Celebrating 40 years of women at Oriel

Working at the graduations! They have such a great atmosphere and celebrate the wonderful achievements of the students. I also loved the Burn’s Night dinner, where we danced in a lively ceilidh after eating lots of Haggis! I am grateful to be part of such a welcoming and inspiring College community.

This photo captures the first moment I set foot on Oriel - which was also my first time on campus as a student. Overwhelmed with awe and joy, I was determined to live up to our 700-year tradition of excellence.

The last few weeks at Oriel were some of the best of my life. Finals were over and the women's 1st boat had just won blades and gone into Div. 1. Here are Lee, Carla and I about to go to our finals dinner. We're still great friends today, and I still have that dress somewhere.

It was wonderful to become part of an international community at Oriel in 1988. Meals in hall, evenings in the MCR, weekend trips to the Cotswolds were marvellous experiences we shared. Meeting at Oriel stimulated our cultural openness and intellectual curiosity, and the effects lasted a lifetime.

Serving as the first woman Bible Clerk, in chapel and saying Grace. There were many moving services, though some misadventures with the bell (there was a knack which I sometimes got wrong, once omitting the triple ring for the Trinity!). But I enjoyed tolling midnight to start the 1987 Hamlet play!

Never skilled at sports, I enjoyed the opportunities when willingness & availability to play were the main qualification. The Mixed Hockey team, proudly named as "Fully Integrated" in Lodge notices, reached the Cup semi-final in 1986-7, the same day as the women's football team drew our first game!

On the final day of Summer VIII's, we bumped Keble right in front of the boathouses. "ORIIIEELLL" reverberated through Oxford's ancient streets. The entire college seemed ablaze with chants, cream blazers, and an infectious joy. A proud moment to be in Oriel women's first boat indeed.

The many international friends from a wide variety of cultures I made, especially in my second year. This was my 19th birthday, shared with Rachel Fraenkel, Lorinne Yoong, Wan Ching An, Anmol Manghnani and Ram Prasad. I later became godmother to Ram & Judith Prasad's children Krishnan and Nalini.

Oriel has been part of so many key life moments. I remember standing in the Lodge reading my acceptance letter to the British Army & I got married in the Chapel but it is also where my love of rowing, which led to a Blue, started so getting Blades with the 1st VIII in 1993 was special!