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̽��ֱ��event, held in the grounds of Newnham College proved quite a spectacle as many of the College members, alumnae and the family and friends who accompanied them took up an invitation to come in Victorian-themed fancy dress.

Further attractions included a Victorian Punch and Judy show courtesy of the Cambridge Folk Museum and an opportunity to get to grips with Victorian-style schooling under the stern - and frankly rather frightening eye - of a Victorian school-master supplied by Cambridge Assessment. ̽��ֱ��Whipple Museum even provided zoetropes operated by Queen Victoria herself!

Over 500 people attended the event on Saturday, aimed at encouraging alumnae to return to show their families where they had studied. They were blessed with sunshine and the Victorian swing boats were especially popular with long queues forming for a chance to experience Victorian fairground thrills.

Karen Rodgers who read Modern Languages in 1984 and who volunteered to man the Victorian skipping stall said:

“ ̽��ֱ��Old Fashioned cycles really made the whole thing feel authentic and the enthusiasm was infectious. We had a steady stream of families for the Victorian skipping with traditional rhymes, one or two at a time, mostly girls (some very good) but there were a couple of lads and some dads who came and really gave it their best!

Penny Hubbard, Development Director of Newnham says she has received many enthusiastic thank you’s.

“ It is clear that this unusual event really struck a chord, reaching out to many who had not been back to Newnham for some time and enabling those with small people in tow to enjoy meeting other Newnhamites in a special alumnae celebration.”
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