While the University was founded as early as 1209, women were not admitted as full members until 1947; even then, the two women’s colleges had a strict upper limit imposed on their numbers. Lucy Cavendish College was founded in 1965 by a group of women determined to challenge the exclusivity of Cambridge. For thirty years the college has played a leading role in women’s issues within the University. It has a particular focus on the needs of older women students, and was mentioned for this in the novel Strong Medicine by Arthur Hailey (of Airport fame).
The College is named after Lucy Cavendish, a leading Victorian campaigner for the reform of women’s education.
The current President of Lucy Cavendish is Dame Veronica Sutherland.