Margaret Eileen Lloyd Clifford (22 February 1912 – 19 May 2007)

Eileen Clifford was born the daughter of schoolmaster Frederick Charles Smith and Elsie Lloyd. A local girl she was educated at Huntingdon Grammar School and then Girton College, Cambridge where she read English and then History for Part Two.

She began her career teaching these two subjects at schools in the region, rising to become Senior History Mistress at Bedford High School for ten years.

In 1957 she married George David Clifford and settled in Cambridge, where she began supervising Girton College students for the historical tripos.

A year later she became member of the history faculty and in the same year joined what was known as the Dining Group.

The Dining Group was established at a time when there was much discussion concerning women's university education in Cambridge. In 1950 Cambridge had a lower proportion of women undergraduates than any other university in the country. The proportion of female to male undergraduates was just under 10%, compared to nearly 20% in Oxford and 23% nationally.

Not surprisingly, discussion amongst the Dining Group centred on how a new undergraduate college for women might be founded, and they were not alone in their discussion. A similar group had already raised the question of a third undergraduate college for women in Cambridge with the Vice-Chancellor in 1948.

The two groups worked independently, before coming together in 1951 with proposals to the Vice-Chancellor and Registrary as to how a new foundation could be constituted. This initiative gave rise to the establishment in 1952 of a ‘Third Foundation Association', from which emerged New Hall in 1954.

The original aim of the Dining Group to establish a new college for women was thus taken over by the Third Foundation Association.

However, the Dining Group continued in existence, and turned its attention to the increasing numbers of graduates, both research students and particularly senior members involved in teaching, who were not fellows of colleges, and thus somewhat isolated from collegiate life. It redefined its purpose and aims as:

"To have concern for the problems of academic women in Cambridge, and by providing practical assistance and the stimulus of regular social contact, to encourage academic achievement in teaching, learning and research."

In November 1964, when Eileen was its Steward, the Dining Group applied to the University for recognition as the Lucy Cavendish Collegiate Society, setting out in its Trust Deed to be responsible for the care and discipline of research students working for higher degrees or diplomas and women, not necessarily so engaged, who wish to re-equip themselves for professional careers by advanced study, or by obtaining higher qualifications”.

The University granted formal recognition in July 1965.

Lucy Cavendish Collegiate Society started life as an ‘Approved Society', a new category of institution established in 1964 which gave the University the power to recognise institutions of a less formal and more experimental character than is implied by an Approved Foundation.

In 1971 the University amended its Statutes, so that Approved Societies were no longer to be restricted to graduates only, and Lucy Cavendish Collegiate Society accepted its first undergraduates in October 1972. Another milestone was reached in 1984 with the granting of Approved Foundation status, and in so doing satisfying the University of its academic respectability, financial viability and possession of a written constitution.

Finally, in 1997, the College was granted a Royal Charter and became a fully self-governing college within the University.

Eileen Clifford had been Steward of the Dining Group from 1959 to 1965, then a Fellow of the new Lucy Cavendish College. She served a term as Acting President of the college in 1976. On reaching retiring age in 1982 she left the Governing body, to be elected an Emeritus Fellow a year later.

Lucy Cavendish Law Fellow Jillinda Tiley said: "Eileen was very much a people person. Having no children of her own, the college was effectively her family and she took enormous pleasure in seeing the college grow in prominence. She was a loyal supporter of college events and was a great encourager of generations of Lucy Cavendish students."

Eileen Clifford's funeral will be on Thursday 7 June at 1.30pm at St Andrew's Church, Girton. Family flowers only.