We asked our alumni who matriculated from 1976 onwards for their memories of what life at Selwyn was like during the early years when women were first admitted to the college. We have included a few excerpts from their contributions below.
Students admitted from October 1976 onwards
Angela McNelly, née Bellamy (SE 1976)
"I couldn’t find my Selwyn offer letter, but I do remember that it arrived in the post on the Sunday before Xmas, and at that time a Sunday delivery was unheard of, so I was doubly astonished both to have received an offer from Selwyn, and for it to have arrived on a Sunday!
Two local papers, The Solihull News, and the Birmingham Mail (I think) did a piece (and photo for the Sol News) on the successful Oxbridge applicants from Solihull Sixth Form College, which was particularly notable since we were the first intake into the junior sixth following Solihull’s conversion from the grammar school system to comprehensive education."
(William) Rob Pitt (SE 1976)
"...Two generations later, from the perspective of our society in 2026, it is easy for us to look back at Selwyn in the late 1970s through rose-tinted spectacles.
- We underestimate the enormity of the effort that was needed to move an all-male college populated only by male fellows and students, most of whom had themselves only ever experienced all-male educational environments, to a truly co-educational institution.
- We underestimate the shock experienced by those first teenage female undergraduates, who only a few weeks earlier had been schoolgirls, many of whom had only experienced an all-female educational environment.
- Most of all, we underestimate the extraordinary personal courage and determination needed by those first few intakes of female undergraduates not only to endure and withstand significant bullying and day-to-day misogyny, but to succeed despite them."
Rosemary Boyle (SE 1976)
"I remember the shock - and the delightful surprise when Selwyn, which I thought looked a nice college but didn't take women, decided quite late on in 1976 to admit women. I remember ripping open the envelope which arrived just before Christmas and only reading the first few words: “I am delighted to….”
Selwyn was the final transforming step which education brought to my life. It was pretty scary though. Fortunately there were other people who came from state schools, mainly grammar – I admired the people who had made it through from comprehensives. Those were the people who became my friends. I believe that taking women transformed the college. That year the JCR committee were all Labour supporters. I went out leafleting in what seemed like though far reaches of east Cambridge (actually pretty central) only to find that my first vote, cast for Shirley Williams, failed and Margaret Thatcher was elected nationally.
I was extraordinarily lucky to be taught by (then) Dr (now Professor) John Spencer, undoubtedly the best teacher in the university which meant that Selwyn students got very good swaps - so we had the best teachers in the university in our subjects. John was also extremely patient, and kind, if perhaps slightly nonplussed by having women tutorial students. He did a great job with me. He is the reason why I eventually became a lawyer and why I approach legal practice as I do. He and my other teachers also gave me confidence, which was otherwise very lacking, to tackle legal subjects and topics I had not been taught and indeed to dive into practising IT law in 1986..."
Reflection from the Dean on the arrival of women
Vivian Nutton, Fellow 1967-77
"…And, as Dean, I can say that the 1976 intake was a wonderful year, and we had none of the troubles foreseen by the gloomier dons. It also helped that we had a few siblings of Selwyn men, and several others whose parents (and they themselves) were known to some of us, so that we began with some familiarity."
Memories from 1980s onwards
Becky Cairns (née Scott) (SE 1987)
"I don’t think that at the time I was really aware that 1987 was only the 11th year of women being admitted to Selwyn. Of course, it was clear that there were many more men in college than women, though in Modern Languages, the balance was much better. I loved my time at Selwyn - my studies, rowing and other sports, friends (who are still friends now), the social life."
Yzanne Mackay (née Bennett) (SE 1992)
"I studied English [at Selwyn] (as Yzanne Bennett) from 1992 to 1995.
I had a very happy time at Selwyn! I also, in my second year, received a First in Part I. As a result, I had to attend a Scholar's service in the Chapel. Those of us who had gained Firsts all gathered in the Chaplain's rooms, to be told what would happen.
At the time, there had been a lot of hand-wringing about the reasons why women didn't get as many Firsts as men. The Chaplain went through the various arrangements for the service and dinner. He dwelt at length on the dress code - discussing exactly what the men would be required to wear. After 10 minutes or so of this, he looked briefly round the room and said 'and of course, whatever it is that women wear'.
I felt pretty strongly that some of the reasons why women did not receive as many Firsts as men were inherent in that statement and attitude.
But of course, women's dress was always a bit of an issue. We were not, for example, allowed to wear trousers to Formal Halls in Selwyn. The reason was unclear - there was no intrinsic objection to trousers; men could happily wear them. Some women tried to push the boundaries by wearing culottes, walking with their legs close together past the staff.
I don't think the authorities cared that much about trousers. But I think some of them had a vested interest in making sure that things were always just...a bit more difficult for women. Just one more obstacle to overcome and think about, compared with men.
I'm sure everything has changed now - and the day when a female Master, and female Fellows, can be referred to in language that is non-gender-specific (Principal? Head of House?) is surely close at hand."