changinglives

winter 2013 issue 11

Newnham College Newsletter

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1 fromthelodge 2 collegenews 3 infocus4 researchnews 5 feature 6 studentnews 7 internationalnews 8 inspiringwomen 9 spotlight10 roll&development 11 didyouknow 12 events/calendar

Cover photo: David Ponting – Newnham students winning this year’s annual hand-made cardboard boatrace on the Cam (see p6)

Cambridge has always welcomed people from outside, who haveserved in other places and in rather different working environments.So, although it was such an unexpected and wonderful honour to bechosen to come here to head Newnham, the warm welcome I havebeen given comes as no surprise at all.

Each new Principal stands on ground made sure by her eminentpredecessors and a culture tested and shaped by generations oftalented and confident women. Newnham has a fine and enviablereputation, not just academically, but in the ways it prepares andsupports able young women on their way towards fulfilling and valuedlives. The essence of our duty and promise to undergraduates doesnot end when they leave. Before coming to Newnham I had only ahazy notion of the rich alumnal networks which I have discovered theCollege fosters in the UK and many other countries. They are thecontinuing legacy of formative years passed here; a lively reminder ofwhat the College has given to each of its members, influences thatendure. And out of that comes the determination to do things forNewnham. The networks of alumnae over the world are not only atestimony to the values and attitudes that Newnham represents, theyare a vital source of nourishment to this College.

My experience in medicine brings out the hard-earned changes thatwe have seen in the lives of many women. Fifty years ago medicinewas predominantly a male profession. Women did not come to headMedical Royal Colleges or to engage regularly with Ministers overhealth services; nor were they in a position to decide the shape andfuture of the profession. Not until 1989 was there a woman Presidentof the Royal College of Physicians. Now there have been two.Changing attitudes and a sustained articulate case that made thempossible are mirrored in other medical professional institutions. Thatparticular glass ceiling has gone. Even more far-reaching is the solidfact that the majority of entrants to medicine today are women. In thecase of medicine this gain has obvious consequences and attendantdifficulties; for example, for the pattern and duration of training andservice, and relative costs. Such consequences bring us aresponsibility to participate in finding solutions. Similar challengesarise for many women in the higher reaches of public life. Naturally itfalls to institutions like Newnham not just to further the societalinfluences of women but also to prepare them well for the fullest, fairand effective participation in leading roles we aspire to.

For me, heading our College is a great privilege that brings newduties and new responsibilities, above all to safeguard whatNewnham has achieved and to help secure its fitness for the future.With your support I shall do my utmost to fulfil them.

1 fromthelodge

Professor Dame Carol Black

2 collegenews

From Recipients to Donors by DrEmma Mawsdley, Fellow and Directorof Studies in Geography, discussesthe current shifts in developmentthinking and practice and provides amajor analysis of the ways in which the ‘rising power’ of theBRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and othersare changing the development landscape. Published by ZedBooks, the work looks at the challenges and opportunities therising powers may present for poorer peoples and countries asthe future unfolds.

The changingdevelopmentlandscape

RetirementGarden Party forthe Principal &Roll Family Picnic

On 7 July College held aRetirement Garden Party toenable alumnae, SeniorMembers and staff to saygoodbye to Dame Patricia andthank her for the manyachievements of herPrincipalship.

The heavens opened asguests arrived but in the bestBlitz spirit everyone refused toallow the downpour todampen proceedings andsimply moved the Partyelsewhere. Cream teas,glasses of bubbly andconversation were enjoyed inClough Hall; the Libraryopened to visitors and aselection of short Newnhamfilms was screened. The Vice-Principal paid fond tribute toDame Patricia in a thank youspeech on behalf of College.The Principal continued on tothe Roll Family Picnic, held inthe Barbara White Room andin marquees on Old HallLawns, where she waspresented with a hand-madeposy of silk roses.

NewnhamRoll Mums

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Forum withpsychologist Penelope Leach (NC 1956), the secondNewnhamRoll Mums’ Forum ‘Making Choices’ was held inOctober and featured two outstanding speakers. The event wasopened by Allison Pearson, award-winning journalist and authorof the bestselling novel ‘I Don’t Know How She Does It’, whoasked ‘Can you have it all?’ which was followed by a Q & Asession with the audience. The lively debate continued during abuffet lunch in College Hall.

The second session focused on ‘Fertility & Age: fertilitypreservation & egg freezing – the science, ethics and otherissues’ with Dr Jane MacDougall (NC 1976), Newnham Fellowand consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and specialist inReproductive Medicine at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Issuescovered included the possible implications if you decide topostpone a family and whether using the technology nowavailable provides a solution to that dilemma, and there was avery stimulating group discussion on the science, ethics andchoices arising as a result of advances in reproductivetechnology.

If you would like to find out more about NewnhamRoll Mums andhow to get involved with future activities please visit the websiteat: www.newn.cam.ac.uk/after-newnham/keeping-in-touch/local-groups-and-year-reps/content/newnhamroll-mums. You can alsofollow Kate Wilson (NC 1998) on Twitter at Rollmumskate.

Following the launch of the NewnhamLiterary Archive in February 2011, thesecond weekend of literary celebration –‘Women and the Novel’ – will take placein March.

Margaret Drabble (NC 1957) will openthe conference on the evening of Friday1st, followed by dinner in Clough Halland we hope that many of our donors tothe Literary Archive will be present.

On Saturday 2nd authors PatriciaDuncker (NC 1970) and Jenn Ashworth(NC 2000) will discuss ‘The Deadly Spaces of Women Novelists’. Writer Isabelle Grey (NC 1973) willchair a panel discussion on the current and future state of publishing. For full details visit:www.newn.cam.ac.uk/after-newnham/events/ forthcoming-events.

2nd Newnham Literary Archive Conference –March 2013

Over 100 alumnae from the matriculation years of1957, 1972, 1982 and 1992 returned for theirreunions at Alumni Weekend in September.Following drinks in the Principal’s Lodge,attendees celebrated with a special dinner inClough Hall.

In the year of the London Olympics, College washonoured to welcome back Olympic Gold rowingmedalist Anna Watkins (NC 2001) and TV andradio broadcaster and author Clare Balding (NC 1990) for the Newnham Conversation in the full to bursting Lucia Windsor Room.

Anna and Clare reflected on their arrival at Newnham, their interests and experiences whilst at Collegeand how Newnham influenced their chosen careers, and their sporting and Olympic experiences. Thefascinating conversation covered topics including the Olympics’ influence on the profile of womenathletes; how to capitalise on Team GB’s success for future generations; and dealing with increasedlevels of fame and its associated pressures post-Games. Clare revealed her contribution to Mo Farah’sMobot move (see photo), and the audience was privileged to be shown Anna's dazzling gold medal.

The event concluded with a book signing for Clare’s number one bestseller My Animals and OtherFamily and the opportunity for attendees to be photographed with Anna and her medal. Thank you toboth Anna and Clare for a truly inspirational Conversation. The event was filmed and can be viewed viathe website at: www.newn.cam.ac.uk/about-newnham/news/news/clare-balding-and-anna-watkins-in-the-newnham-conversation-now-on-you-tube

Golden years

I’ve just celebrated twenty years as Newnham’sCollege Librarian, and Jo Roos, Newnham’sSenior Library Assistant, has been in post for 25 years. In that time, we have seen the librarybenefit from advances in technology andinformation provision, as well as thedevelopment of the wonderful Horner Markwicklibrary extension. Kirsten Southard, our LibraryGraduate Trainee for 2011-2012, completesour staff team. It’s been rewarding to see manyof our previous trainees go on to becomeprofessional librarians.

In term-time, students’ needs are top priority: wecheck reading lists; buy recommended booksand get them onto the shelves as quickly aspossible; support and guide students inaccessing resources, and keep the library ingood order so that it’s a great place for study.Technology may have brought new ways ofaccessing information, but student feedbackshows that the quality of workspace is importanttoo, and that the library’s calm atmosphere ishighly-valued.

Outside Full Term, we catch up on ‘backroom’work: reviewing stock; improving catalogues;keeping our training up-to-date; planningexhibitions; writing guides, and working with rarebooks and closed stack collections.

We update Twitter regularly so that we canshare news, developments or activities – dofollow us @NewnhamLibrary, and have a look at our blog ‘Back from the Stacks’http://backfromthestacks. blogspot.co.uk/ tosee some of the treasures in the closed stackcollections.

Librarianship constantly evolves so my workcontinues to be challenging and stimulating. I still find it rather special to work in a placewhere you can happen upon the signature ofQueen Victoria or Charles Darwin unexpectedly– I love the way the library serves currentstudents, while preserving traces of the college’shistory as a place of education, learning andresearch.

Debbie Hodder, Librarian

3 infocus

I joined Newnham in 1989 as a part-time LibraryAssistant. I later studied archive and recordsmanagement at UCL, becoming College Archivistwhen the permanent position was created in 2003.The marvellous extension to the Library of theHorner Marwick Building in the following yearincluded dedicated space for the Archives, betterfacilities and the ideal environment in which to work.

It is my task to organise and care for the materialsin the Archive to preserve them for posterity. Thisincludes making sure that current records maketheir way to me in due course. Our holdings consistof academic, administrative, photographic, socialand personal records dating from College’sfoundation to the present day. I am essentially thecustodian of College’s history.

An average day might involve anything fromplanning an exhibition; transcribing an academic’spapers or cataloguing the correspondence from analumna’s bequest to College, to minimising damagecaused by sellotape and rusty treasury tags. Weoften receive media enquiries so I undertakeresearch and pull together supporting papers forthe broadcast or publication. I also welcomeresearchers including academics, writers, studentsand relatives of Newnhamites - it is wonderful toshare the excitement when I can unearth aphotograph of Great-Granny in her hockey kit! Ialso manage special projects such as the NewnhamLiterary Archive, which was established in 2008 tocelebrate the achievement of College’s creativewriters, and now comprises generous donationsincluding drafts of published works, scripts,memoirs and photographs.

Although I am a one-man-band, I am fortunate tohave invaluable help, when funds allow, from mycolleague, Pat Ackerman. Having worked withDebbie for 20 years now, we have amassedextensive knowledge of College and its history, itscollections and connections. Due to ourprofessions, we are perhaps more aware thanothers of the need to record this preciousknowledge for our successors.

Anne Thomson, Archivist

Anne Thomson, Kirsten Southard,Jo Roos and Debbie Hodder

4 researchnews

The Deciphering Developmental Disorders (DDD) study

I am a Bye-Fellow in Medicine and a Consultant Clinical Geneticist atCambridge University Hospitals Trust. I am also an Honorary FacultyMember at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. My main research focus isThe Deciphering Developmental Disorders study (DDD – www.ddduk.org),which is a unique partnership project between the 23 NHS RegionalGenetics services in the UK and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. I ampart of the management team of genome scientists, a clinician scientistand a bioethicist that is responsible for overseeing this project.

The DDD study aims to apply cutting-edge genomic technologies (exomesequencing and a high resolution exon-array) to identify diagnoses for12,000 children with severe birth defects and/or severe developmentaldelay or learning problems. Every one of the children in the study has aspecial story; they each have a rare disorder that has a severe impact on

their lives and that is most likely to due to a change in their genetic code. Identifying thesechanges will help scientists and clinicians to understand the molecular basis of these conditions,which will be crucial in improving management and designing therapies.

All of the children in the study have had numerous hospital appointments and tests and yetdespite all of these investigations they remain undiagnosed. Of the children that I see in mygenetics clinic in Cambridge, I can only make a diagnosis in about one in four using currentlyavailable tests. With this study, we hope to change that. An accurate genetic diagnosis isimportant because it informs:• Prognosis – an indication of what may be expected in the future, enabling families to plan for their child’s health and educational needs

• Management – it helps doctors decide which body systems need surveillance• Recurrence risks – it provides information about the chance of problems affecting other members of the family

• Support and Information – it reduces isolation, enabling families to connect with other families affected by similar conditions and facing similar challenges.

Whilst providing a diagnosis for each child is one of the main aims of the study, through DDDthese children can also help scientists to better understand the causes of developmentaldisorders. The new genomic technologies generate vast amounts of data, some of it novel, and

we are in the early stages of learning how to interpret this information. This study offers a greatopportunity for patients, clinicians and scientists alike; it could significantly improve diagnosis andmanagement of these rare conditions, and provide new avenues for research into treatments forscientists to pursue.

Dr Helen Firth, Bye-Fellow in Medicine

The DDD study is funded by the Health Innovation Challenge Fund and is open for recruitment until April 2015. Recruitment is organised via referral to the child’s local NHS Regional Genetics service – please see www.ddduk.org for further details.

We witnessed this summer one of the most memorable events of this still young century: the Olympic andParalympic Games. Our own alumni did especially well: ‘Team Cambridge’, taken as a group, with two goldand two bronze medals, would have been higher in the medal table than Canada or Norway. Manycongratulations to all our alumni who participated and all the medal winners! To achieve that successrequired personal commitment and self-sacrifice by the athletes, and investment from funders in coachingand infrastructure. All of this required world-class ability, a shared vision and, above all, ambition to achievetheir goals.

As members of the University of Cambridge, we too are in a global competition of Olympic proportions, andit is a competition that we are winning. Rightly, we consider ourselves to be the best university in the UnitedKingdom, the best in Europe, and one of a handful of truly excellent universities worldwide. The finishingline in our academic Olympics is not well defined, and the race is never-ending. This makes it all the morechallenging to maintain the drive and ambition to stay in our much-envied pole position. The globalcompetition between universities can appear to individual scholars as a remote, even demeaning,abstraction. Although we may note in the newspapers the appearance of league tables, guides and othercommentary, we rarely see the direct effects of these in our daily lives. So, some may ask, is competition ina university context not, in fact, pointless?

I take a different view. Competition makes you run faster. Just as an Olympic athlete is selected forcompetition by physical and mental strength, so Cambridge has been selected, through the brilliance of ourpredecessors and the investment of our supporters, to compete in this great race. Having been selected,we have a responsibility to run the race as well as we can – to be ambitious to succeed. The greatestcontribution that the handful of the world’s leading universities can make is to strive to remain in thathandful: the constant competition of the top few global universities keeps the leading edge sharp.Competition, too, goes to the very heart of our mission. Our mission statement calibrates our successesagainst the most ambitious possible scale: we are urged to “contribute to society through the pursuit ofeducation, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence.” So we aim to be the best,never compromising on excellence, in order to serve society in its broadest sense.

Committed to benefiting society as we are, we believe that sustaining Cambridge’s excellence matters, notjust to Cambridge, but to the wider international community. We are curators in this moment of an 800-year-old institution which has the potential to last many centuries more. We have a responsibility to the past,and especially to the future. How are we to discharge that responsibility? What actions must we take todayto ensure our place tomorrow among the leaders, forcing the pace, keeping the world’s greatest universitiescontributing to the utmost of their potential?

Cambridge needs to grow, and needs to change, and we need to ensure that growth and change areinformed at every step by our values, our principles, and by the spirit and ambition that have seen us flourishfor our first eight centuries.

In 50 years, Cambridge has never stopped growing – in numbers of students, postdoctoral researchers,Colleges, buildings, courses and research programmes. Mostly, this growth was organic: the taking of a

The scale of our ambition

5 feature

Here we reproduce an abridged version of the annual address of the Vice-Chancellor, delivered on 1 October 2012, by Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz.

series of opportunities. More recently, we have got better atplanning it, in order to ensure long-term sustainability andstability.

The obvious place to start is with our students. We are a smalluniversity by British standards, recruiting just 3,300undergraduates each year, but much larger by this measure thanmany of our US Ivy League peers. We have eschewed further growth in undergraduate numbers becauseof our determination to sustain the excellence of a Collegiate Cambridge education without compromise.The costs of sustaining that educational excellence are such that it would be financially perilous to increaseundergraduate numbers, without tilting the balance significantly towards overseas students.

Cambridge has been research-led since the time of Isaac Newton. To continue to research at ‘the highestinternational levels of excellence’, we need to increase the numbers of postgraduate students andpostdoctoral researchers. These groups are essential in all disciplines to sustain active researchprogrammes, and so are key to our future academic development and competitiveness, just as we areresponsible for theirs. We must compete strenuously to attract the very best of them here, and to offer themthe very best environment within which they can thrive. Therefore, as Collegiate Cambridge, we havecommitted to continue the gradual expansion, at 2% per year, of our graduate student numbers alongsidecontinued growth in our research activity. All six of our Schools have explicit plans as to how that will beachieved. In support of these plans, the Colleges have agreed to increase their intake – but increasingscarcity of accommodation means that beyond 2015 we will have to provide additional accommodation forgraduate students and postdocs. We must also continue to build up research infrastructure and ultimatelyincrease academic staff numbers in Faculties and Departments to provide supervision and mentoring forthese new doctoral and junior research staff.

Creating the headroom for this anticipated growth is unquestionably challenging, especially in the currenteconomic circumstances, but failure to do so will significantly weaken our future competitiveness. Therefore,I should like to highlight one opportunity before us, the North West Cambridge project, which matches ouracademic ambitions and will underpin them, and whose scale, like our academic ambition, is extraordinary.North West Cambridge is the biggest capital project that this University has ever contemplated – indeed, Ifind it difficult to think of anything comparable in British higher education. On completion, there will beapproximately 5,000 students and staff and their families living at North West Cambridge. The 150 hectaresite will include 1,500 rental homes for University and College employees, 1,500 homes for sale,accommodation for 2,000 graduate students and 100,000 square metres of research space including up to40,000 square metres for external research institutes and facilities linked to the University. The final cost ofthe project will be close to £600 million.

North West Cambridge will create a new public quarter, close to the city centre. So we have engaged withlocal authorities to ensure that the project achieves a joint vision for the future of Cambridge as a city.Together we are committed to creating a mixed and balanced community. Make no mistake: this proposalwill change the way that Cambridge works – as a University and as a city.

Cambridge is one of a small handful of truly world-changing universities and we are ambitious for ourinstitution. Like North West Cambridge, our ambition must be on an Olympian scale, commensurate with ourambition for our future. Not least among the reasons why it matters is that Cambridge transforms lives,through our teaching and our research – and by doing so, we keep the rest of the global universitiesrunning hard alongside us.

UNIVERSITY OF C

AMBRIDGE

6 studentnews

Cardboard Boat Race Victory

Congratulationsto the Newnhamteam whotriumphed at The4th AnnualUniversityCardboard BoatRace on SuicideSunday – covergirls ClareDonaldson (skipper), Chloe Harris and Alice Buckley (all NC2011). Chloe observed “The boat, impressively, managed to stayafloat, much to the surprise of the Newnham girls and thespectators. Using canoe paddles we rowed to victory in a recordtime of 5 minutes. Perhaps more impressively, all three of usmanaged to stay dry!” Alice added “We had a fabulous time racingand were completely astounded when we found ourselvesactually floating. Our victory was all the sweeter for the scornfullooks we received beforehand whilst we were re-touching ourlipstick - everybody else was frantically adding the last bits ofduct tape to their boats!”

The Arts Society continues to flourish since its revival three years ago,hosting a versatile programme of events across the arts.

To mark the 80th birthday anniversary of Sylvia Plath (NC 1955), theSociety held two special evenings of celebration in late October. Thetribute began with a cinematic introduction to the writer, her work and lifewith a screening of Christine Jeffs’ 2003 film ‘Sylvia’.

The following night, a poetry reading was held in the MCR with a group ofNewnhamite actresses reciting her poetry, narrating the vicissitudes of herlife and literary career and celebrating her remarkable talent.

Newnham Arts Society

AssociatesWorkshopIn November the NewnhamAssociates hosted another oftheir invaluable workshops forstudents entitled ‘Just aminute: Getting your messageacross in 60 seconds’.

The workshop equippedstudents to discuss their skills,strengths and experience withconfidence and tocommunicate their interestsand requirements in a clearand focused way. To concludethe workshop, attendeespractised a short speech foruse in situations such as jobinterviews, careers eveningsand networking events,designed to leave the listenerwith a positive and lastingimpression.

A Night in Neverland The theme of this year’s June Event was ‘A Night in Neverland’ and J.M. Barrie would certainly haveapproved! Event President Katia Knight (NC 2009) and the Ball Committee had worked wonders –the gardens were transformed into a magical setting and the buildings lit beautifully. Over 1000people enjoyed the evening of music and entertainment, good food and good company. Thank you tothe Gardens Team, College staff and Fellows who provided help and support for the event.

Miriam Margolyes (NC 1960) has recently been touring her play‘Dickens’ Women’ in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and USA,and members of both the Scottish, Manchester and Australian Newnhamalumnae groups have been fortunate to enjoy her performance.

The play features twenty-three of Dickens’ characters – from thefamous and iconic to some of his lesser known creations. Grouprepresentative Melissa Fisher (NC 1996) said of the show: “As onewould expect, Miriam was mesmerising.”

Miriam is a frequent visitor to Australia and has recently become amember of the Australian alumnae network.

7 internationalnews

On tour

Australia

On 14 August, Professor Dame CarolBlack travelled to Sydney to speak at aconference and was delighted to beable to get together with Sydney-basedalumnae for drinks in the Blu Bar onthe 36th Floor of the Shangri-la Hotel.It was a wonderful opportunity for thePrincipal to meet such a lively andactive group of overseas alumnae andthe stunning views of the Opera Houseand harbour made for a particularlyspecial venue.

In September, alumnae based in Victoria, and their partners,enjoyed dinner and non-stop conversation at the il Vicolo Italianrestaurant in Carlton, Melbourne. Huge thanks to Katherine Firth(NC 1997) for organising the occasion.

The sixth issue of the Newnham in Australia e-newsletter waspublished and circulated by editor Melissa Fisher (NC 1996) witha selection of features including an article on her ‘Sentimentaljourney’ back to Newnham and Cambridge in the summer, and apiece on the legendary Fitzbillies Chelsea buns.

Indian connection

This summer, thanks to theTelephone Campaign I had thechance to connect with aNewnhamite in Delhi. I wastravelling for two months witha friend from Cambridge andwhile in Delhi we stayed with Prof. Radha Kumar (NC 1973), who had kindlyinvited Newnhamites to be herguests. It was wonderfulmeeting her and hearing abouther really interesting work,both as a university professorand as the leader of a politicalthink tank. We also had a greattime sharing some Newnhammemories.

Travelling in a foreign countrycan be difficult at times, butRadha really made us feel athome and gave us some greattips for our further journey. Ihope that one day I will also beable to invite Newnhamstudents to my home – hopingthat it will be in a similarlyfascinating place.

Anika Seeman (NC 2011, Law)

Principal’s 2013 visit to Hong Kong andSingaporeThe Principal and the Vice-Chancellor will be visiting Hong Kongand Singapore on 5th-8th April 2013. Dame Carol would like totake the opportunity to meet as many alumnae as possible. We willnotify you of her plans as they progress but do keep in touch withthe Roll and Development Office – via the website atwww.newn.cam. ac.uk/after-newnham or email roll@newn.cam.ac.uk

8 inspiringwomen

Clare McGregor (NC 1991)

HMP Styal is ‘home’ to some of the most damaged and damaging women in the country.They’re also amongst the most inspiring women I know.

Two years ago I rang the Governor to ask if I could coach prisoners in exactly the sameway I’d coach you: questioning and supporting them to work out for themselves who theyare, what they want to change and how to change it. Now 22 coaches are working withme or just about to start and all do so without payment.

Learn more about how we coach and the frustration, pain and hilarity of working and living in a prison athttp://coachingwithstyal.wordpress.com. If you read about “Jane” you’ll also learn how this life-changingwork is rooted in my time at Newnham.

We’re looking to coach in other prisons, in London, and in the community; so, if that appeals or you’d liketo know more, it’ll be great to hear from you: clare@claremcgregor.co.uk.

Snapshots of Newnhamite lives

Stephanie Vilner (Sheppard, NC 1992)

I have evolved from a NatSci (Chemistry Part II) into all of these:• Advisor, YES (Young Entrepreneur Society) Australia• Executive Producer, The YES Movie Australia – documentary showcasing young entrepreneurial talent, World premiere at the G20 YES in Russia 2013

• Roundtabler, New South Wales Small Business Commissioner, advising on women in business

• Advisor, ENYA Enterprise Network for Young Australians – for G20 YES, 2014

I run a marketing and market research consultancy, mytoolkit. Based on 50,000 hours of research, it'sabout futureproofing brands (and society) for Tomorrow's World and getting brands to think aboutcreating greener, cleaner businesses. I also have a social enterprise startup: www.partyforacause.org. I am Mum to Savannah, 7, and Elliott, 5, and fundraise for their amazing school. Newnham taught me howto plate juggle and Natural Sciences gave me the choice and freedom to follow what I loved. It was agreat degree at a supportive college, which set me off on this path and I am now doing everything on my‘bucket list’. Thank you, Newnham!

Tana de Zulueta (NC 1969)

After working as a journalist in Italy for British publications for 20 years, I was elected tothe Italian Parliament for another 12, first as a member of the Senate, then as a memberof the Chamber of Deputies, between 2006 and 2008. As a member of the ForeignAffairs committees of both Houses I witnessed Italy's descent into three wars. As awoman in legislative assemblies dominated by men, I struggled to improve women'srepresentation. As the only Member of Parliament who was not Italian-born, I supportedthe integration of one of the fastest-growing immigrant communities in Europe. As a

former journalist, I pressed for media reform. As a member of the Joint Anti-Mafia Committee, I prepareda report on trafficking in human beings which convinced me of the need for a rights-based approach inthis field. My proposals for media reform and the independence of the State broadcaster are today thecentral plank of an ongoing civil society campaign. These are some of the experiences I would like toshare, and discuss, in the hope they might prove interesting, and maybe even useful, for others.

I graduated from the AppliedBiology Department, specialisingin Crop Agriculture, in 1982. Twoexpeditions with the Explorers’and Travellers’ Club, to SouthAmerica and northern India,reinforced my ambition to workabroad. After a Master’s Degreein Forestry I had a ten year

career as a ruraldevelopment foresterworking mainly in Asia andAfrica.

My last overseasassignment before returningto the UK was managing anenvironment programme inand around refugee campsin northwest Tanzaniafollowing the Rwandagenocide of 1994. One ofthe key aims of theprogramme was toencourage and support treeplanting by localcommunities to offsetdamage resulting from thepresence of the refugees.

Having completed yet anotherMaster’s Degree, this time inRefugee Studies, I returned toTanzania earlier this year to seewhether our actions fifteen yearsago had made any difference.What I found surprised even me!

It was very satisfying to see largetrees grown from small seedlingsplanted as part of theprogramme – whole areas oncedenuded of vegetation were nowwell stocked. It was alsoincredibly satisfying to meetforesters, (pictured), whom wehad employed, supported andhelped – some are now runninglocal or national environmentalorganisations. Finally, it waswonderful to see the

Senior Members

Mary Newbould is Director ofStudies and Special Supervisorin English at Newnham, whereshe was recently elected Bye-Fellow. Mary’s teaching andresearch interests lie in the‘long’ eighteenth century, with aparticular interest in LaurenceSterne (1713-1768). Sincetheir first appearance Sterne’simmensely popular,idiosyncratic books – The Lifeand Opinions of TristramShandy, Gentleman and ASentimental Journey throughFrance and Italy – have inspiredparodies and adaptations in avariety of forms including prosepieces, poetry, drama,illustrations and graphic satire.Mary’s research involvessituating these imaginativeresponses to Sterne’s workwithin their historical andcultural contexts, as herforthcoming book onSterneana shows. Mary’senthusiasm for her researchmatches the pleasure she findsin teaching Newnham’s Englishstudents, for whom she alsoarranges social and academicactivities in her capacity asDirector of Studies. She enjoyssharing the benefits of thesupportive and thrivingintellectual community foundamong Newnham’s SeniorMembers with the College’sstudents.

Olivia Jones (W

ebleyNC 1979)

establishment of a tree plantingethos among the local farmers –tree planting is now part of theagricultural cycle, with seedlingssupplied by many privately ownednurseries.

However this success is notuniversal. In other areas treecutting is continuing at anunsustainable rate with therefugees still blamed for startingthe cycle of over-exploitation.There are clearly questions as towhy this difference in legacyexists, and what lessons can belearnt from the Tanzanianexperience to aid the currentrefugee influx in southern Sudanand northern Kenya. Havingrecently retired from work, I amnow contemplating a PhD toexamine some of these questions.

9 spotlight

My many and varied conducting jobsinvolve all ages and stages, from primaryschool to adult, and from beginners andamateurs to fellow professionals. In totalthis comes to regular choirs or orchestrasin seven different organisations. I've been

musical director of Saffron Walden Choral Society for 20 years andmore recently I formed the chamber choir Granta Chorale andhelped set up the youth choir SignuptoSing. Of course myconducting engagements reflect this variety. They include schoolevents, Christmas performances by massed choirs of adults and

children, youth choir and chamber choir concerts like GrantaChorale at the Fitzwilliam Museum in December, and large-scale choral and orchestral performances including Elgar’sDream of Gerontius at the Thaxted Festival on July 14th 2013.

Conducting work can often lead to composing opportunities.2012 has been an especially productive year so far with fiveshorter pieces and two larger choral/orchestral workscompleted. For the Cultural Olympiad, three of my choirs joinedup with Britten Sinfonia as part of the BBC’s ‘Music Nation’.The result was MazeMusic for which I composed a piece forthe combined forces. The libretto was by the award-winningwriter Nick Warburton. I first collaborated with Nick back in mydays as a music producer at BBC School Radio. We've workedtogether several times since then and I really enjoy setting hiswords to music. This time we produced MAZE, a 40-minute

cantata inspired by Saffron Walden's two historic mazes. The pieceencompasses a variety of musical styles. One quasi-operatic episodedepicts Three Men in a Boat all getting lost in Hampton Court Maze.For this, the choir's leafy music scores became the hedges of a mazeand soloist Edward Price ended the scene by escaping down aladder off the stage. For more information on the project see:www.mazemusic.org.uk

Two months later, I conducted Granta Chorale and a small orchestrain the première of another large-scale new work: Magnificat cumAngelis. My response to the Magnificat text was a human one fromthe perspective of a woman and mother. I imagined that, despite her

Janet Wheeler (NC 1975)

Steering for the Open Sea

The premiere of the MAZEcantata

I imagined that,despite hercomplicated

situation, Marywould have been

unable to stopherself from

dancing with joy atGabriel's news that

she is pregnant.

Freelance composer and choralconductor Janet Wheeler isbased just down the road fromCambridge in Saffron Walden.

complicated situation, Mary would have been unable to stop herself from dancing with joy at Gabriel’snews that she is pregnant. So the music has elements of Jewish dance in it and elsewhere is inspired bythe idea of the structure of DNA. Bells, trumpet and harp are featured as ‘angelic’ instruments and it wasfantastic to have Newnham harpist Anne Denholm (NC 2010) playing at the first performance.

My Director of Studies at Newnham, Mary Berry, once told me that I was a big fish who would find myway to the sea, but major success as a composer is not easy to achieve. However, support from twosources is helping my progress. The Yellow Car Charitable Trust has been generous with commissions(including MAZE and Magnificat cum Angelis) as well as supporting a demo CD and a website(www.janetwheeler.org.uk). Incidentally they are also behind a superb new concert hall being built inSaffron Walden, opening in November 2013. The other source of support comes from a friendshipforged while at Newnham. Fiona Yeomans (Main NC 1975) came to the première of Magnificat cumAngelis and is currently helping to promote wider performance and commercial publication of my music.This is a marvellous vote of confidence and act of friendship from Fiona. She clearly has a wealth ofexperience and talent and I'm so enjoying working with her at the moment. Who knows – maybe togetherwe'll find the way to the sea!

MazeMusic concert at St Mary's, March 2012With Granta Chorale in St Mary's, Saffron Walden

10 roll&development

1967 Reunion Lunch – 45th anniversary

Since 1987, I have been organising 5 yearly get-togethers for those of us who matriculated in 1967,usually in connection with Commemoration. Several of us came to the official 40th reunion at AlumniWeekend in September 2007.

Our next official reunion will not be until 2017 so I therefore wrote to Newnham to ask if we could tagalong to Commemoration or to the Alumni Weekend for our 45th anniversary. Due to the popularity ofthe events, there were not spaces available for us too but Penny Hubbard suggested that we couldorganise a private get together in July. The Roll Office sent letters toall 1967ers on my behalf and Marilyn Dowling, Conference andEvents Organiser was also very helpful indeed with planning theoccasion. I heard from over 70 people. Fifty two were able to come –including two husbands! – travelling from Ireland, the USA,Netherlands, Canada, Luxembourg, Spain and Israel, as well as theUK.

A sherry party was followed by a 3 course lunch seated at two longtables in Clough Hall. Two of our members are resident Blue Badgeguides in Cambridge and about 20 people took part in two walks,one on Old Cambridge and one on new Cambridge, seeing placeswe never visited when undergraduates. Meanwhile another grouprelaxed in the Barbara White Room (formerly Old Hall’s dining room),until we returned from our walks. I had asked those coming by car tobring 4 cupcakes each but we had a veritable feast of homemadecakes, brownies and fresh strawberries. Not only did everyone enjoythe event, but it also led to friends being reunited for the first timesince 1970, emails being exchanged and mini reunions to follow.

Catherine Slater (Malaiperuman, NC 1967)

Launch of the Honorary AssociatesThe Principal, Professor Dame Carol Black, spoke at the launch on20 September of the Honorary Associates of Newnham, held in thePicture Room at the Athenaeum. Newnham Associates step downafter serving a term of 10 years; the new ‘Hons’ group gives ex-Associates who want to stay involved the opportunity to continuesupporting the College through active engagement with theAssociates' work.

There was a lively discussion and the Principal said that she lookedforward to an ongoing dialogue and to working on our shared aim ofseeing Newnham go from strength to strength. If you are an ex-Associate and have not been asked whether you wish to join theHons, please email honorary@newnhamasssociates.org.uk.

Rolande Anderson (NC 1973)

An intrepid Newnhamite crew took to the water at this year’s AlumniWeekend in September. Fiona Gooch (NC 1992) returned to Collegefor her reunion and took the opportunity to organise a Sundayafternoon row on the Cam. Despite heavy rain and less than idealconditions the 8+ cox had great fun and relived memories of happyhours spent on the river.

We are planning a special NCBC and rowers event soon so if yourowed whilst at Newnham email us at roll@newn.cam.ac.uk so we canadd you to the invitation list.

Return to the riverAlumnaebirthday cards When you reach the age of 75the Roll and DevelopmentOffice will send you a birthdaycard every five years to passon College’s congratulations.Once you are 95 you willreceive a card each year. Wewere recently sent a charmingthank you note from analumna who had clearly madethe most of her birthday: “I wasamazed and delighted toreceive a birthday card fromyou and send thanks to you all.The celebrations have beengoing on for a week or more,which is nice for the aged as Idon’t get exhausted by them!”

Margaret Neville (Stratford, NC 1940)

Tails You Win: The Science of ChanceAre you afraid of being hit by a meteorite? The truth is you’re more likely to win the lottery. Do youbelieve in coincidence? We are delighted that David Speigelhalter, Professor for the PublicUnderstanding of Risk will deliver Newnham’s inaugural Gillian Vaisey Memorial Lecture on Friday 26 April 2013. David comments on matters as diverse as reports on the risk of damaging yourunborn baby’s IQ through drinking to the risk of dying whilst doing an extreme sport. He featured inthe recent fascinating BBC Four programme ‘Tails You Win: The Science of Chance’ which exploredgambling to natural disasters as well as these issues.

The lecture will be held in the LawFaculty on the Sidgwick Site oppositeNewnham at 5.30pm – 6.30pm. It isopen to the public and is free so bringyour friends and explore thefundamental idea of chance itself.To use David’s words: “Does it existas part of the external world? Or is itjust a way of saying we don’t know – ourpersonal ignorance? These are big questions thata seven-year-old can ask and the biggest brains can’tagree on.”

newnhamassociatesI qualified as an architect in 1990 and have been working in theconstruction industry ever since, primarily in the UK, although I wasbased in Hong Kong 1994-1999. My grandfather (his firm designed

the Peter Jones in Sloane Square) and great grandfather wereboth architects, as were an uncle and aunt, so it seemed to meto be an interesting field to be involved in from an early age. Inmy career to date I have mostly been involved in the transport,civil and commercial sectors – highlights include the Jubilee lineextension for London’s underground network, Hong Kong’sChep Lap Kok International Airport (with Foster and Partners)and Manchester Civil Justice Centre.

I have worked variously on the client side, for main contractorsand with world class architects. I enjoy the whole process fromdesign inception to project completion – there is always more tolearn, good teamwork makes things go smoothly, and there is areal buzz when you are working on a high quality product. For thelast seven years I have been with Lend Lease, a global propertydeveloper. My current function is more head office than project

based, and I am involved with bidding for new work, corporatecommunications and market analysis.

These are challenging times for this industry as the state of theeconomy is constraining. We are delivering many new schools andacademies under the Building Schools for the Future Programme, andThe Hydro, a national arena for Glasgow, so there are still goodprojects happening.

I would be very pleased to discuss possible design careers withNewnham women so do contact me via the Associates website at:www.newnhamassociates.org.uk

11 didyouknowJudy Slater (NC 1982)

Did you know that Clare Balding (NC 1990) went to Styal Prison atthe invitation of Inspiring Woman Clare McGregor (NC 1991): seehttp://coachingwithstyal.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/the-day-clare-balding-came-to-styal/

Baroness Onora O’Neill(Principal 1992-2006,Honorary Fellow 2006) hasbeen appointed Chair of theEquality and Human RightsCommission. EllenBianchini (Birley, NC 1977)was awarded an MBE in theQueen’s Birthday Honourslist – for services to the arts.Mrs Bianchini establishedthe Spark Children’s ArtFestival. The JCR GreenOfficer has a blog atjcrgreen.wix.com/newnhamwhere you can read aboutprojects and initiatives inand around College andreceive weekly tips on howto be more sustainable. Inresponse to the unexpectedAugust storms that causedchaos in central Cambridgeand flooded the Librarymany students and Collegestaff and their partnersanswered the emergencycall to help clean up andcould be found with mopand bucket in hand. Thankyou! A collection of essayson Catullus edited by theBursar, Ian du Quesnayand Tony Woodman of theUniversity of Virginia hasbeen published byCambridge University Press.Entitled Catullus: Poems,Books, Readers, thecollection includes an essayby Ian himself. WendyHirsh (NC 1971) andProfessor Dame CarolBlack were named as twoof HR magazine’s 25 ‘MostInfluential UK Thinkers2012’.

Newnhamite Isabelle Grey (NC1973) co-wrote the final episode ofBBC1’s Accused – ‘Tina’s Story’ –with the series’ creator, JimmyMcGovern. The programme wasaired on 4th September 2012 andstarred Anna Maxwell Martin, EwenBremner, Robert Sheehan andJohn Bishop. The script and otherworking documents for the episodeare now part of the NewnhamLiterary Archive.

The paper used for Changing Lives is an environmentally responsiblealternative to traditional virgin fibre. The paper, LumiSilk, is Elemental ChlorineFree (ECF) fibre from well managed forests where internationally agreed strictenvironmental, social and economic standards are adhered to asindependently evidenced by its FSC® Chain of Custody Certification.

Changing Lives is produced by the Roll and Development Office Newnham CollegeSidgwick AvenueCambridge, CB3 9DFroll@newn.cam.ac.uk

Photography: thanks to Ellie Hayes,Stills Photography, David Ponting

Secret Gardens Ball 21 June 2013

Newnham’s first ever Alumnae BallWe do hope you have bought your tickets for the Newnham College Secret Gardens Ball

but if not … you still have time.

You can order online atwww.newn.cam.ac.uk/after-newnham/events/the-secret-gardens-ball

or telephone the Roll Office on +44 (0)1223 335757 and ask us to send you a postal booking form.

This will be a unique event (and probably not repeated for a while!) so come and bring yourfriends and enjoy a spectacular evening.

In late summer 2013 we will publish a special issue of Changing Lives focused on the Ball.

Forthcoming events

Medicine Networking Lunch 16thFebruary 2013 – POSTPONEDPlease note that the MedicineNetworking Lunch previouslyadvertised for 16th February hasbeen postponed until 2014. Assoon as the new date is confirmedit will be posted on the Collegewebsite. Apologies for anyinconvenience caused.

Commemoration 13 April 2013Commemoration Reunion Weekendwill take place on 13-14 April. Thespecial reunion years invited fordinner on 13 April will be 1943,1953, 1963, 1988 and 2003. If youhave not received your invitation byearly February please contact theDevelopment Office.

Secret Gardens Ball – 21 June 2013Newnham College’s first everalumnae ball will take place onFriday 21 June 2013. Return toCollege with friends and enjoy anevening of entertainment, live musicand performances, dancing, funfair,auctions for the Gardens and muchmore. Tickets are selling quickly sobook now to avoid disappointment –book online at www.newn.cam.ac.uk/after-newnham/events/the-secret-gardens-ball

12 events calendar

for an up-to-the-minute listing of events, please visit

www.newn.cam.ac.uk

201312 January New Parents’ Lunch

16 January Formal Hall – Archaeology & Anthropology,

Geography

30 January Formal Hall – MML, Linguistics, AMES

7 February Formal Hall – English, Music, Law

16 February Medicine Networking Lunch

POSTPONED UNTIL 2014 – DATE TBC

20 February Formal Hall – Natural Sciences (Biological)

1-2 March Newnham Literary Archive Conference

6 March Formal Hall – Economics, Land Economy,

Mathematics, Computer Science

13 March Formal Hall – PPSIS, Education, Media & Visual

Culture

13 April Commemoration for matriculation years 1943,

1953, 1963, 1988, 2003

26 April Gillian Vaisey Memorial Lecture with Prof.

David Spiegelhalter

21 June Secret Gardens Alumnae Ball

6 July Roll Family Picnic

27-29 September University Alumni Weekend, with Newnham

Reunion for special years 1958, 1973, 1983, 1993.

* Please note: The subject Formal Halls included in the list above are

subject to change. Anybody wishing to attend a particular Formal Hall

should please check the website in advance in case of alteration.

Call for email addresses

The Roll & Development Office is keen to send out more mailings via email

where this would be welcome to our alumnae, as it helps keeps costs down

and is more environmentally friendly. Please let us know your preference

and check that we have your up-to-date email address.

Now onFollow the tweets @NewnhamRoll for the latestnews

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Sign up to the alumnae-run LinkedIn group and join thethriving Newnhamite network