Sherlockian Sojourns #21: Cambridge

The location of the University attended by Holmes is a cause of great Sherlockian debate, with the only agreement seeming to be that it was either Oxford or Cambridge (or in the case of noted Sherlockian, William S. Baring-Gould both). The location of both the University in 'The Three Students' and the University named 'Camford' by Watson in 'The Creeping Man' are again up for debate. However, one adventure that definitely takes place in Cambridge is 'The Missing Three-Quarter' in which Holmes is engaged to find a missing Cambridge University Varsity Rugby player before the annual Oxford-Cambridge grudge match. My jaunt to the city (having been many years before to visit locations from the unfinished 'Doctor Who' story 'Shada') was in aid of the Cambridge Comic Con, which had originally offered Robert Maillet ('Dredger' in Guy Richie's 'Sherlock Holmes'), but who had cancelled, being replaced by 'Sherlock' guest star, Clive Mantle  (Bob Frankland in 'The Hounds of Baskerville').

Arriving at the station as Holmes and Watson would have, I made my way the short distance to Cambridge Junction, location for the convention.

Having browsed the stalls and got an autograph from Elen Thomas (Female Auton/Female Clockwork Robot/Weeping Angel), I made my way to the photo area, where I waited and waited for Clive Mantle, who it seemed they had forgotten to pick up from his signing table. Finally the steward outside the photo area made a few calls, and around ten minutes later Clive arrived.
Having introduced himself, Clive asked, "Is it for 'Game of Thrones' that you wanted a photo ?"
"Sherlock".
"Did we meet at the 'Sherlocked' event ?".
"Yes"
Asking where I lived, Clive revealed that his brother used to own a nearby solicitors.
Photo taken, and I made my way out into Cambridge to visit other 'Missing Three-Quarter' locations.

My first port of call was the training ground for Cambridge University Rugby Club, where the missing player, Godfrey Staunton would have trained, alongside his skipper, Cyril Overton.

 

Making my way through across a park, I reached Trinity College, the college attended by Overton, and also by Jeremy Dixon, owner of Pompey, a squat, lop-eared, white-and-tan dog who assisted Holmes and Watson in finally locating the missing Staunton.

 

Next it was a brief walk to Gonville and Caius College, identified by Baring-Gould as Holmes' Cambridge college.

It was then back to the Station, via a branch of Forbidden Planet, and home, having completed my second East Anglian sojourn of the month.