Final Farewell
Although this should have been done a few days ago, I’ve not had the time to write anything! The reason for this will become apparent as I write.
Last Friday night my University halls of residence had their summer ball. This had promised to be a great night and, fortunately, it lived up to all expectations! The Duryard Summer Ball was going to be the last party ever held for Duryard, as this is the final year students will be staying there. At the end of this year, Duryard is to be knocked down.
When I started the year I hated Duryard. The rooms are small, cramped and cell-like, the majority of which are unplastered. Moving into this place was a shock compared to my life back at home. The food is awful, the showers smell and toilets are one between a corridor of seven or eight. Yet, amazingly, by the end of this night I loved it.
The essence of Duryard isn’t the place itself, it’s the people. The atmosphere is incredible. No matter who you have around you, everyone just seems to get on. It makes for an incredible experience, especially when all these people get together for one huge goodbye party. I would quote just how many people there were, but the information has been removed from Exeter’s webpages. Still.. there’s a good few hundred.
The four houses Moberly, Hetherington, Murray and Jessie Montgomery (where I lived) all came together for this, with the actual ball being held on the grass area in the centre of them. On that grass area was a large marquee, bouncy boxing, bouncy bungee, a cocktail bar (one free cocktail each) and trampoline’s (with bungee rope which attaches to you to bounce higher). The marquee was home to another bar and bands which played throughout the night. These ‘bands’ included a Michael Jackson tribute band (who constantly plugged their website) and a DJ which played until around 1am. The bouncy boxing was just a big boxing-ring style bouncy castle for two people to bounce around and hit each other with big boxing gloves (provided, obviously). The bouncy bungee was similar, but you were attached to bungee cord and two people could race each other and see if they could reach the other side of the bouncy castle.. thing.
On another grass area, near the food hall, was another large bouncy castle and a bucking bronco ride. All the cars from the student car park were removed for a large dodge ‘ems bumper car setup. Well worth moving my car for.
Within the food hall, they had decorated the bar, put a lovely chocolate fountain (with selection of dips) in the side room, a casino in the front room and upstairs was a amazing buffet. The amount of food at the buffet was one thing but after the horrid food I’d had all year at this place, it was amazing (yes, I use this word alot — but it’s the best way to describe it!) to have so much and so good. To top that off there was free wine and a magician, what more could you want?
At half ten there was a fireworks display. Even though they were nice to watch, it’s what came after that was impressive. As the last firework died down chanting from the entire crowd started up, “Oh Duryard! … Is Wonderful! … Oh Duryard is wonderful!”. It was such overwhelming experience to be surrounded by hundreds of people all shouting and cheering for this place; even I got caught up in it. University is not about the degree, it’s not about the place.. it’s all about the people.
After the fireworks, a DJ played out until 1am(ish) playing some good things and some cheesy things. It was during this that the dodge ‘ems turned into a death trap — with the roof falling off and nearly hitting people. The funny thing was, this happened three times in around five minutes and they were still admitting people on to the ride and the ambulance people didn’t even seem to care. I only managed to ride it once before the roof started caving in but it was so much fun! I’d not been on them for many, many years so playing on them now was even more fun.
The night could not have been better. It was such a wonderful experience! It trully was a great, final cheer for Duryard Halls.
[PS: We all rode the bucking bronco and fell off way too quickly, with the winner being Suzy (yes, well done). The chocolate fountain had a number of dips including strawberries, pink wafers and other lovely things. Oh, yes.. and I did beat up my girlfriend Becca on the bouncy boxing -- she asked for it!]
