Gifts celebrating Lucy’s milestones, generous benefactors and ambassadors

During LucyGives, we are exploring the College’s history of giving and celebrating our donor’s contributions to the College. Lucy is home to so many interesting objects, all sharing a unique history. These are on display throughout the public areas of the College for all our community members and visitors to see and enjoy.

The dragon bench on Strathaird Lawn was donated by Dr Anna Bidder, co-founder and first President of Lucy Cavendish College. Anna Bidder was an English zoologist and academic; her specialisation in cephalopod digestion accounts for the presence of the nautilus shell in the College coat of arms.

Dame Pauline Harris DBE, Honorary Fellow of the College, and her husband Lord Harris of Peckham made a significant donation to the College in the late 90s, which included carpet to the then newly built Library, including the College crest. Lord and Lady Harris also provided the funds for former College President Baroness Perry’s portrait by Jane Bond.

A silver candelabrum was presented by Baroness Perry to mark her retirement as Fifth President of Lucy Cavendish College, to add to the College’s collection of modern silver which was the largest such collection in any Cambridge College. During her presidency Baroness Perry set up the Lucy Cavendish College Centre for Women Leaders in 1996, and through her considerable efforts within the University, in 1997 Lucy was incorporated by Royal Charter, achieving full status as a College. Baroness Perry’s generosity also contributed to the creation of an outdoor garden and seating space in front of College House, in memory of her beloved husband George Perry. Since reaching the end of her tenure as the President of Lucy Cavendish College in 2001, Baroness Perry has become an Honorary Fellow and in 2006, became President of the Anna Bidder Society and Patron of the Lucy Cavendish Singers.

In Warburton Hall, there are three Mary Fedden paintings – Balloonbacked chair on a Kelim, View from a Croft on Skye and Fruit in a Tuscan Landscape. Two of them were gifted to the College in 1998, to celebrate Lucy Cavendish College being awarded its Royal Charter and becoming a self-governing College of the University of Cambridge. Mary Fedden OBE, was a British artist renowned for her paintings that combine whimsical illustrative narrative with rich colour and texture. She was an inspiring role model for women artists. Today, her paintings are in the collections of the Queen, the Tate and numerous other galleries and private collections throughout the world.

The hanging mobile in the library was a gift from the Alumnae Association. They chose the wording from the Book of Proverbs ‘Who shall find a virtuous woman’ quoting Baroness Perry who had used it in her first speech as President at the College Annual Dinner.

Philanthropy ensures Lucy Cavendish can continue to be the vanguard of change at Cambridge and the College is deeply grateful to its benefactors through the years.

What is LucyGives?

LucyGives Giving Week (25 April – 1 May 2022) is a 7-day campaign for a better, fairer future. Driven by the College community’s support in LucyGives 2020, Lucy Cavendish is forging ahead with its pioneering vision, welcoming the most socio-economically diverse year group admitted by any Cambridge college this academic year. But this is just the start.

Your support during LucyGives 2022 will help realise our ambitions to achieve a UK student population which is broadly representative of society by 2025, and to increase numbers of talented students from under-served communities across the globe. LucyGives will support the brightest minds from all backgrounds, enabling them to access a world-class university education and to graduate with the skills and confidence to make a positive impact in society. Through LucyGives, we will together ensure our College and its global mission remain at the vanguard of change at the University of Cambridge.

To get involved and to show your support please visit the LucyGives website