To the 'installation' of our new chancellor today. A lovely actress (and writer and director). Very weird and not something I've done before. A 50 minute thing in a nearby theater followed by reception/party afterwards.

The formal part was about as close to a secular church service as you could get. Opening 'worship' from an excellent choral group, a 'reading' (i.e. 5 minute talk by the President) reminding us of past events, and a 'sermon' by the new chancellor. Not much liturgy I suppose excepting everyone on stage signing a formal warrant or something.

Amongst the 'welcomes' were half a dozen international students representing their cultures and faiths. One of whom I happened to know as I've spent some time with him on several occasions. So very gratifying when he mentioned the library as being a great help.

The reception afterwards was very jolly with live jazz band (and excellent drummer) though not quite the 'lunch' I thought we'd been invited to. Just an endless succession of canapes and drinks.

Funny kind of thing to go to and arguably a waste of three hours in some colleagues' view, but for me it was a great opportunity to see the university with it's formal (and not so formal) hat on, to see us as part of a larger community and to be encouraged that what we do is appreciated by students and worthwhile.