Trips down memory lane

Another delegate, Alan Gilbert, vice-chancellor of Manchester University, chose to stay at the swish Macdonald Randolph in the centre of Oxford. As an Oxford student, he apparently dreamt of staying at the hotel.

Meanwhile, Geoffrey Copland, vice-chancellor of Westminster University and another Oxford alumnus, got a special thrill from staying at St Anne's.

Forty years ago, he was banned from the all-female college when caught leaving after the 7.30pm curfew. It seems even vice-chancellors were wild once.