Quick Question

[woffproff.livejournal.com]

I've noticed two references to Bertie's 'tight as an owl' antics at Oxford on bump-supper night. Could someone tell me what a bump-supper is? (Obviously I'm not British!) I wondered if it was the celebration after exams or something. Many thanks in advance!

(I think my frequently intoxicated students could learn something from Bertie. Nude bike riding would make for far more entertaining police reports than we generally get around campus!)

Comments

[gingergoldfish.livejournal.com]

I am british and I don't know what it means lol, could a reference to a light - supper maybe?

[conductrixvitae.livejournal.com]

Well at Cambridge, the bumps is a game played on the river between rowers where they race on the narrow river and bump one another out the way. For more info go here http://www.firstandthird.org/tables/rowing/bumpsformat.shtml

So I'm assuming that bump-supper is the piss-up they all have after the bumps. However this is all suppposition since I'm not sure if they have the same at Oxford. Luckily though, my flatmate went to Oxford and I've just sent her an email. Hopefully she'll be able to shed light on it!

[conductrixvitae.livejournal.com]

Okay more info

It does happen at Oxford too http://www.lmhbc.com/oxfordrowing.html . Waiting for confirmation from my flatmate but I'm pretty sure I'm right.

[wormwood-pearl.livejournal.com]

In which book/episode did this nude bike riding occur??

Confirmation

[conductrixvitae.livejournal.com]

My question - And btw can you tell me what a bump-supper is? I’m assuming it’s Oxford slang. Possibly supper for rowers after playing bumps on the river? Or is it only Cambridge that play bumps?

My flatmate's answer - That would be my guess, yes. Oxford call it Bumps Dinner, 'cause we tend to black tie for it. But we're as fond of river dodgems as the Tabs.

Confirmation

[nepthys-uk.livejournal.com]

What ho. I've just been lurking around this lj so far, but this thread has brought me out of hiding. Yes, the Oxford colleges do hold bumps races (one in the spring term and one in the summer term), and the celebratory (or commiseratory, depending upon your point of view) dinner held afterwards is known as bumps supper or dinner. Yes, its a black-tie event and generally involves drinking your own body-weight in alcohol. (Bizarrely enough, the link above is to my old college (and crew), LMH).

Since I've plucked up the courage to finally post a comment, I'd like to add that this lj seems packed with the most splendid people, and although I would count myself as a Plum fan (and a recent Jooster convert), I bow down to the impressive level of knowledge, and amazing ability to reproduce Plum-style writing, found over here.

Roll on more Jooster!

[tourmaline1973.livejournal.com]

Sadly the naked cycling was not actually filmed for the J&W series :( I've been looking through my J&W books to find the story, but it's well hidden. It was referenced briefly when Aunt Dahlia asks Bertie to cycle over to Kingham Manor for the key for the back door, after the plan to bring back together Gussie & Madeline and Tuppy & Angela by ringing the fire bell doesn't quite go to plan (final episode of Series 1).

[woffproff.livejournal.com]

Hello---And thanks to all of the above for the information!!!!!

The reference to the nude biking incident is from RIGHT HO, JEEVES. It occurs as the residents are ganging up on Bertie to make the long bike ride. And what a pity it isn't in the episode; just imagine the expression Jeeves could have had on his face when he hears:

"That's right," said Tuppy. "Bertie has always been a great cyclist. I remember at Oxford he used to take all his clothes off on bump-supper nights and ride around the quad, singing comic songs. Jolly fast he used to go too."

And in THANK YOU, JEEVES, it's Chuffy telling tales on Bertie...

"I've seen him like this before. Once, after a bump-supper at Oxford, he insisted that he was a mermaid and wanted to dive into the college fountain and play the harp there."

(Ahem! Intoxicated Bertie fic, anybody????)

Re: Confirmation

[woffproff.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[championlurker.livejournal.com]

In RHJ Gussie says Bertie used to take his clothes off when snockered and ride about the college quad singing comic songs.

[finmagik.livejournal.com]

Even, Psmith got pissed after one there must something in that.