The gift celebrates Lucy’s Honorary Fellow and Former President and is donated on the occasion of her birthday
A group composed of some of the most successful women in America is making a generous donation in honour of Lady Perry.
This gift is given on the occasion of a milestone birthday, in recognition of her visionary leadership of the College and her immense lifetime achievements.
The group has been together for 22 years. It is called ‘The Alliance’ and comprises 14 women friends, all accomplished leaders in different sectors.
Elizabeth Vale, Founder and Convenor, says: “Pauline has been a wonderful charter member and has enriched all of our lives.”
Pauline Perry, Baroness Perry of Southwark (née Welch; 1931) is Lucy’s Former President, Honorary Fellow and President of the Anna Bidder Society for legators, an educator, educationist, academic, and activist.
She has worked as a member of the House of Lords for 25 years. In 1981 she became Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in England. In 1986 she became Vice-Chancellor of South Bank Polytechnic. When the Polytechnic became South Bank University, Lady Perry and Dr Anne Wright (Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Sunderland) became the first women in history to run British universities. On being questioned whether, as a woman, she was capable of the role, Lady Perry said 'Just because she is small and female doesn't mean she isn't tough'. Baroness Perry was educated at Wolverhampton Girls' High School and read Moral Sciences (philosophy) at Girton College, Cambridge, where she received an MA. For the next 10 years she taught philosophy, mainly at postgraduate level, in America and Canada. In early 2021, she was appointed to chair a new board at the British University in Egypt, to accomplish one a reform of the governance and academic structure, modernising and raising standards, alongside the Rt. Hon Charles Clarke (former Secretary of State in Blair's government).
She comments: “I am deeply honoured, delighted and very humbled by the generosity of these wonderful American women.
They could not have pleased me more than by their gift to Lucy Cavendish. Lucy changes lives and fully deserves the support of everyone committed to the power of education to change life chances.
The ‘Alliance’ is composed of some of the most senior and successful women in America. I have been so lucky to have been their ‘co-opted Brit’ for over twenty years of friendship and joint learning.”
To make a donation or discuss giving opportunities please contact Tom Hawker-Dawson, the Deputy Development Director.