Celebrating 40 years of women at Oriel

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).

I first joined Oriel on a 3 month contract and quickly came to see what a wonderful Community Oriel is. I appreciate what a joy and privilege it is to be part of the Oriel family. One of my best memories is the Burns Supper celebrations and the dramatic 'Addressing of the Haggis'!

Our termly college bops always spring to mind, especially the preceding hours when we’d frantically source components of a wonderfully underwhelming costume from local shops or get creative by fashioning something out of cardboard (or bubble wrap in this particular photo)…