Rutherford First Ladies 50 years on

LboroFamily
Rutherford Block 12 Rugby Team 1972

Block 12 Rugby team, 1972, Gill Whatmough (White), Janet Atack (Taylor), Hilary Dunmore (Sheriff), Wendy Douglas (Seeney), Anne Sutheran, Liz Hall (Cracknell), Rebecca Orring (Mills), Joy Dungey (Henman), Gill Thompson (Harper), Maureen Kirk (Hassell)

Fifty years ago Rutherford Hall welcomed female students for the first time. The residential blocks were set up differently then and the 10 girls in Block 12 established a strong friendship group.

Wendy and Anne, two members of the group, said:

"The stairs were the place where problems were talked out and stories exchanged. The group participated fully to student life in Rutherford – hall balls, shows, committees, sports." 

The friendship group is still going today.

Reunions have been taking place twice a year around the UK.

2022 is a special year for the group as it marks the 50th anniversary of joining Rutherford. To celebrate, a grand event took place in September in York. The Rutherford First Ladies met up, alongside their partners - three of which are also ex-Rutherford - and memories and laughter were shared in abundance (below).

Block 12 Rugby Team Reunion 2022

They were also joined by their husbands, John Douglas, Jamie Atack and Andy Henman. 

C‌ontact us to share your own reunion stories.