VICE FASHION - ELITE BOYS' CLUB GANG RITES
PHOTOS BY TAZ DARLING
STYLING BY ALDENE JOHNSON
CO-ORDINATED BY TOM LITTLEWOOD & ANITA CRAPPER
| Mike wears Eagles blazer by Stuart, shirt by U are U, Eagles tie by Ryder and Amies, trousers by Fenchurch and shoes by Bamboo A |
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NAME: Mike Palmer
AGE: 20+1 (must be said or written like this at all times to avoid punishment of a pint finish)
FULL NAME OF SOCIETY: The Eagles
ROLE WITHIN YOUR SOCIETY: Big Bird (President)
Vice: Tell us about The Eagles.
Mike: We were founded in mid 19th century. It’s a society for the finest sportsmen of St John’s College, Cambridge. Once initiated into the club, members dine with girls’ societies that pass the social secretary’s stringent vetting criteria and are generally heroes around college. There is somewhat of a historical rivalry with The Hawks Club. The Hawks were formed in 1872 when a proposal to allow members of other colleges into the Eagles was rejected. This led to the Hawks’ being set up as a university-wide club and today is both larger in size and has its own building in Cambridge. It’s not really a rivalry. In terms of size it’s a bit like David and Goliath except in this case David is Goliath’s daddy. Each member must wear an Eagles tie during socials and after 6 PM on a Sunday. If a member fails to adhere to this simple rule, any other member who sees the offender without their tie may ask for a drink of their choice. Eagles scarves are also popular among members. Aside from standard drinking rules, there is also a rule dating from the college’s very foundation: a second is always followed by a third. If you’ve got a two pint finish you’ll be following it with a third. This is particularly interesting at initiations when those being initiated are expected to drink double fines as standard.
What is the initiation into your society?
Each person’s initiation may differ and to go into too many details might well ruin the fun for prospective members. In essence it involves heavy drinking at a session with the rest of the Eagles whereby the initiees are punished a little heavier when they lose drinking games or contravene simple rules.
Have any important people been in your club?
Rob Andrew, the ex-England fly half and current Director of Elite Rugby was Big Bird in the mid 1980s.
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Charlotte wears shirt by Lacoste, Misfits tie, skirt model’s own and shoes by Levi’s Lydia wears, shirt by stylist’s own, Misfits tie, skirt by Fred Perry and shoes by Levi’s
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NAME: Lydia Tong (right)
AGE: 21
FULL NAME OF SOCIETY: The Misfits
ROLE WITHIN YOUR SOCIETY: President
Vice: Tell us about The Misfits.
Lydia: The Misfits have existed since the 80s, though its precise foundation is shrouded in mystery. We are nice young ladies who get together dressed as schoolgirls for the purpose of dining with the pick of the university’s buffest sportsmen.
Are there any special items of clothing worn by society members?
All members are expected to wear their society tie on outings. There has also been a President’s Bustier (currently displaced). The girls wear “school-uniform inspired” dress on socials. This tradition developed after collaboration with the cheeky sporting gentlemen with whom we dine.
What is the initiation into your society?
Only the President is initiated. This happens during the annual dinner and is tailor-made to the President-Elect and is at the whim of the President-Emeritus. They involve alcohol, a little humiliation and some degree of skill, for example, the last initiation was to consume an entire raw cabbage and three pints of ale within three minutes.
Does being in The Misfits make it easier to get a good job?
Most actually escape from the frivolity of the society to actual serious grown-up jobs such as banking, medicine, law, and academia. Most would also make good geishas if these careers fall through.
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