Maya Bewley Ever wondered what a macebearer actually does? Why was the first ceremony held in Derwent Dining Hall? When did we start ‘doffing’ our caps at graduation? Looking back over the decades, join us as we pull back the curtain on the history behind the traditions of graduation at York.
What was the first ever graduation ceremony like?
The very first graduation ceremony took place on 12th July 1966. Campus was still very new at the time, and so the ceremony within the functional walls of Derwent Dining Hall. Awards were presented by the first Vice-Chancellor, Lord James, during an event then known simply as ‘Degree Day,’ a straightforward title for a milestone event. Among the inaugural cohort of 179 graduates was a mother of four, and a 66 year old retired chemist. David Foster, staff member and former Registrar, signed the first degree certificates by hand, with a pen he continued to use throughout his life!
This year, a group of those same graduates returned to campus to watch a graduation ceremony, 60 years on. Check out the group photo below:
Who were the first honorary graduates?
Before the first students even crossed the stage, the brand-new university held a special ceremony on 2 June 1966 to install its Chancellor, the Earl of Harewood, and establish the first ever honorary graduates.
Among the University’s first honorary graduates included the celebrated sculptor Henry Moore and sociologist Baroness Wootton of Abinger. However, it was the title itself that broke tradition. As Lord James explained:
“Our honorary degrees revived the tradition of the earlier European universities, and were simply called Doctor of the University… rather than the following and somewhat artificial, if customary, pattern of awarding Doctorships of Laws or Letters.”
The Guardian took notice of this refreshing approach, reporting that instead of perfunctory addresses and laboured academic jokes, “York professors strode one by one on to the rostrum and presented a witty, exploratory, and rounded appraisal, almost a critique, of the person the university was honouring.” Even the pamphlets were distinctive, funded by Sidney Bernstein, the founder of Granada TV.
What exactly is a macebearer?
In keeping with the traditions of the Houses of Parliament and older institutions, York’s ceremonies are led by a Mace Bearer. The university’s mace is a four-foot silver staff, gifted by the University of Oxford in 1965 as a replica of Oxford’s own Beadle’s Stave.
We spoke with Robin, a former York Mace Bearer, who recalled the pressure of the regal role:
“I was a manager in the security team, and we basically took it in turns to do the mace bearing. The first session scared me to death!
“You have to get the timing with the music exactly perfect, so that you bow to the Vice-Chancellor and the Chancellor, put the mace down, and get back to your seat before the music stops.”
Rather you than us, Robin!
Why grey gowns?
We’ll have to admit that we couldn’t find an exact answer as to why York chose grey. With some students railing against the colour, the choice of grey has sparked decades of debate. Partnering with Ede & Ravenscroft, one of the world’s oldest tailors and University gown providers from the start, the university’s choice of grey at least sets graduates apart from the sea of traditional black gowns found elsewhere.
Bonus fact: In case you really wanted to know what each coloured trim means, the University has a handy guide over on its website.
Why Central Hall?
As we wrote earlier, when the first ever graduation ceremony took place, campus was still just a newly constructed set of colleges and a lake! Constructed between 1966-1968, Central Hall was purpose-built as ‘a multi-purpose assembly hall to be used for lectures, examinations, concerts, drama, ceremonial occasions and conferences’ (one of the reasons the building is Grade II listed by Historic England). Arguably being the University’s main architectural pride-and-joy, it naturally followed that graduations took place in Central Hall after construction.
How did we go from handshakes to ‘doffing’ our caps?
Take a walk around campus during graduation and you might spot students practice the tradition. For most of York’s history, the highlight of the ceremony was a handshake with the Vice-Chancellor. When the pandemic made physical contact unsafe, the university introduced ‘doffing your cap’:a respectful nod of the head when graduates cross the stage. Even as restrictions faded, the gesture remained, becoming the newest addition to the traditions of graduation.
The University continues to pioneer new traditions, with the most recent being relaxed graduation ceremonies. These ceremonies feature softer lighting, shorter speeches, no loud applauses or music, to make graduation accessible for those who are disabled and/or neurodivergent, or would just prefer to graduate in a quieter setting.
Got any graduation trivia you’d like to share from your own ceremony? Be sure to let us know in the comments!
I graduated in 1968. Unfortunately my parents, having just been up a few weeks earlier to transport me and my baggage back to Bournemouth didn’t feel they could afford to repeat the journey. I tried relatives in Huddersfield but they were also unable to attend so I chose as my guests two of the lovely cleaning ladies who had looked after my corridor in Vanbrugh C Block for my final year. Bella and Betty were both delighted to see their boys receive their honours.