Shirley Williams at Somerville College

A huge event for us today was a discussion between Baroness Shirley Williams and Alice Prochaska, the Principal of Somerville College, mainly on the Baroness's life and views. Williams  attended Somerville as an undergraduate and went on to become one of Britain's leading political figures, notably as a co-founder of the Liberal Democratic party in 1981.  It was an utterly enthralling and fascinating two hours, led wonderfully by Alice's probing questions, beginning with Williams's upbringing and how she became a Catholic. Her mother was Vera Brittain (also a Somervillian), an eminent pacifist, writer and much more. I have never heard a more engrossing informal speaker than her daughter.  

.Marylee has known Alice and her husband Frank since the late 1960's, when she spent three years at  Somerville and then London. Alice is retiring as Principal of the college in the fall--another theme of today's meeting. We had a wonderful visit with them two years ago.