Celebrating 40 years of women at Oriel

Meeting the people who would become some of my closest friends for life.

So hard to choose just one! Languid days on the river coxing an eight, falling about laughing in a friend’s room, hilarious parties, sitting on the steps surrounded by red geraniums and talking late into the summer night...The best though was the wonderful friends I made who are still friends today.

The coxing! From freezing winter mornings to gorgeous summer sunrises and sunsets (and the rowing dinners of course)

My favourite memory of my time in Oxford was dinner conversations with my cohort at Oriel and drinks at the MCR.

My favourite memory of Oriel is from my first Summer Eights campaign. I joined Oriel as a novice rower but ended up making the Second Eight and we had an amazing campaign! The sense of community in the crew, both in the boat and outside it, was amazing and a highlight of my first year at Oxford.

One of my favourite memories at Oriel has to be the 2024 Tortoise Club Dinner, where we celebrate the successes of the Oriel College Boat Club. Seeing the women come together, standing strong in a male-dominated field was truly empowering and heartwarming, and made me proud to be their Captain.

My second week at Oriel, I was asked if I wanted to come watch the Pancake Race! I was completely confused but then instantly delighted to watch young enthusiastic students running around 1st Quad in their sub-fusc, flipping pancakes. It immediately made me realise that there would never be a dull moment working at Oriel.

The 2023 Women's Dinner was fantastic. Our alumnae speaker was a rocket scientist, who made us wish we were off on a mission to space by the end of the evening. To top it off the JCR organised a band in First Quad, which staff, alumnae and students loved dancing to. A real community moment!