When I was in Cambridge recently I went to see the photos taken last year by photographer Jooney Woodward to mark fifty years of women undergraduates at King’s College Cambridge.
Last time I saw these photos, in June 2023, they were in the Chapel (I wrote about the exhibition at that time.) Now, a year and a half later, they have been installed in their new permanent home in the College. They’re in the passage which leads from the front court to the Dining Hall.
Here I am standing underneath my portrait (see photo).
At first I was rather taken aback by the prominent place chosen for these photos. But then my daughter pointed out that most of the portraits (and until quite recently, all of the portraits) in the Dining Hall itself are of men. Therefore it makes sense for the new wall of photos outside the Hall to be of women. Suddenly I saw that the placing was very appropriate – necessary, even. I feel proud to be part of this collection of portraits.
They should definitely be prominent! It’s taken long enough.
And I am vicariously feeling proud to be able to call one of these women a friend.
Thank you Geraldine! Of course there could have been many more interesting women in the exhibition, as you will know – I think the reason for choosing ‘only’ 50 was to celebrate 50 years of women undergraduates.