The procession began with trumpets blaring and organs playing. The university marshal arrived with the six "bedels," who are proctors carrying long silver rods to intimidate unruly undergraduates into better behavior. The chancellor followed, with a magnificent robe dripping with gold braid on both sleeves and in the front, wearing a great gold chain glittering with jewels and medallions. A girl page followed him to hold up his coattail, so that it would not be mired in the mud. They were followed by the vice-chancellor, the pro-vice-chancellors, and various dignitaries. The chancellor mounted the throne and declared the proceedings opened.

James Wei, left, and William Bowen, right, at Oxford University in June. Photo by Alan Ryan

The eight honorees were then summoned from the nearby Divinity School, led by His Excellency the Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan and Princeton's own Bill Bowen.

They were followed by the public orator, and the professor of poetry, who turned out to be Princeton's own Paul Muldoon. I waved to him, and he winked back. We sang God Save the Queen. The honorees were presented one at a time by the public orator to the chancellor, in a very long Latin speech extolling their virtues. Then each honoree was escorted to the throne by one of the bedels. Then the chancellor gave each honorand a diploma. The public orator mounted the west pulpit and delivered the Creweian Oration on the events of the past year, and praised the benefactors of the university. I heard later that the donation of a million pounds is sufficient to make the program. Next came the professor of poetry, our own Paul Muldoon, who gave the second part of the oration. He praised the Oxford-Princeton partnership and suggested the pooling of resources.

After the closing ceremonies, we went to a reception and lunch at the University College, where Bill Clinton studied when he was a Rhodes Scholar, and where Chelsea will enter in the autumn. The lord mayor and the sheriff of Oxford were there in the garden, wearing magnificent scarlet robes and fur, and dripping with the gold chains of office. The lunch took place inside the hall, with three enormously long tables, seating about 150 people. I was seated with vice-chancellor Colin Lucas and his wife, the lord mayor and the sheriff, Lord Butler, who is Master of University College, and Sir Williams, who is master of St. Catherine. Colin Lucas made a speech to toast the Oxford-Princeton partnership, and said that he endorsed the Paul Muldoon suggestion that we should pool the endowments of the two Universities!

A garden party at St. Johns College. Photo by James Wei

The next event was a garden party at St. Johns College, where we had champagne and strawberries, a result of the benefaction of Nathaniel, Lord Crewe (1633-1721). Everyone was worried about the fickle English weather, as showers can always come to ruin a garden party. Fortunately, it was bright sunshine and blue skies. All the academics were dressed in academic gowns and vying to see who is the brightest peacock. I believe that the top prize should go to a Portuguese academic who had a green lampshade on his head with tassels dripping in all directions. Much of the conversation was on the Oxford-Princeton partnership and the "pooling of resources." What a glorious day for those of us fortunate enough to be included in these festivities.