May Ball memories: you share your favourite moments
There are few rites of passage at Cambridge as well-known or as fondly recalled as the St John’s May Ball. It occupies a special place in College memories, especially if you’re one of the night’s “survivors”.
Long regarded as a highlight of the student calendar, it was said by Time Magazine to be the seventh best party in the world. Hundreds of students descend each year on the College’s historic courts for a black-tie party with all-night food and drink, a carousel of entertainment, fireworks that draw spectators onto the Cam, and even drone displays, topped by a headline act.
The tradition of May Balls at Cambridge dates back to the late 19th century, when the University’s May boat races were shifted to June. The festivities now span two weeks, featuring boat races, garden parties and lavish balls. This year’s May Ball will take place on 23 June. We asked you to share some of your favourite moments from over the years to be in with a chance of winning an 1888 Club May Ball ticket.
Drawn at random, our 1888 ticket winner is Eva-Maria Hempe (2007) who recalled her favourite part of the Ball was “spending an amazing night with all my friends – it sounds so simple but trying to do the same now would require months of planning and international travel.”
“It was like stepping into a storybook for one last chapter,” said Amir Hosein Kadkhodaei (2021), who attended his final ball in 2024. “There was a bittersweet edge to the evening knowing it would be the last time, but that only made every moment feel more special. The decorations were stunning and the food was fantastic, but what truly made the night unforgettable was the people. Friends and housemates I’d lived with over the past three years were all there together, gathered for one magical night. We danced, wandered through the courts and celebrated until nearly 5am, soaking up every minute. It felt like a perfect send-off to our time at Cambridge. One night where everyone came together before heading off in different directions.”
At St John’s, preparations for the Ball begin months in advance, and they’re overseen by students on the May Ball Committee. Lawrence Berry (2016), an Engineering undergraduate, remembers his role on the “Centrepiece” team, responsible for constructing the Ball’s elaborate set pieces. “As an Engineering student, I was a regular on the Centrepiece team that built the large props and decorations for the Ball – not to mention each year’s incarnation of the iconic SJC sign on The Backs,” he said. “In 2017 we built a giant gramophone for a 1920s themed Second Court, in 2018 a Moulin Rouge windmill and in 2019 a giant pagoda. I have no doubt 2020 would have been our finest endeavour yet had COVID-19 not struck us down (I think our plans involved a giant solar system orrery and a few giant whale fins sticking out of the ground).”
The Ball’s theme, famously guarded until the gates open, lends the evening an air of secrecy. The Ball itself lasts from 9pm until dawn, when “Survivors” photographs are taken for those who make it through the night. Toby Walsh (1983) remembers “Champagne, strawberries and terrible dancing (by me, not others). Fireworks at some point. Then the dawn rising over The Backs. Timeless pleasures that stay with you for life.”
Marcel Mordarski (2022) explained how the Ball added up to more than just a lavish party: “My May Ball remains a profoundly cherished memory of bidding my friends farewell. The beautiful friendships I made at university culminated in shared photos and dances, as many attended the Ball as their final act of university life before returning to their home countries or seeking new adventures. Arguably, that night’s true magic lay in the bittersweet awareness that, come morning, everything would change.”
And for Jeremy Payne (1975) the highlights were: “Dancing to Mungo Jerry ‘In The Summertime’, warming up by the braziers and planning to punt to Grantchester in the morning but being too weary.”
Justin Holt (2010), who oversaw security for the 2011 Ball, recounts how he dealt with a persistent gatecrasher: “I was serving with the Royal Marines at the time and came to read an MPhil in International Relations. Within days of joining St John’s, the Head Porter approached me and asked if I would like to join the May Ball Committee as the member responsible for security. I was a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, so how hard could it possibly be?… On the night, a couple of gate-crashers were quickly identified and escorted off the premises. But one in particular kept getting in. Three times he was shown the door, a little more drunk every time. To this day, I have no idea how he did it.”
And finally, Lucia Tremonti (2022) revealed how she managed to stay up for the famous survivors’ photo: “After hours of exploring each court, enjoying the talent shows, savouring all the delicious food and drinks and playing dodgems, we were treated with a firework display, which then, to our surprise (although we had heard some rumours), turned into an epic drone show. But the night was not over yet! I even managed to squeeze in a quick power-nap on a bean bag before continuing. Eight hours in and it was time to swap out the heels for trainers just before sunrise and the survivors’ photograph, before heading home for a long sleep filled with great memories.”
