Changing Lives, summer 2008 - Newnham College

summer 2008 issue 2
changinglives
Newnham College Newsletter

Get in
touch
roll@newn.cam.ac.uk
Please check the details on
the questionnaire on the
back of the enclosed cover
sheet and let us have any
amendments or go to
www.newn.cam.ac.uk/roll
and complete the online
questionnaire. Thank you!

Dame Patricia Hodgson
fromthelodge
Changing Lives has been a success. We have taken into account
many comments whilst maintaining the dynamic new format which
you have enjoyed – thank you for your feedback.
Since returning to Newnham one of the things that strikes me
most is the strength of the ‘Newnham Community’. Whether it is our
helpful Porters who are the first faces you see when you visit, or
any of the rest of our excellent College Staff who ensure everything
runs smoothly from application to graduation, or our alumnae who
give us so much support and help, everyone has a vital part to play
in ensuring Newnham’s continued well-being.
This sense of joining together extends internationally. I have just
returned from flying ‘around the world in fourteen days’ meeting
our alumnae in Hong Kong, San Francisco and New York. You can
read more on our International Outreach page. The commitment I
saw everywhere reflects the loyalty and dedication back in College.
One of our readers wrote: ‘What a great publication – I think you
definitely create a sense of community though the human interest
perspective and I love it that some entries say “get in touch”’.
We intend Changing Lives to continue to reflect our strong sense of
community and thank you all for the part you play in it.

amazingwomen
Continuing our feature on our alumnae and the variety of their achievements.
Janet Todd Karen Rodgers Silvia Breu
Janet Todd (NC 1961) –
President elect of Lucy Cavendish College
For most of my life I’ve been in women’s education, beginning my
career at Newnham and concluding it at Lucy Cavendish. My research
has also involved women. I helped develop a new area of study; the
emergence of women writers and accompanying feminism. My last
three biographies – of the feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, her pupil
Lady Mount Cashell, and daughter Fanny – concerned enlightenment
feminism and its ambiguous legacy. I see my appointment as
continuing the interest: women’s issues still need airing.
Within Oxford and Cambridge only Lucy Cavendish and Newnham
now have all female Fellows and students. I hope we can make much
of our shared distinctiveness. I look forward to a rich collaboration.
Karen Rodgers
(NC 1984) –
full-time mother
Karen studied Modern
Languages at Newnham, and
then qualified as a solicitor.
Although passionate about law,
she found that city practice
was not for her, and retrained
as a teacher. After the birth of
her first child, she had planned
to go back to work, but soon
realised that what she really
wanted was to be a mother.
Karen became a volunteer,
helping run activities for young
families, and is now training as
a Montessori teacher and has
set up a website for parents
(www.sharingaloveoflife.org.uk).
She says, ‘Motherhood is a
genuinely exciting and deeply
fulfilling career choice that uses
every ounce of your education
and experience’.
Silvia Breu (NC 2006) – MCR President, PhD Student & Gates Scholar
Silvia Breu works in software engineering, focusing on complex systems of the type which include the
software controlling NASA rockets and Mars rovers. ‘I’m excited about the excellence of the Computer
Lab and the community at Newnham. This is a place where everyone can be who they are and yet
outgrow themselves.’
Intrigued by the endeavour to make the world a better place, Silvia applied for the Gates Scholarship.
‘It’s not just academic achievements that count – taking responsibility in society is equally important.’

Festival of Ideas
‘Two projectors, two side plates,
a bowl and a duck egg’ is the
strangest request I’ve had so far
in co-ordinating the Cambridge
Science Festival (thanks to Dr
Gilly Carr for her demonstration
on whether the Ancient Britons
painted themselves blue with
woad). Memorably, I also sent
my parents to procure 600 funsized
Mars Bars for Carol
Vorderman – she certainly
knows that bribing young
people with chocolate is
the way to get them
interested in Maths!
Nicola Buckley (NC 2003)
The Science Festival
reaches 30,000 people
annually through free
public events and schools’
outreach visits. Each year
Newnham College hosts a
visit by young women
thinking of applying to study
scientific subjects – we are
always pleased to see them.
Fresh from another Science
Festival which saw most things
you can think of being dipped
in liquid nitrogen (apart from
children’s fingers, of course), we
decided to launch the Festival
of Ideas. We aim to open up
subjects in arts, humanities and
social sciences to young people
and adults, giving them the
chance to find out more about
the world, discover new ideas
and ways to take their interests
further, whether by applying
to the University, visiting one
of the museums, or taking a
course at the Institute of
Continuing Education.
The Festival of Ideas will offer
over 100 free events between
21 October and 2 November,
with activities including workshops,
performances, debates,
exhibitions, film screenings,
subject taster sessions and
lectures. Highlights will include
mosaic-making, ancient metalsmelting,
and talks on art
conservation. The speaker
programme will include former
Newnham Principal, Baroness
Onora O’Neill.
www.cambridgefestivalofideas.org
Senior Members
Judy Quinn came to Newnham
from the University of Sydney in
2000 and is currently Head of
the Department of Anglo-Saxon,
Norse and Celtic as well as
College Lecturer in Old Norse.
She is finishing work on a book,
The Valkyrie in Old Norse Poetry,
to be published next year, and is
co-editing a collection of articles
on Creating the Medieval Saga.
She has recently returned from
a symposium in western Norway
which she co-organises each
Spring for graduate students
working in Old Norse, a subject
which, though small, is thriving
in the University. Anglo-Saxon,
Norse and Celtic has a strong
tradition at Newnham and there
are currently students in the
subject at all levels, from the
first year of the Tripos to MPhil
to PhD. Judy is also an
enthusiastic member of the
College Gardens Committee
and the College Council.

Saving lives, building futures
There is no ‘typical day’ when you are working in humanitarian
demining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Jo Kelly (NC 1996)
is the Community Liaison Manager for MAG (Mines Advisory
Group). She manages a team she calls ‘the “humanitarian” part
of “humanitarian demining”’: they ensure that clearance tasks
are prioritised according to community needs and that work is
complemented by suitably targeted education programmes.
Jo Kelly (NC 1996)
Jo and her team spend three weeks out of every four in the
field: they set up camp, hire mud huts and erect tents. A
landcruiser transports equipment and fuel and each team
member has a motorbike for daily activities. A small generator
provides enough power to recharge Jo’s laptop, satellite phone,
and internet connection. Most days are spent talking to village
chiefs, following informants to report dangerous areas (mostly
unexploded ordnance such as mortars, grenades, rockets, and
fuses), and delivering Mines Risk Education programmes.
Whilst at Newnham, Jo says: ‘I got sucked into the “milkround”
jobs with everyone else: I got second interviews with the usual
suspects but, thankfully, didn’t get offered a position. Then a friend,
Newnhamite Josie Hobbs (NC 1996), said “Why are you applying
to all these things? All you’ve talked about for the last two years is
doing VSO”, and I realised she was right.’
After graduating, Jo applied to VSO and was sent to Ghana, to teach
science and biology, and work on an HIV and AIDS peer-to-peer
education programme. ‘It was an amazing experience. I learned so
much about myself, made life-long friends for the second time (the
first being while I was at Newnham), and, I hope, was able to give
back at least as much as I took from the experience.’
Jo would be happy for any
Newnhamite visiting DRC
(or interested in this type
of work) to contact her at
joannahkelly@hotmail.com.

newnhamspotlight
On completing her posting, Jo decided she wanted to
work in International Development: ‘A fascinating sector,
real human interest, and intellectually stimulating (there
are no easy answers)’. She ended up back at VSO’s
international HQ in London progressing through different
roles, increasing in responsibility each time. She made a
conscious decision, however, to ‘go back to the field’
before continuing up the management ladder.
Jo arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo in
January 2007 working as MAG’s Community Liaison
Manager for Katanga Province until March this year,
when she said goodbye to the mountains and plateaus
and headed to the jungle of Equateur to take up a new
role, working with Community Liaison teams through the
national humanitarian mine action NGO ‘Humanitas
Ubangi’. She won’t be in the jungle forever, however: she’s
returning to the UK to study for an MBA at Cranfield. ‘I
wouldn’t swap my hands-on experiences for anything but
it’s the effectiveness of the organisation, and whether we
are making the best possible difference in the best
possible way, that has grabbed me most. I hope the MBA
will help me pull together my experiences and learn about
parts of organisations I’m less familiar with. I look forward
to the challenge!’
MAG is co-laureate of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize,
awarded for the work the organisation contributed to the
International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

collegenews
Commemoration
Over 130 alumnae from 1948, 1958, 1983, and 1998 attended this
year’s Commem. Clough Hall buzzed with the sound of old friends
catching up and new acquaintances being made. For the first time,
we invited back those Newnhamites who matriculated 60 years ago
– our 1948 contingent received a well-deserved round of applause
at dinner. The Newnham Banner in its custom-made cabinet was
much admired, as were the new buildings, and Terri Apter spoke
about her book, The Sister Knot, at the AGM Forum. The Garden
Tour proved so popular that Tony, the Head Gardener, had to give
two tours instead of the usual one. The first just missed the rain
but the second group weren’t so lucky – being hardy Newnhamites,
they put up their umbrellas and soldiered on! We look forward to
inviting more of you back next year, when the special invitation years
will be 1949, 1959, 1984, and 1999 – see box for details of how
to become a Year Rep and help us encourage your contemporaries
to attend – save the date: 28 March 2009!
Year Reps
We are seeking Year
Representatives to help
make attendance for the
special years’ dinners at
Commem and the University
Alumni Weekend even
better. We are delighted to
announce that Louise
Shaw (NC 1998) and Gillian
Clarkson (NC 1998)
have already volunteered
to represent those
Newnhamites who matriculated
in 1998. We are now
on the lookout for Year
Reps for the following
years: the special invitation
years for the University
Alumni Weekend 2008 on
27 September (1953,
1968, 1978, and 1988),
the special matriculation
years for Commemoration
2009 (1949, 1959, 1984,
and 1999), and the special
invitation years for the
University Alumni Weekend
2009 (1954, 1969, 1979,
and 1989). This won’t
involve much work – please
help us to make your
reunions even more memorable!
Contact us:
tel: 01223 335762
email: roll@newn.cam.ac.uk

Jane Harrison Lecture
Prize-winning author and academic Professor Marina Warner
delivered the Jane Harrison Lecture 2007–08, entitled Toys
and Demons: The Secret Life of Things, on the influence of
photography, film and animation on modern notions of everyday
objects being brought to life. Although animism, the belief
system that attributes souls to animals, plants, geographic
features and natural phenomena, is often associated with
‘primitive’ cultures and past beliefs, Professor Warner argued
that such magical thinking connects well with new discoveries
and inventions, and that this casts a brighter light on ways of
thinking hitherto seen as fanciful, superstitious, or foolish.
Jane Harrison was one of the most notable women academics
of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. She wrote
influential books on Ancient Greek religion, was active in the
suffrage movement and
studied anthropology and
Russian whilst enlivening
the fringes of Bloomsbury
(she once read aloud
whilst Isadora Duncan
danced). She studied
Classics at Newnham and
returned as a Lecturer in
1898. The Jane Harrison
Lecture was endowed by
her friends when she died.
The Waddington Medal
One of our Professorial Fellows, Pat Simpson, has been
awarded the Waddington Medal by the British Society for
Developmental Biology. This is the only national award for
outstanding research in developmental biology.
Clough
Memorial
Gates
Work has started on
the restoration of the
Clough Memorial Gates
in the Pfeiffer arch. The
gates were removed in
November by Rupert
Harris Conservation and
are scheduled to be
returned in time for
General Admission in
June 2008.
The Exam Board calculates
that Liz Watson and Emma
Mawdsley, our Directors of
Studies in Geography, will be
marking over a million words
in the next six weeks or so!

collegenews
Newnham
Porters
The warmth shown and friendly
assistance given by our Porters
as the first people visitors
meet when they visit College
says much about the spirit of
Newnham. They have their
fingers on the pulse of everything
going on – supervisions,
reunions, conferences, lectures,
May week parties or interviews
for new staff. Led by Gerry
Linstead (our Head Porter) and
Bill Neill (our Deputy Head
Porter) the team of five day
porters and two night porters
provide twenty-four hour cover
seven days a week. Derek, who
has been here fifteen years, is
the most long-standing member.
In Term about 500 people come
to the Porters’ Lodge every
day; varying from Newnhamites
picking up mail, to students
from other Colleges coming for
supervisions and alumnae
arriving for reunions. The Porters
get to see all aspects of College
life – a regular treat is the
student’s face who has ordered
her new bike from the internet
and comes to the Porters’ Lodge
to find it in a large cardboard
box – not realising that she has
first to assemble it! Deliveries
range from courier packages
to young trees for the garden.
They show extraordinary
patience, handling requirements
for parking (we regularly need
more than our 94 spaces) and
generously helping when keys
get mislaid.
Whilst no-one checks up on
those staying with our students,
security forms, of course, a vital
part of the Porters’ responsibilities.
From midnight the front door is
locked and guests have to be
escorted in by a Newnhamite
if they are to stay the night.
Similarly, those leaving ‘after
the clock strikes twelve’ have
to produce a note signed by a
Newnham student if they are
not to be accompanied to the
front door. Newnham women
are ruthless – here’s what one
student sent with her young
man to ensure his exit:

Friends of Newnham
Lodge Seminar Series
In November, Professor Robert Winston came
to Newnham to discuss Medicine, Technology,
and Responsibility; Are Doctors Coping?
Professor Winston became famous for his
pioneering work on in vitro fertilisation, speaks
regularly in the House of Lords, and is popular
around the world for his BBC television series.
The Lodge Seminar Series continued in the New Year with award-winning Michael Cockerell
(maker of documentaries ‘The Blair Years’ and ‘Dave Cameron’s Incredible Journey’) delivering
a stimulating lecture, analysing television’s love-hate relationship with our political leaders.
We were delighted to welcome a visit from the Friends of Newnham on a sunny afternoon in
February. Dr Kate Fleet hosted the group in the Skilliter Centre and talked about its cataloguing
project, showing some of the beautiful and rare books in the collection. Our guests then moved
to the library where they took a trip down memory lane under the expert guidance of Debbie
Hodder, our librarian; we even identified the particular alcove where one of our alumnae had
revised 70 years ago. A tour led by Frances
Hazlehurst, the Secretary of the Valuable
Possessions Committee, followed in which
she discussed the art in the new buttery with
particular focus on the Clock which was
specially commissioned of Marianne Forrest
and generously paid for by the Friends. This
happy day concluded with tea and cakes with
the Principal in the Lloyd Lodge.
Dr Terri Apter’s book The Sister Knot was one of four finalists for the Books for A Better Life
Award in New York – the equivalent of an Oscar nomination for contribution to well-being!

internationaloutreach
Hong Kong
The Principal spent Easter flying round the world
(literally) to visit overseas alumnae. Starting in
Hong Kong to coincide with a visit by Alison
Richard, Vice Chancellor (NC 1966), Dame
Patricia received a warm welcome. Joy-Shan Lam
Kung (NC 1989) generously hosted a cocktail
party in the Hong Kong Club for our alumnae and
Dame Patricia attended other social events in
her honour, including a dinner hosted by Charlotte
Wong (NC 1991). As well as speaking to three
girls’ schools about Women’s Education and
Cambridge in the 21st Century, the Principal participated in a Dialogue, Women as Leaders: Challenges
and Inspiration, celebrating the British Council’s 60th Anniversary. Organised by Katherine Forestier (NC
1979) this event was chaired by Joy-Shan, former Managing Director of the Hong Kong Economic
Journal. The Principal and the Vice Chancellor discussed what they see to be the greatest challenges
facing women today in top management. It will not escape your notice that this prestigious event was
organised, chaired and spoken at exclusively by Newnhamites!
USA
Relations with our US Alumnae strengthen under
the inspirational leadership of the chair of our
US Committee, Vicky Elenowitz (NC 1977). In
November Penny Hubbard, our Development
Director, attended the Cambridge in America
lecture afternoon in New York. She was joined
by Professor Mary Beard (NC 1973), who led a
private tour of the new Classics Wing at the
Met for Newnhamites. This was great fun as
Mary gave provocative perspectives on Roman
sculpture and how it should be displayed.
Vicky generously hosted two events for our alumnae including a joint dinner with alumni from
King’s at which Mary spoke on the pitfalls of running her blog, ‘A Don’s Life’ on Times Online.

Cambridge
in America
Following Hong Kong Dame
Patricia flew to San Francisco
to moderate Cambridge in
America’s West Coast Day
attended by over 200
Cambridge University alumni.
She was joined by speakers
Gareth Steadman Jones, Director of the Centre for History and Economics
at Cambridge, and Catharine Stimpson (NC 1958), Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences, New York University. Dame Patricia then moderated a lively panel discussion,
followed by an open Q&A session. Once again Newnham women held the majority position on
the platform! Huge thanks go to Judith Brass (NC 1977) for hosting a splendid get-together
of West Coast alumnae the night before.
En route home Dame Patricia made a flying visit to New York to give a talk to alumnae from
Newnham and New Hall on Women’s success at Cambridge and in life after Cambridge at a
lunch given by Vicky.
Israel conference
Dr Terri Apter (NC 1969), Senior Tutor, was
invited to give the keynote lecture at a
conference in May, entitled Different Aspects
of Motherhood: political, psychological,
biological, and spiritual, to mark the twentieth
anniversary of the Counselling Centre for
Women (CCW), Israel’s only professional
mental health centre dedicated to the
empowerment of women.
Fifth International
Conference of Critical
Geographers – India
Dr Emma Mawdsley attended the Fifth
International Conference of Critical
Geographers in Mumbai and a dinner
kindly hosted by Syloo Matthai (NC 1952)
where she met other Newnhamites and
friends of Cambridge.
One of our Professorial Fellows, Susan Owens, has been appointed to the prestigious
King Carl 16th Gustaf Professorship of Environmental Science by the King of Sweden.

studentnews
UBS – supporting women
in Cambridge
A fascinating trading game was run by staff of the
Investment Bank UBS for 50 students of Newnham and
New Hall. Representatives shed light on what it would be
like to work in various business areas of the Bank and
students learnt how to maximise their chances of pursuing
a financial career. This is one of many events held to inspire
Newnhamites as they look to life after Newnham.
Thanks to a generous donation by UBS, as part of the same
initiative, the ‘Cambridge Alumnae Banner’ is now displayed
in its special temperature controlled case, next to College
Hall. Designed by Mary Lowndes and worked by students
of Newnham and Girton the banner was carried by the
Cambridge Contingent in various processions including the
National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies’ procession
of 13 June 1908. The banner has always resided in (and been cared for by) Newnham although
arrangements have on occasion been made for it to be on show in Girton. It was displayed in the
Senate House for the 1998 commemoration of the granting of degrees to women.
You will find the case open and the banner spot-lit for all the College’s major occasions, including
the recent Commemoration Weekend (pictured above).
Ted and Sylvia in Cambridge
The Old Labs played host to a drama written by Bernard Richards
of Brasenose College, Oxford, celebrating the 75th Anniversary
of Sylvia Plath’s birth. Produced by Newnham’s first-year English
students, the piece portrayed the life of Plath and Hughes in
Cambridge. The text was composed of words taken from their letters,
memoirs and poems. Having two Sylvias and two Teds on stage
made for interesting visual effects and verbal interplay and achieved
the aim of moving away from the ‘over-naturalistic’. Congratulations
are due to our English students for their excellent production.

MCR Speaker Series
Helen Bamber, OBE, visited the College
to talk about The Helen Bamber
Foundation. Helen’s work in human
rights began over 60 years ago with the
survivors of the Belsen concentration
camp. She was a founder member of
Amnesty International and established
the Medical Foundation for the Care of
Victims of Torture. The lively discussion
ranged from how working on allotments
helps the healing process, to the role of translator in torture. Helen
is an inspiration and her experiences are humbling.
These regular evening talks are held in the MCR. A complete list
is published annually in the Roll Letter.
Newnham College Boat Club
An Evening
in Italy
The Raleigh Music Society
invited Newnhamites to
experience An Evening in
Italy. Clough Hall was filled
with the sound of opera
choruses sung by Newnham
Chorus, instrumental solos
and ensembles, and solo
arias. Italian food and drink
were in plentiful supply and
the event raised £148 for
Arthur Rank House Hospice.
NCBC was delighted to be sponsored by Citi in its Short Course
Regatta. Twenty boats turned out on a cold windy day – with a
strong Newnham contingent – proving how little the anonymous
Clare oarsman knew of Newnham women when in 1964, he asked:
‘Wouldn’t you girls rather be playing tennis or something like that?’
The Regatta was followed by cocktails and the Gryphens’ annual
dinner. Of the Citi representatives, two included Newnamites! We
are very grateful to Citi for their continued support.
Newnham’s participation in University rowing continues: undergraduate Erin Weber (NC 2006) rowed in
the blue boat this year. The race got off to an even start: Cambridge showed determination, but Oxford
edged ahead, winning by half a length. As the expression goes – we came second!

oll&development
Attracting the best Your donations and benefactions help us to
attract the brightest and best graduate students.
Wood-Whistler Scholarship and Medal
The Wood-Whistler medal and Scholarship of £2,500 is awarded annually to
a graduate applicant either in English literature or English linguistics. Betsie
Cleworth’s winning essay was on the expression of ideas about the end
of the world in early medieval society involving analysis of early mythological
poetry. She is currently undertaking an MPhil in Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and
Celtic. Her thesis is entitled ‘The Mythical Poems of Poetic Edda’.
Betsie is the third winner of the Wood-Whistler, endowed in memory of
Benedicta Whistler (NC 1946), an ecclesiastical administrator and strong
advocate of the ordination of women. Born in July 1927, Benedicta
read English at Newnham. In 1972, she was the first woman appointed
to administer the Church of England’s Advisory Council for the Church’s
Ministry, the body responsible for the selection of those who should become ordained ministers.
Benedicta retained a life-long affection for the College, serving on committees and generously helping
its finances. Her strength of character and charitable spirit live on!
Telephone Campaign
The Telephone Campaign this year was a great success, raising over £185,000, as well as ten
new legacy pledges. We had a lot of fun asking for alumnae’s favourite memories of Newnham.
Sue Kiragu, a third-year PhD student, who called for the first time, describes the Telephone
Campaign as ‘a fantastic opportunity to raise funds for College’. She enjoyed chatting with
alumnae, and encourages other students to join in next year! The two top callers won a day’s
work-shadowing each with an Associate.
Memories of Newnham...
A Newnham violinist bumping bows with a young
Prince Charles, who played the cello in the
same orchestra!
A lovesick young man who wrote ‘I love Myra’ in
weedkiller on the lawn, with devastating results.

Pascal’s death mask
Our rare cast of the death mask of Pascal – the renowned
seventeenth-century French mathematician, physicist and religious
philosopher – is now in a splendid display cabinet in the library,
thanks to generous sponsorship by the Associates.
The cast was left to us by Hugh Fraser Stewart, former Dean of
Trinity College and University Reader in French, whose wife and two daughters were at
Newnham. As part of our close relationship with overseas universities Catherine Volpilhac-
Auger, an eminent specialist in the literature and ideas of the French Enlightenment at the
prestigious ENS Lyon, has spent two terms at Newnham and by happy chance she comes
from Pascal’s birthplace, Clermont Ferrand. A reception was held to mark her arrival at
which the death mask was displayed for the first time with a rare books exhibition kindly
put together by our library team.
Gemma Simmonds (NC 1977) (Associate) spoke on Pascal’s philosophical and theological
work and Dr Jonathan Dawes, Director of Studies in Maths, introduced ‘Pascal’s triangle’
with an imaginative use of tangerines to demonstrate the theory!
Networking Lunches
Our successful series of networking lunches continues, primarily
to help our present students make links, but also helping former
students strengthen their contacts.
The first NatSci lunch was attended by 90. Dr Claire Craig (NC
1979), former Director of the UK Foresight Programme at the
Department of Trade and Industry, spoke on Human enhancement:
Science in Government
and Politics.
Nearly 70 alumnae attended
the Law Lunch. Jenny Brown
(NC 1977) gave a fascinating
exposition of her change in
direction from life as a City
lawyer to working in Africa.
London
alumnae
groups
Would you like to help run
local alumnae groups for
Newnhamites living in the
London area? Groups will
be divided into bands as follows:
all years up to 1962,
1963–1977, 1978–1987,
1988–1997, and 1998–
2007. To volunteer, please
contact us:
tel: 01223 335762
email: roll@newn.cam.ac.uk

didyouknow
In the mid 1980s Clough corridor was transformed overnight by students into an A road with traffic lights
and yellow lines … needless to say the transformation back was prompt!
newnhamassociates
Katie Petty-Saphon (NC 1969) – Secretary
Fiona Reynolds (NC 1976),
Director General, National Trust,
has been awarded a DBE
for services to heritage and
conservation. She was awarded
the CBE for services to the
environment and conservation in
1998 and recently elected an
Honorary Fellow at Newnham.
I’ve had a varied career that’s allowed me to work
continuously, yet flexibly. Five years ago I was looking for a
new challenge when I chanced upon the advert for a new
Director for the Medical Schools Council. ‘But who will make
the puddings?’ said my son. ‘But you’re SO lucky to be
embarking upon a new career when you’re SO old’ quoth my
daughter. And she was right. I derive a huge amount of
pleasure from my role as Director of three organisations: the
Medical Schools Council, the Dental Schools Council and the
Association of UK University Hospitals.
In developing policy and shaping implementation at the interface
between medical and dental education and the health
service, the challenges of balancing competing priorities are
both profound and varied. Issues we have addressed include
the development of the UK Clinical Aptitude Test, contract
negotiations over the 2004 consultant contract for clinical
academics, lobbying for changes to the Human Tissue Bill,
and initiatives around student fitness to practise. Last year I
was seconded to run Sir John Tooke’s Independent Inquiry into
Modernising Medical Careers and the debacle over the appointment
of junior doctors.
I am happy to advise students interested in a career such as mine:
www.newnhamassociates.org.uk.
Jo Hedley (NC 1984) was
made a Chevalier des Arts et
Lettres by the French Republic.
Emma Waring (NC 1997)
has been awarded a Fellowship
in Law at St John’s College.
In the last eight months four
Senior Members have had
babies, which just goes to show
it is possible to combine a
successful academic career at
Newnham with a family!
Antinous: the Face of the
Antique, by Dr Caroline Vout
(NC 1991), won the inaugural
The Art Book Award.
Katie Barnes (NC 1998),
Harriet Neuberger (NC
1998), Lucy Stoy (NC 1998),
Claire Summers (NC 1996)
and Veena Joory (NC1997)
form the pub quiz team
Mahnwen (Newnham backwards).
Captain Ruth Earl
(NC 1993), Corps of Royal
Electrical and Mechanical
Engineers, was awarded the
MBE for ‘her immeasurable
support to the task force’.
Elisa Haining (NC 2007) won
the Cambridge Union Freshers’
debating competition.The Royal
Society commissioned Wai Yi
Feng (NC 2003) to carry out
research which will inform their
advice to Government on the
next curriculum changes.

no better place in the world for a woman to study
Changing Lives is produced by the
Roll and Development Office
Newnham College
Sidgwick Avenue
Cambridge, CB3 9DF
roll@newn.cam.ac.uk
Photography: thanks to Eloise Hayes,
Chris Bremer, Verity Moore,
Nigel Luckhurst, Keith Heppell,
Cambridge in America Day;
davidwaldorf.com
Following the first edition of Changing Lives we received
enquiries as to the type of paper used. We were careful to
ensure that, whilst it looks as good as traditional virgin fibre, it
is an environmentally responsible alternative. The paper, ‘9 lives
55 silk’, contains 55% recycled fibre from both pre- and postconsumer
sources and 45% virgin fibre sourced from sustainable
forests, as independently
evidenced by
its FSC Chain of
Custody Certification.
Cert no. SA-COC-1527

events calendar
Forthcoming events
University Alumni Weekend 2008
Special reunion dinner: 1953,
1968, 1978, 1988
On 28 September, Newnham will
host two special events.
The first in a new series of
Newnham Conversations will
feature two of our best known
authors: Margaret Drabble,
distinguished novelist, biographer
and critic, awarded an honorary
degree by the University in 2006,
and Sarah Dunant, award-winning
writer, essayist, critic, novelist and
broadcaster.
The Skilliter Centre will host The
Changing City: Istanbul at the end
of the Empire, a talk by Kate Fleet,
Director, Ebru Boyer, Academic
Advisor, and Rebecca Gower,
Project Librarian. Nineteenthcentury
Istanbul was a magnificent
metropolis, lively, disorganised,
chaotic and dynamic. A world
simultaneously of innovation and
tradition, it was a cosmopolitan city
par excellence.
Tickets for these events should
be applied for through the main
University programme for the
Alumni Weekend.
for an up-to-the-minute listing of events, please visit www.newn.cam.ac.uk
2008– 2009
5 July 90th Anniversary of the Roll Garden Party
27 September University Alumni Weekend, with Newnham reunion
for special years 1953, 1968, 1978, 1988
18 October Daventry Group Alumnae Visit
21 October Festival of Ideas begins
22 October Formal Hall – SPS, Education
29 October Formal Hall – Arch and Anth, Geography
6 November Formal Hall – NatSci P, HPS
19 November Formal Hall – Engineering, Chemical Engineering,
Management Studies, Architecture
26 November Formal Hall – NatSci B
30 November Music for the Festive Season
10 January Lunch for parents of new students
22 January Formal Hall – Classics, History of Art,
Philosophy, Theology
28 January Formal Hall – Medical and Veterinary Sciences
18 February Formal Hall – Economics, Land Economy,
Mathematics, Computer Science
25 February Formal Hall – History, Law
4 March Formal Hall – MML, Linguistics, Asian and Middle
Eastern Studies
11 March Formal Hall – English, ASNC, Music
28 March Commemoration for special matriculation years
1949, 1959, 1984, and 1999, including Roll AGM
Please note: Formal Halls subject to confirmation end of June 2008
Commemoration 2009
Commemoration will take place on Saturday, 28 March
2009. The special invitation years will be 1949, 1959,
1984, and 1999 so make a note in your diaries!
Calling former singers
Did you sing in Selwyn during your time at Newnham? If
so please email Sarah MacDonald, Director of Music who
is compiling a list of former members of the chapel choir:
email seam100@cam.ac.uk
Photos
If you come back to an event at Newnham we would be
very pleased to have copies of your photographs for our
records and possible publication in the newsletter or Roll
Letter: please email your pictures (preferably 300dpi and
adequate size for printing) to roll@newn.cam.ac.uk.