Celebrations begin for 40 years of women at Oriel College

Students, staff, academics and alumnae attended a dinner on 14 March to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) and 40 years since women were first admitted to Oriel College, in 1985. Lady Mendoza hosted the dinner.

The dinner was organised by the women’s officers for the two student common rooms, Milly Gibson and Charlotte Sayers-Carter, and the Development Office.

Gibson, Women’s Officer for the Junior Common Room (JCR), said: “The dinner was the first time the Development team collaborated with the JCR and [Middle Common Room] and their respective women’s officers to host an event like the IWD dinner.”

“Traditionally alumni events, IWD events and the JCR women’s dinner function separately, but there was something so special about bringing them together for this one evening of connection, inspiration and celebration of women at Oriel and the alumnae who have come before us.”

After the dinner Sara Snell (1985), His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland and one of the first cohort of female students at Oriel College, made a speech about her experience in the UK justice system and the privilege of her time at Oxford.

Snell ended her speech with Oriel College’s traditional toast, “Floreat Oriel”, but added: “Whatever the future holds, long may women at Oriel flourish.”

Other events marking 40 years since women were first admitted to Oriel include an online memory gallery, a series of commissioned photographic portraits as well as a day of talks and celebrations in September.