To celebrate the University's 800th anniversary, the Cambridge Alumni Group of Palermo held a meeting at the Hotel Splendid La Torre in Mondello, a resort NW of Palermo, on October 13th.

The evening's talk was given by Naples-based classicist Mark Walters (Pembroke 1974) on the seemingly inexhaustible topic "Curious Episodes in Sicily's History". Three of the four curious episodes were from the Classical period: we heard stories of Athenians being tricked into invading Sicily, of the philosopher Plato being held under virtual house arrest in the ancient city of Syracuse, and of Carthaginians fielding 140 African forest elephants against Roman troops outside the very walls of Palermo.

Given the difficulty in driving through Palermo's rush-hour traffic in time for the 7 pm start, the turnout (about 40) exceeded expectations. Cambridge Society numbers were swelled by members of a Betchart Expedition travelling with Mark around Sicily, as well as the city's active English conversation group and others from the Palermo branch of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The meeting adjourned with twenty of us sitting around a long table, Sicilian-style, keen to enjoy an appetizing local meal.