At an end-of-term lunch in the 1980s, a New College student had astonished everyone by demonstrating his fire-eating skills. He stood in Rainy Hall and explained how he did it, inviting people to come up and have a go but there were no takers. One member of staff was invited up, standing with torch in hand, mouth open, but just couldn’t bring himself to do it.
The next person to be invited was Professor James P. Mackey, who unlike his predecessor, managed not to even flinch or hesitate and blew a plume of flame worthy of any dragon.
Read more about Professor James P. Mackey
Entry Submitted by Mary Low
