The
Cambridge Explorers, is an elite social and
adventuring
secret society at
Cambridge
University. There are incomplete records of the society dating
back to the 1950s, when a splinter group from the
Cambridge
Apostles were welcomed. However, the legend of the Cambridge
Explorers (C.E) stretches back many years.
In 1209 the
University itself was founded by two young scholars, who had “grown
tired of the confines of Oxford and sought new pastures for
exploration.” This quote by Pope Gregory IX (legal protector of the
university) in 1233, is often interpreted as referring to
‘intellectual exploration’. In fact, as many academics now
acknowledge, it refers literally to the desire for adventure and
espionage. This therefore, constitutes the earliest record of the
Explorers and although little is known about the two young men, it
is believed that they were the founders of the secret
society.
Throughout the following eight centuries, the Cambridge
Explorers became notorious for their ability to break into places
to which few have access. Frustratingly, little is known about the
identity of the members, as they were highly effective at covering
their tracks and destroying any information related to their
actions. However, we do know that, no members of the society have
matriculated in Trinity College - a haven or the rich and famous -
the Explorers are happy to infiltrate and enjoy the perks, but
would never want permanent residence - thus the motto “into Trinity
and beyond….”
In recent times, the work of the C.E has been more
explicit. The sceptre held by the statue of Henry VIII mounted
above Trinity’s Great Gate was replaced with a chair leg by members
in the 1930s(a bicycle pump also followed); two members who had
done little revision for their finals cited the Latin agreement
that if they turned up in armour on horseback for their exams they
should automatically pass (they were awarded a first) and finally
ambitious students raised an Austin 7 delivery van onto Senate
House (the Cambridge Explorers are closely linked with classic
automobiles).
Membership
Records of the club have never
fully been released to the public or to Cambridge University,
although what has come to public notice indicates that the group
have been based at
Homerton College since the turn of the
century. The one surviving list of members, to be found in the
archive of Homerton College, suggests the group was, at least until
2004, exclusively male.
The transcript below describes one of
the central initiation rights of the Cambridge Explorers - that of
breaking in to Trinity May Ball:
"As you know last night I
went off to see the fireworks at Trinity on a punt. The river was
once again cluttered with about two hundred punts providing a
spectacular image as people fought over the best viewing point. It
was an expectant atmosphere as people tied their boats together and
waited for the fireworks. The flashes of colur lit up the sumptuous
site of Trinity May Ball, the champagne corks popping, adding to
the envy of those confined to the river. Beautiful white marquees
could be seen all over the gardens and as the guests, enjoying the
benefits of their £120 strolled the lawns. Following the fireworks
we raced back up the river to drop off our punt, passing the banks
of Clare College, and the finery on display in their own ball.
Following our exciting adventures on the river I met with my good
friend and we agreed that this was the year. It was amazing how
many people were also trying to achieve the same goal and become
part of the exclusive C.E group. At points it felt as if there were
more people outside in dinner jackets than inside the ball. For
example, we met a group of five men who were speaking in whispers
next to the river. They were trying to place a plank of wood in the
water, so that they could jump into the ball. However, security
were clearly watching them, they got very wet and also they did not
have any wrist bands. We also met three men who had tried to abseil
into the ball from the roof of Trinity. After making it in though
the glass atrium they were caught without proper identification. It
was great hearing all of these stories and walking around the
college watching students carrying ladders and looking for any gap
in the fence. We then realised how much it meant to people to be
part of the Cambridge Explorers.
After about an hour (1.30am) Tom
and I found ourselves outside one of the side doors where the bands
were all entering. There was a porter on the door watching everyone
and then inside there was a security check where all performers
were asked to show identification and give their name. It was quite
interesting just watching people go in and out and my friend and I
thought that at one point we might be able to hide in a cello case,
as it seemed the only way in. Security was so tight they were
checking everything and anything (even dustbins!).
However, like
any espionage attempt, patience is important and in time we found
ourselves conversing with a driver of a black BMW. It developed
that he was waiting to pick the main headline band up from the ball
- 'Supergrass.' After much questioning and encouragement, he agreed
to part with the silver wrist band he had been given. We now had an
'access all areas pass' and needed one more if we were both going
to break in. We waited half an hour for Supergrass and with a
little tomfoolery we were able to persuade the lads to part with
their prized wristbands. Now that we had more 'access all area
passes' than we actually needed we approached the main entrance
with caution. We feared that the college porter who had been
'clocking' all those entering and exiting bands would identify us
and so we felt it necessary to circuit the college once more. On
our return, a university jazz band was entering the event and with
all the panache and authority we accompanied them inwards -
flashing our wristbands with confidence. Next we had to bypass the
signing in area, again by proving that we were guests and not
fraudsters. And then suddenly we realised we were in! We had
overcome the tightest security, defied all the odds and proved that
it could be done. Forever more we would be members of the Cambridge
Explorers"
An Extract from the Cambridge Explorers
Chronicles
Activities and Initiation
In contrast to the
Apostles, the
Cambridge Explorers have historically focused their energies more
on adventuring than fine food and wine. In their undergraduate
years, membership of the club is through a pro-longed initiation
including the successful crashing of
Trinity May Ball,
hence the nickname 'ballcrashers'.
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