Rectorial Battle 1975
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Rectorial Battle 1975 by Richard Sutcliffe as part of the Geograph project.
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Rectorial Battle 1975
Image: © Richard Sutcliffe Taken: Unknown
The Rector of the University of Aberdeen is the students' representative and also acts as the chairman of the University Court. Traditionally in the run-up to the election of a new Rector by students, those supporting the different candidates would take part in a 'rectorial battle'. In 1975 the battle took place in the quadrangle of Marischal College, between supporters of the actor Iain Cuthbertson [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5714489] (who was subsequently elected Rector for three years) and a student at the university (I seem to recall he was called 'Ben'). The aim of the battle was to get the opposition's flag from its position about ten feet up on the wall of the quadrangle. It was definitely a good idea to wear old clothes for the battle - 'ammunition' included water, soot and flour bombs and even offal (including cow's lungs from the local abattoir). Those were the days!
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Image Location
Latitude
57.149346
Longitude
-2.096337