Alice Day delivers ‘frabjous’ delights (From Oxford Mail)

Alice Day delivers ‘frabjous’ delights

11:00am Monday 12th July 2010 in News By Chris Buratta

THE white rabbit danced in and out of Oxford University’s Bodleian library courtyards as Alice frantically looked for him, and the Mad Hatter staged a tea party on the lawn of the Museum of Natural History.

In the Botanic Garden they hunted the snark, and the playing card sentries along with the formidable Queen of Hearts patrolled the grounds of Oxford Castle.

This was just some of the ‘frabjous’ fun that was had across the city on Saturday to mark Alice’s Day 2010 – the annual celebration of Oxford author and poet Lewis Carroll.

Fine weather brought thousands of families out to enjoy the performances, story telling and concerts in what organisers have described as the biggest Alice’s Day yet.

At Oxford Castle courtyard children watched the playing card sentries perform tricks.

Grace Bale, nine, from Headington, said: “It was really fun. I enjoyed the story telling and making things in the library.

“I really like the stories anyway, and I like the cards doing tricks.”

Mum-of-five Sophie Bale added: “It has been lovely. We went to the Bodleian where the white rabbit and Alice were running around and we have been in the library for the story telling.”

Michaela Lastovicka, six, said: “I loved playing croquet with the Red Queen the best. I was the ball.”

At the Botanic Gardens, the snark was hunted and children made hats and families held fancy dress picnics.

Families also gathered on the lawn of the Museum of Natural History in Parks Road.

Seven-year-old Oscar Dorr, said: “There was a play of the Mad Hatter’s tea party and even a walking table.”

Esther Browning, who coordinated the day, said the event was now a key fixture in Oxford’s calendar.

She added: “We think the weather brought us even more people this year, and we are confident that up to 10,000 were touched by one event or another during the whole day.

“We're particularly pleased that our events for grown ups have also proved very popular, with a good turn out for all of them, especially the exhibition of Dali’s Alice illustrations at the Bodleian.”