The evocative odour of autumn leaves and burgers swept along by a capricious breeze; excited groups of students rushing from stall to stall: it could only be Freshers’ Fair!

The Sports Hall was the main location with a multiplicity of stalls decked out to attract the passing `punters’. Those students with a fondness for the social sciences made a bee-line for the clubs and societies offered by the Sociology and Psychology departments, with the ever popular History, Politics and Philosophy clubs joined this year by Economics. Mr Howells reprised his performance as a high court judge at the Law Society stall, whilst budding linguists headed for the MFL area. Thespians and performers of all hues gravitated towards the performing arts tables whilst the photographers signed up a healthy quota. The IT crowd was drawn towards the Coding Club, and the poets and scribblers congregated at the creative writing and reading groups run by the English department. Alongside the hoodies for sale stall the representatives from the National Citizens Service were kept extremely busy, whilst practical guidance was on offer at the careers, study skills and library tables. ALS and counselling were on hand to make students aware of the support available throughout the year, and Debate Club and Model United Nations attracted the budding contrarians, as ever.

Outside in the grounds the plaintive strains of a ukulele could be heard as musical students signed up for the ukulele orchestra. The medics tent was extremely popular, and not just because they were making sherbet fizz bombs; the Chaplaincy team dispensed tea and biscuits, and the Justice and Peace, and Fair Trade groups aroused considerable interest, as did the students and staff passing on information about the annual Loreto visit to Kolkata. If the thought of exercise offered by the reps from English Rugby was too much then respite was available at the famous global kitchen. As lunchtime drew to a close our ever innovative students staged an impromptu dance off outside Ellis and Kennedy building: an entertaining end to a thoroughly worthwhile session, expertly organised and marshalled by Ms McDermott.