This day in Blackthorn History

1979-----Blackthorn’s winter party occurred on old Twelfth Night, a medieval banquet at St. Paul’s Abbey Hall on Old York Road in Elkins Park, where John McLean served as sacristan. High entertainment featured singing by the Liverpool Judies as well as by club members. Singing of “The Boar’s Head Carol” accompanied the entrance of the—you guessed it—boar’s head (at least, a suitable facsimile). Coach/Chef Nevin Wood figured into a great deal of the food preparation. Extravagant period costuming, most notably Donny Marsden’s transformation into a Blue Pict. Epic night.

1980-----As rugby gained hold in the US, more articles about the sport began to appear. On this date, Alex Ward, editor in the Style Section of the New York Times, had his article, “The Agony and Ecstasy of Rugby” published in the New York Times Magazine.