The University of Roehampton is celebrating Remarkable Women with a new exhibition opening on Friday, 7 March.
Showcasing 36 trailblazing women linked to the university, the exhibition highlights their significant contributions to education and society. It will run through International Women’s History Month, including International Women’s Day on 8th March.
Dr Christopher Stephens, Head of Southlands College, explains, “The women in this exhibition have all made remarkable contributions to education, shaping students' lives and helping influence wider society. Their work laid the foundation for the University of Roehampton, one of the country's first higher education institutions to educate women.”
While education was often reserved for the wealthy in the 19th and early 20th centuries, many women studying at Roehampton came from poorer backgrounds, as their studies at three of the constituent Colleges were funded by churches. Education provided them with opportunities for advancement, and many used their positions for philanthropic work.
Curator Gilly King explains, “The diversity of their achievements has surprised us all. From the first female superintendent of Woolwich Arsenal during WWI and the first female prison commissioner, to the first Ghanaian student at Southlands College in 1946 - who later led Ghana’s Education Department - these stories demonstrate extraordinary impact. Figures like Tina Bruce have shaped modern child-centred teaching, and the list goes on.”
Among those honoured is Roehampton’s first Vice-Chancellor, Sister Dr Bernadette Porter, who will attend the opening. She said, “We can all be remarkable women. Just believe in yourself and have an inner conviction about your strengths and weaknesses. Love others for what they are and imagine what they can be.”
The exhibition at Southlands College Chapel is free and open to the public from 12–2 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Visits at other times can be arranged by request, subject to the curator’s availability.
To view the exhibition brochure, please click here.
Selected profiles of remarkable women:
Lilian Barker (1874–1955)
A pioneering educator, prison reformer, and anti-poverty campaigner, left a lasting impact on the welfare of women and girls. A student at Whitelands College (1894–96), she was a brilliant yet unconventional presence, later dedicating her life to education and social justice. She championed disadvantaged women, founding an evening institute in 1913 to support impoverished local communities.
During World War I, she oversaw 30,000 female munitions workers at Woolwich Arsenal, earning a CBE in 1918 for her efforts. After the war, she revolutionised the rehabilitation of young offenders as governor of Aylesbury’s girls’ borstal and later became the first female prison commissioner. Her work provided the basis for the modern, more humanitarian correctional system. Made a Dame in 1944, she continued her advocacy until her death in 1955. She lived openly with her lifelong partner, Florence Francis, for 40 years, their home a haven for family, friends, and numerous dogs. Her epitaph comes from her own lips: ‘I have laughed more people into being good than if I had preached for hours.’
Professor Tina Bruce CBE
A leading British educator, has profoundly influenced early childhood education by integrating historical philosophies with modern practices, particularly through play-based learning and Froebelian principles. Tina explains, "Imagination is the rearrangement, the transformation, of past experience in new and fascinating ways... it is how children make sense and meaning of what they learn.”
Trained at the Froebel Educational Institute, she has dedicated her career to ensuring the relevance of holistic child development approaches. A prolific author of 29 books, including the seminal Early Childhood Education (1987), she introduced the widely adopted ‘ten principles of early childhood education.’ Beyond academia, she shaped the UK’s early years policy as the Early Years Advisory Group coordinator. She held key roles with the British Association for Early Childhood Education and the Froebel Trust. Honoured with a CBE in 2008, her advocacy continues to inspire educators toward child-centred, play-based learning.
Florence W. Addison MBE
A Southlands College alumna (1945–47) and possibly its first Ghanaian student, was an exceptional scholar and leader, elected as one of the College Curators (student officer). In 1958, she was the sole woman in Ghana’s delegation to the 13th UN General Assembly, serving as Rapporteur for the Draft International Covenants on Human Rights.
Honoured with an MBE in 1960, she was one of only six Ghanaian civilians recognized that year. She received the award for her contributions to education as a Senior Education Officer for the Ghanaian Government.
Sister Dr Bernadette Porter RSCJ CBE
Dr Bernadette holds the unique distinction of being both a student and Vice-Chancellor of Roehampton. Beginning her journey at Digby Stuart College in the early 1970s, she later earned a PhD from King’s College before returning to teach at the newly formed Roehampton Institute.
She became Principal of Digby Stuart College, then Rector, and ultimately led Roehampton’s transition to university status, becoming its first Vice-Chancellor in 2004 - one of the few female Vice-Chancellors in the UK at the time. After leaving the university, she continued her work in Catholic education as Chair of the Diocesan Education Committee and was awarded a CBE for her contributions.
For more information, contact leila@allegoryagency.co.uk
Gilly King and Sister Dr Bernadette Porter are available for interview. Journalists are welcome to attend the opening event – please email nicole@allegoryagency.co.uk to confirm your place.