Christmas Party Posters at the RAC/RAU

With Christmas fast approaching we thought we would take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and also showcase some festive finds from the RAU Archives.

So, step back in time with a selection of party posters from the Archives.  We showcase a wide range of vibrant posters in different styles from past Christmas balls (see folding display board). The eye-catching posters offer a nostalgic glimpse into student entertainment of yesteryear.

Poster for the RAC Christmas Ball, undated, – probably 1980s   

Here are some examples of posters produced over the years:

• Christmas Ball 1980 ticket price £30: advertising live music, cocktails, food, discotheque, casino, nightclub
• New Year’s Ball 1980 ticket £30: includes dancing to the magnificent Blues Hounds and Logic Systems Nightclub disco, casino, fun fair, Cocktails, basket meal black tie or fancy dress
• Christmas Ball 1995 150^th Anniversary ticket price £20: smart dress only, cocktails, casino food, fun and much much more
• Christmas Ball 1998 tickets £25: Blues Hounds, Discotheque, Cocktails, Dodgems, Bucking Bronco and Bungee Run, Casino, Santa’s Grotto, food and dress code black tie
• Christmas Ball 2009 Winter Wonderland tickets £55: Longdrop, Ice Luge, Fair Rides
• Christmas Ball 2019 How the Grinch Stole Ciren! £55: dress code Black tie with a hint of Grinch

Alongside the posters you can also view photos of the College Chapel’s Christmas décor. The candlelit Carol Service in the beautiful University chapel is always a truly special event.

There is also evidence from the items on display that the College/University took part in events to enter the festive spirit such as a Christmas Fun around the University grounds, a Go-karting Challenge, a Christmas fair featuring student businesses from both the RAU and Cirencester College, the Santa Shuffle walk, and last but not least Christmas Jumper Day.  The RAU has also decorated a Christmas tree as part of the Cirencester Parish church festival of trees. At the end of the festival the trees are auctioned off to raise money for charity. Students and staff have also collected items for the local foodbank to help those in crisis, or brought a cash donation to the Carol Service.

Christmas decor (Chapel)

Christmas celebrations and parties were also an opportunity to get everyone together and celebrate the hard work of staff throughout the year. Often these included a wonderful Christmas meal supplied by the Catering team, complete with Christmas crackers and all the trimmings. A festive menu from 1990 is included in this display. Here is a description of one such event from 2003:

The Corinium Room was beautifully decorated. We had a lovely three course dinner, served on a very festive table complete with Christmas crackers. The service was top notch from our waiter, Tony, and very able assistant Sarah. Carol also made Brandy butter for the mince pies, Delicious! I think that we all gained a few pounds! We later had entertainment supplied by “Jolly Roger” and his two ‘’friends’’, a dog and a monkey. He was great! I don’t think we have ever laughed so much in our lives.

On 22^nd December 2013 the University featured on the Countryfile Christmas Special (BBC series) which featured the RAU Choir.  One member of the choir said, ‘It was great to see Adam Henson and the Countryfile team pay the RAU a visit. We discussed overwintering sheep and pigs with him, and what farmers do at Christmastime. We had a great day doing a spot of filming and putting the knowledge we have learned into practice.’

We can’t, of course, finish without mentioning Christmas decorations. Library staff in particular have regularly created decorations made out of recycled items such as a Christmas tree made of rolled up newspapers (2017), a tree made of books (2015), or book-folding for re-purposing unwanted books (2016) and creating decorations including a Victorian Christmas wreath, desktop trees, candles, stars etc.  

So, pop in and check our festive display, and cherish the traditions that bring us together during Christmas time!