Summer Party and Campaign Celebration
Alumnae, senior members, local community and staff are invited to our annual Summer Party and Campaign Celebration, a highlight of the year which brings together the Newnham community for a day of summer fun. The event offers a welcome opportunity to mark the extraordinary, shared success of the Shaping Newnham’s Future Campaign,as well as a chance to bid a personal farewell to Principal Alison Rose (NC 1980).
This year, we would like to celebrate the people who make up Newnham’s community past and present, and we have programmed the day around people, ideas and creativity across a spectrum of disciplines. Events and activities are free, (excluding afternoon tea and portrait workshops) and you are welcome to join us for as much of the day as you wish, but you do need to book your place to avoid disappointment.
Talks and Conversations
A vibrant programme of talks and conversations will be given by alumnae and guests encompassing subject matter from astrophysics to archaeology, poetry to politics.
Astronomy
Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy Sera Markoff (Professorial Fellow) will be speaking about her current research, with Professor Carolin Crawford (NC 1982), talking about the life of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (NC 1919) and other Newnham astronomers.
Literature
Author Heather Clark joins us to discuss the life of Fulbright Scholar Sylvia Plath (NC 1955) in her talk ‘I am making a self' Sylvia Plath at Newnham.
Music
Honorary Fellow Joan Armatrading CBE will be talking about her life in music.
Physics
Professor Tina Potter (Fellow), will share her research in Dark Matter at the Large Hadron Collider and will be joined by PhD student Ella Wood of Cambridge University’s Women in Physics Society highlighting Katherine Burr Blodgett (NC 1924) the first woman to get a PhD in Physics at Cambridge.
Poetry
Dr Katrina Dean (NC 1999) Keeper of Manuscripts at the University Library will discuss the newly acquired Levy collection and the rare talent of Amy Levy (NC 1879).
Archaeology
Senior Curator at the Fitzwilliam Museum and Lead Curator of their recent ‘Made in Ancient Egypt’ exhibition Helen Strudwick will discuss her current research in Egyptology. Dr Kate Fleet Fellow, Postgraduate Tutor and Director of the Skilliter Centre for Ottoman Studies will discuss archaeology at Newnham highlighting the work of Winifred Lamb (NC 1913) and Dorothy Garrod (NC 1913); the photo albums of the former are part of a new exhibition at the Skilliter Centre covering Lamb’s time on a dig in Turkey from 1935 and 1937.
Politics
Dr Ann Kennedy Smith (Fellow Clare Hall), researcher in Literature and History of Women at Cambridge, will talk about ‘Wisdom and weapons: Newnham's suffragist pioneers and suffragette rebels.'
The Cambridge Literary Festival Book Tent
We are excited to announce a new addition to the Summer Party this year - a chance to discover new books in the relaxed literary setting of our Book Tent. Curated by our partners, the Cambridge Literary Festival (founded by Cathy Moore (NC 1979)), the book tent will spotlight Newnham authors in conversation, offer book readings, book signings and a bookshop run by Heffers. Further details to be announced.
Workshops, Music, Tours and Tea
Creative Workshops
Take inspiration from Newnham’s extensive art collection and try your hand at portrait drawing in our workshops led by local artist Hilary Moreton. For adults and children aged six plus. £5 per person.
Afternoon Tea
Take time to relax and reconnect over tea in the College gardens. Our afternoon tea package includes: a plain scone, clotted cream, jam, two finger sandwiches, tea or coffee at £15.50 per person.
Music and Performance
Enjoy live music on the lawn and a special opera recital by Cambridge University Opera Society of Rosalind, a new opera by Peter Hugh White about Rosalind Franklin (NC 1938) and the DNA story.
Tours and Exploration
Take the opportunity to go on a historic tour of the College, view the exhibition about astronomy at Newnham, take a self-guided portrait tour, or a named room tour and discover stories from the College’s past.
Lawn Games and Garden Activities
Spend time outdoors playing our classic lawn games. Informal gatherings and picnics are encouraged.
