"The Arrival of Spring, Beauty, and Youth": The Kate Kennedy Club's Spring Procession Returns

Harriet St Pier sits down with the Kate Kennedy Club's President, Theo Verden, and Marshall of Procession, Tatiana Mouravieff-Apostol, to discuss the history and contemporary relevance of the club's annual Spring Procession - which will take place this Sunday, 2 April.

On a sunny Sunday last spring, I found myself struggling to complete the basic task of crossing North Street. Ambushed by a dozen knights on horses, countless Bishops, a few Kings, and a man shouting about the Reformation, I stood on the pavement silently regretting my decision not to have accepted that offer from Manchester. Between this and the torchlit procession that came later that month, it was becoming increasingly difficult to justify to my friends that St Andrews was a normal university and not a cult.

However, in many ways it is precisely these bizarre events that make St Andrews such a special place. I have since learned that what I was encountering was the Kate Kennedy Club’s Spring Procession, a celebration of the plethora of historical figures with links to the town. A History student, I probably should’ve known this. However, as the procession was returning last year for the first time after a pandemic-induced hiatus, I forgave my own ignorance.

To enlighten The Saint’s readership, however, I sat down with Theo Verden – this year’s President and “spiritual leader” of the club – and Tatiana Mouravieff-Apostol – this year’s ‘Marshall of Procession’ – to discuss the history and significance of the procession, as well as how it fits into the club’s other activities.

I began by asking the pair if they could describe, in their own words, what exactly the procession is (for those of us not in the know).

“I guess I would describe it as a collective remembering of history”, says Verden.

“People dress up as historical characters and we make them walk the streets once more. So, all of the characters involved in the procession have been in St Andrews or had some sort of relationship with it.”

“It also marks the beginning of spring”, Mouravieff-Apostol continues. As Marshall of Procession, she has this year taken the organisational lead; ably assisted by the ‘Keeper of the Costumes’ and ‘Keeper of the Coaches’, two individuals elected by the club to manage the costumes, props, and transport. Presumably these are prestigious roles.

“It marks the arrival of spring, and beauty, and youth: because Lady Katherine was this young, beautiful, and charming woman who came to St Andrews, and everyone lined the streets to see her”.

Indeed, Lady Katherine, or Kate Kennedy, is the club’s namesake: and the celebration of her legacy purportedly prompts much of the group’s commitment to upholding tradition. Who was she?

“That’s actually a funny one”, says Verden.

“So, the general history of Kate Kennedy isn’t known that concretely – there haven’t been that many people who have written about her. All we know is that we believe it was the niece of Bishop Kennedy who was the Bishop of St Andrews and connected to the University”.

A suitably vague historical figurehead for the society then, their website states that the festival originated in the fifteenth century when the “beautiful” niece of the bishop came to visit St Andrews “in the spring of her life and the spring of the year”. She was “idolised by all” and has been celebrated annually ever since. The story sounds very similar to my own experiences at St Andrews thus far.

The procession, therefore, is a celebration both of Kate and of other important figures connected to the area.

“You have, for instance, John Stuart Mill, or St Andrews, or St Regulus, or Mary Queen of Scots”, says Mouravieff-Apostol, “many students often don’t realise some of these important figures came to St Andrews at all”.

“Benjamin Franklin is a funny one”, Verden interjects, “he used to fly his kite on West Sands”.

This year, the group is also seeking to “actively reconsider the histories that we tell and the ways that we tell them”, and have re-written and re-researched many of the bios in the ‘College Echos’, the event’s programme.

“If [for example] George Dempster is being remembered for his contributions to the town, he should also be remembered for his role in the Imperial Tobacco trade. This is an important remembering of history, and we have got to realise that as a club, we do have agency over the histories that we tell”.

Last year, Mouravieff-Apostol was elected to the role of Kate: something that is awarded to “the most promising agent” of the group’s nine first-years (or ‘bejants’). Her election marked a significant departure from tradition, as she was the first female Kate in the procession’s extensive (97 year) history; meaning this year, she is the first woman ever to head up the organisation of the procession. Who’s Kate this year?

“I don’t even know”, says Verden “only the previous Kates know until the day of the procession when it’s revealed to the whole town”.

Sadly no exclusives for The Saint then; we’ll all be left on tenterhooks until Sunday. I continue by asking what the group feels the significance of the procession is to the wider town and community.

“I would hope that the community has a positive relationship with it, and thinks it’s a nice thing, and enjoys it”, says Verden.

However, the group is encouraging more students to take part and pride in the celebrations. Mouravieff-Apostol highlights how it is one of the only events which “mixes locals, and students, and university staff” so she hopes that “locals and students alike see this as an opportunity to really be at one in their town”.

Indeed, the success of the procession depends on the willing participation of the wider community. The pair highlight the group’s indebtedness to countless local volunteers who help with the upkeep of the costumes and the carriages, facilitate the logistical organisation of the day, and even play many of the 140 characters involved in the procession itself.

I tell them that I admire this focus on collaboration with the wider community and trying to celebrate something which includes the whole town. However, how do they reconcile this with some of the group’s other activities which are obviously less inclusive: for example, their May Ball this year is costing an eye-watering and bank-breaking £99, a pretty obvious barrier to access for the majority of students.

“Yeah, I think that’s a good question”, replies Verden, “and I would agree”.

Neither himself nor Mouravieff-Apostol are involved directly in the planning of the ball itself, and so they are unable to provide concrete answers. However, he laments that “all these events are becoming so expensive” and insists that “we tried to lower the price as much as possible and it’s really unfortunate. This year contractors have, like, doubled their prices – that’s why we’ve moved away from Kinkell [Byre] and to Craighton [Park]”. He adds that the £99 includes a three-course meal (and half a bottle of wine).

Mouravieff-Apostol adds that “we’re also trying to give money to charity as well”. The group works to support three local charities – Families First, Home Start, and the Cosmos Community Centre – and some of the children from these charities are involved playing roles in the procession itself.

Clearly, the procession has a long and celebrated history which brings the whole town together. Finally, therefore, I ask them whether the club feels their involvement in the procession is necessary to help them sustain a positive reputation within the university and wider community.

“Within the university it’s difficult”, admits Verden.

“Some staff really like the procession and do everything to help us, because we use the quad and whatever. And then we have other people in the – kind of more the College Gate side of things – who seem to make our job more difficult”.

“They have become increasingly helpful”, Mouravieff-Apostol hastens to add.

“Many people have been very, very helpful this year. As we said before, the cost of everything is increasing. And the cost to rent Lower College Hall was quite high. So one of the vice principals in College Gate very kindly made a donation to help us out because they really appreciate the procession and its significance”.

The pair end by encouraging everyone to come down this Sunday to join them in their celebration of youth, spring, beauty, and history: in many ways, an epitome of all the club appears to stand for. Whilst they recognise that the COVID-hiatus has made it an event that is “confusing” for many students, they promise an afternoon that is uniquely and unforgettably ‘St Andrews’. Certainly I’d be inclined to agree.

Photos: Josh Horan, via the Kate Kennedy Club