Celebrating 40 years of women at Oriel

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!

I was among the first cohorts of women to study at Oriel. But we did manage to find our place, whether in rowing, drama or simply gathering in someone's room, kettle whistling, and building relationships for life over steaming mugs of tea. Picnics along the Cherwell, punting awkwardly. Through it all, the gradual realisation that these medieval walls would always be home.

The summer of my third year was magical - rowing over Head with the crowd roaring, being carried on the boat to College for bump supper, somehow making it through Finals and then the Oriel Ball with so many friends. The garden of our house in Howard St made an incongruous backdrop to our dresses!

Frisbee in the sun after prelims; coxing under the rays of sunrise; and singing beautiful music in the chapel

Sitting on the river shouting at people on the cusp of the technical revolution: no lycra, no carbon fibre, no Cox Box back in the heady hairspray days of 1987. That boat suffered an unexpected accident later that day and was sacrificed on an impressive pyre in 1st Quad.

I cherish themed bops, my brief rowing stint, and late-night chats over cocoa and tea. Dining in hall with students from around the world broadened my perspective, as did the lively debates and shared experiences that made Oriel unforgettable.

Oriel women certainly spice up your life! I was lucky to make some really special friends here. This was one of many fond memories of hanging out in Emma's room (11, Third Quad).