Nearly 100 Trinity students graduated in a carefully choreographed day, including a socially distanced group photograph, a picnic in the College grounds, and of course General Admission at Senate House.
There was an air of expectation as relatives congregated on Trinity Street. In Great Court the Praelector Dr Hugh Hunt painstakingly organized students, in full academic dress, for a COVID-secure photograph by the ever-patient John Thompson of JET photographic.
Arranged according to the rules of General Admission, with Engineering and Natural Sciences students up front, the graduands were led out of Great Court in pairs by the Interim Head Porter Frank Barker, equipped with the College staff, and the Praelector.
Applause rippled through the assembled guests and spectators as Great Gate swung open. In fact the huge doors swung open twice, just to ensure the best possible photo!
It was the first in-person General Admission since February 2020, due to the pandemic, with more to follow this summer.
In Senate House, the Master of Trinity, Dame Sally Davies, conferred degrees on Trinity students in a ceremony conducted in Latin which retains traditions dating back 800 years. This summer it has been altered to comply with COVID restrictions.
Instead of joining proceedings in person, relatives could watch the ceremony via livestream. There were cheers, flowers and some tears outside Senate House. Then guests made their way back to Trinity for a special picnic in the College grounds.
Trinity’s Senior Tutor, Professor Catherine Barnard, said it had been a challenging year for all.
All credit to the students, they have done brilliantly given what COVID has thrown at us. Everyone got into the spirit and even the rain just about held off! Thanks to our staff and our incredible master of ceremonies, Hugh Hunt, for a memorable day.
Photography: David Rose.
![College Crest](/wp-content/uploads/logo-01.png"){kind=logo}