Page 86 - Cormorant Issue 20 2017

PAGE 84
Purple Ball 17
Lt Col Ed Launders
FOR MANY YEARS THE Purple Ball has been a central feature of the Shrivenham Station social calendar, and 2017 was no
exception. On 8th July the JSCSC building was transformed for the lavish Masquerade Ball themed event, and around 1,100
staff, students and their guests from across the site enjoyed a truly stunning and memorable evening. The visual effect of the magni cent decorations in the Forum and Victory Dining Hall set the tone, providing a real ‘wow’ factor. This tone was continued by the wide array of food, drink and entertainment enjoyed by all throughout the evening. Unlike previous years, there was no formal sit-down element. Instead, guests were able to dip into a delicious spread of hot and cold food, cheese and fantastic puddings throughout the evening.
The exible structure ensured that guests were able to make the most of the entertainment available. In the Forum an excellent string quartet entertained during the early part of the evening, along with magicians, silhouette artists and jugglers. A Cirque Show of acrobats, gymnasts and ballerinas, including some British Olympic competitors, drew large crowds and their jaw-dropping performances proved a real highlight. Meanwhile, the Collingwood room became a casino (plastic money only!) and
gin bar, and the Fieldhouse became a games room, with classic arcade games and draught beer on
tap. As ever, the fun fair proved a popular choice, bringing the extraordinary sight of many middle-aged
folk eating candy oss, trying to win teddies at the coconut shy and riding a beautiful vintage carousel. Naturally the longest queues were for the dodgems. A place to settle old scores perhaps?
Of course, live music and dancing held the evening together. Thanks go to the student members of the ACSC band, Red Light, and the ICSC(L) band, Sitting on Defence, for their quite brilliant contributions.
Red Light were at their exuberant best playing in the Victory Dining Hall in their biggest gig ever. Sitting on Defence entertained with energy and style in the Fieldhouse with some popular Indy classics. They deserve particular thanks for voluntarily playing a second set late in the evening as guests enjoyed bacon and sausage sandwiches at the end of the