Halcyon Days
Emeritus Professor Ed Davis read Economics at Queens' from 1969-72 under the encouraging supervision of Professor Ajit Singh. One of his early tutors was Professor John Eatwell. Ed had a more relaxed fourth year, when he undertook a CertEd. He left England in 1974 and taught at Monash, La Trobe, the University of New South Wales and Macquarie before retiring in 2008, after six years as Dean of Macquarie University's Commerce Faculty. He is married with two sons. He has lived in Sydney since 1980.
“Dinner was served in the beautiful Hall at Queens’. The majestic Angels adorning the ceiling were on watch. There were three sittings: 11.30pm, 12.30am and 1.30am. There was a light buffet from 10pm-3am; coffee and croissants from 3-6am and a steady flow of Champagne. The Walnut Tree Court featured a series of Jazz and steel bands from 10pm-5am; a tent on the Erasmus Lawn housed contemporary bands from 10pm-5am; College students performed a play in Friars Court; there was a tent with Gypsy Syrana telling fortunes and there was a programme of Cartoons and Horror Movies on offer. Additional activities included a disco, a roving Wind Quintet and Roulette. A piper piped in the dawn from the battlements of the Gate Tower at 4am. For those seeking more entertainment, there was free entry from 4.30am to the May Balls at Emmanuel, Caius, St John’s and Trinity Hall, all holding their balls on the same night.
It was an amazing night with spirits not dampened by pouring rain! No one seemed to care. Perhaps these extraordinary and extravagant rituals were also part of our training, preparing us for the roles deemed to lie ahead. I cannot say they gave me any taste for all-night efforts and I seem to have spent the rest of my life going to bed early.
The next day saw me packed and leaving Cambridge. My time was up. It is with hindsight that I look back and declare these ‘Halcyon Days’; filled with love, the company of friends, the pleasure of sport and relatively free of academic study or work.”
