Aside from library books, other items have also been returned (very late) to university colleges over the years.In the 1930s, two students replaced the ornate hands of the chapel clock at Gonville and Caius College with cardboard replicas – in a prank that worked well until it rained and they started to disintegrate.At the time, the college replaced the hands as the pranksters had kept one each, but the daughter of one “thief” returned it in 2024 and it now sits in the college archive.Still at Caius, as it is known (and pronounced “keys”), an American student returned her room key to the college in 2025, 40 years after accidentally taking it back to the USA with her.The error would usually have incurred an initial £10 fine with interest of £10 per week added on top, but four decades later than planned, the woman returned it during a trip to the UK and was relieved to know the college decided to waive the £20,000 fine.In light of the above, the University Library reminded students that items could be returned at any time, adding: “Don’t panic, and please don’t wait until 2086.”Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? Contact us below.
Book returned to Cambridge University Library after 60 years
