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Oxford Revisited

The 1998 Inspector Morse

Saturday 29th. - Sunday 30th. August 1998

Review By Brian Pugh

The weekend for Christine and myself began with our arrival on Friday 28th. August at Exeter College. We took advantage of the full package offered by Antony Richards by staying in a room at the college. On booking in we made our way to our room, which we found most comfortable.

On Saturday morning, after breakfast in Hall, the group met outside the college and joined the coach. Our group this year was made up of people with very different interests, including Holmesians, Doyleans, railway and mystery enthusiasts and of course those interested in Morse. The group consisted of members from all around the U.K. and two from America.

After boarding the coach we made our way to Oxford station to pick up one member and then made our way to Henley-on-Thames. On arrival at Henley-on-Thames we had a guided tour of the Brakspear Brewery, which brewery was used in SINS. After the private tour we sampled the beers that are made here and some purchased bottles of the beer and souvenirs of the visit. A very enjoyable lunch was then taken at the Catherine Wheel in Henley-on-Thames. The group then moved onto Abingdon for a guided tour of the town museum and a visit to the roof top which gave us wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.

From here we had a short drive to the Didcot Railway Centre, which featured in WOLV, where we had another guided tour, a short steam train ride and a cream tea taken in the royal saloon. On returning to Oxford the evening was taken up with the Gala Dinner at Exeter College with Colin Dexter as our guest of honour. After a very good meal we all retired to the Senior Common Room where Colin, in a more informal way this year, answered various questions put to him by Antony Richards on behalf of the members. Colin answered the questions in his usual interesting and witty way. During the evening the script of the latest Morse television programme, WENC, was circulated from which each member was given two pages and Colin signed these for those who wanted it signed. Lindsay Siviter briefly outlined the walking tour that would take place on Sunday and the raffle took place with the various winners collecting their prizes from a wonderful selection. After a very interesting and enjoyable day we then made our way to our respective accommodation.

Sunday began with breakfast and then the group all met in the quadrangle at Exeter College for the Oxford of Inspector Morse walking tour. Unfortunately Lindsay Siviter had been taken ill over night and could not conduct the tour. Antony managed to borrow her notes and we continued the tour under his guidance. After all, he had the jacket for it!!

The tour commenced at the 1856 Exeter College Chapel, (SETT), the college having also been used for SILE and WAYT. We then continued on and viewed Trinity College, (TWIL), The White Horse, (LSEE, JERI and SECR) and Blackwell’s Bookshop, (DECE, WHOK and LENE), opposite the Sheldonian Theatre, (TWIL, LENE and TIME). Next was a visit to the chapel at Wadham College (WHOK and DAUG), but unfortunately the dining hall was not open to visitors. We then retraced our route passing The King’s Arms, (WOLV, HAPP and SLUM) to the Holywell Music Room, (TWIL and WHOK), and on crossing the road we viewed The Turf Tavern (SERV, SILE and HAPP). We then viewed Merton College, (INFE and SERV), Corpus Christi which was called Beaumont College in LENE, Christ Church, (DECE, DAUG, LSEE and SECR) and Oriel College (SILE, SLUM, NEIG and INFE). Some of the group viewed the collection of ties in The Bear Inn (NEIG). M. C. Black was unsuccessful in obtaining admission to Brasenose College, so we viewed it from the outside only. Brasenose is Lonsdale College in the Morse novels and television adaptations JERI, SETT, RIDD, TWIL, WAYT and NEIG.

After a very interesting tour we took lunch at The Mitre (LENE and HAPP). It was here that the winner of the crossword that had been circulated previously was announced, who this year was Mark Bumford. His prize, which was donated and signed by Colin Dexter, was the Inspector Morse Omnibus, volume four. This co11ection will be available during October 1998.

After lunch we took a leisure1y walk to the Botanical Gardens (SERV, LSEE, SETT, DECE and NEIG). We were then given a guided tour of these most interesting gardens. It was during this tour that the guide informed us that some of the Morse scenes had actually been shot in Surrey. It would be interesting to find these locations for future visits. On leaving the gardens we made our way to the Carfax Tower (LENE, HAPP and NEIG) . The tower stands 72 feet high and, for the more energetic of the group who climbed the 99 steps to the top, this offered us magnificent views over Oxford’s famous skyline. We then had a brief look at the Alfred Jewel in the Ashmolean Museum (WOLV) before taking a cream tea at the Randolph Hotel (SECO and