User:Billyblunt/Bullingdon

Bullingdon Club

The Bullingdon Club is an exclusive dining club at Oxford. Membership is by invitation only, and is reserved for male undergraduates who can successfully identify a soup spoon.

Bullingdon Club Rooms, Christ Church College, Oxford

History

The club was founded by Christ Church student Ralph "Rollerball" Bullingdon in 1921. Bullingdon, a flying ace in the nascent RAF during the Great War, lost all his limbs after being shot down by a zeppelin over the Isle of Sheppy in 1917. Undeterred by this setback, he returned to civilian life and went to up Oxford in the autumn of 1920. He had to be wheeled to lectures in a shopping trolley due to his injuries and grew frustrated at not being able to dine at high table. He decided to create his own step-free access dining society. He used his monthly allowance to purchase college rooms, a dartboard and a deep-fat frier. The Bullingdon was born.

Rituals

Violent scatology has always played an important role in the life of the Bullingdon. Members are keen to downplay its significance, but it is well documented, for example, that membership can only be ratified after the initiate submits himself to prolonged violation with a Queen Anne chair leg.

The Raucous Gaudy

Every year in May, the members hold their annual "Raucous Gaudy", a dinner to commemorate the birthday of their founding father. It is held at an Oxfordshire restaurant of the president's choosing. The meal is notorious in Oxford. Tradition dictates that each diner must become catastrophically drunk before the pudding is served and verbally abuse the waiting staff at any given opportunity. The day concludes with the members destroying the dining rooms. Financial reparations are then made to the proprietor before mints are served and mini-cabs called.

The 1989 event ended in controversy when a waiter was beaten to death by Bullingdon members. Those in attendance that day (including several members of the current British government) have steadfastly refused to speak about the events that led to the man's slaying. All that is certain is that the man's family were gifted a solid gold rocking horse by the Bullingdon by way of recompense, and shortly thereafter chose not to pursue a criminal prosecution in the courts.

Former Members

• Cardinal Basil Hume
• Kenton Archer
• Samuel L Jackson
• Westlife
• The Conservative Party
• Robert Mugabe
• Willie Carson
• Jesus of Nazareth

Current President

The post of president is currently held by D'Arcy Chum-Lovely (Magdalen 2006).