop of the evening was The Turf Tavern, a 13th century ale house acclaimed for the many famous scholars who have graced its doors throughout the years.  In fact, President Bill Clinton’s famous failure to inhale took place at this very pub while he was attending Oxford as a Rhodes’s Scholar.

If you’re over 5’10”, you literally have to duck your head to enter – testimony to the authenticity of the age of this place – built in a time where people were significantly shorter.

At each of these pubs, a chat with strangers becomes an interesting sharing experience with new acquaintances.  People don’t keep to themselves, abroad, as we do in America.  I don’t think it’s the beer talking – locals are genuinely keen on getting to know you, and vice-versa.

As you’ve probably heard, England is not very well known for their food.  However, you’ll find the pub food of local peasants fare always delicious.  Bangers and Mash are usually on the menu, but I opted for the fish and chips.

I finished Kai’s journal for the day and headed back to the Old Bank Hotel to get some rest before the morning’s bus ride to London and flight home.  Oxford is one of those places that makes an impression on you.  I look forward to my next visit.

Thanks for visiting the lounge,
~Chris