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John Lauwerys (B.Ed, 1970) is the former Secretary and Registrar of the University of Southampton. His long and distinguished career began here at Goldsmiths where he was the sabbatical President of the Student Union from 1967-68. In May 1966, with the help of fellow students, including John’s future wife, Paula Jones, he organised the first all night Summer Ball at Goldsmiths. In his own words, John recalls how it all came to pass.
T
he whole idea seemed so improbable but also so exciting. Why should all night Summer Balls be exclusive to Oxbridge colleges? Why shouldn’t we have such an event at Goldsmiths in New Cross despite not having a river to punt down? That was the proposition put to a General Union Meeting early in 1966 by a wonderfully eccentric student called Hugh Walwyn-James, himself a pure ‘Brideshead’ character. The meeting gave overwhelming support to the proposal without worrying about the possible financial risk to the Students’ Union. The first ever all night Summer Ball was planned for May that year and a small organising committee whose membership included the effervescent and experienced former Union Social Secretary Bob Raynesford. He booked a brilliant list of groups headed by the Kinks, who at the time of the Ball were no.1 in the Hit Parade with ‘Dedicated Follower of Fashion’. The other top attractions were Humphrey Lyttleton and his big band, The Bonzo Dog Do Dah Band and the then little known John Cleese. We had set the price of a double ticket at £4.10 shillings (£4.50 for those who don’t remember old money!) to include a buffet supper and a light breakfast, a considerable price for students at the time. However the cost of mounting the Ball was high with the Kinks charging £400 for their one hour appearance although John Cleese came a little cheaper at £35 for his cabaret act! Summer 2015 No.42