Our Graduates
Politician - Olive Sinclair (nee Beveridge) (1926-1929)
This charming graduation photograph (you can just see the mortar board if you look carefully) was found glued inside the cover of Olive's copy of Selected Poems by Rupert Brooke, published in 1923. Olive graduated in English in 1929. Like so many of her contemporaries, she began her working life as a teacher, but she moved into a career in politics and in 1964 was awarded an OBE for her services to Politics through work in the European Common Market, forerunner of the European Union.
Educationalist - Christiana Odulana (1952-1956)
Christiana (front, right) was one of the first international students to attend St Mary's College. She was married when she first came to Mary's and left her husband and family in Nigeria and was united with them only when she returned home. She went on to become headmistress to several different schools in Nigeria. She finally became head of secretarial school and then Chairman of its governors on her retirement.
Media Specialist - Biddy Baxter (1952-1955)
Biddy Baxter became hugely influential in children's radio and television, as she produced Listen with Mother and then edited Blue Peter from 1961-1988. She won an award for distinguished services to TV, two BAFTA awards, and has written 38 books. In 1981 she was awarded the MBE.
Business Woman - Ann Burdus (nee Beaty) (1952 - 1956)
Ann Burdus gained a degree in Psychology in 1956. In 1979 she won the Veuve Cliquot Business Woman of the Year Award. In 1987 she became Vice-Chairman of the Governmental body handling the health promotional campaign. She became a director of AGB Research Ltd, the largest market research body, with responsibility for overseeeing the AIDS campaign. In the mid-80s she appeared frequently on Any Questions. She was awarded the CBE in January 2003.
Sports Woman - Tracy Langlands (1988 - 1992)
Tracy Langlands studied Chinese whilst at Durham University, and it was on the River Wear that she first tried rowing. She learned to scull whilst doing a law degree in Nottingham, but initially worked in Chinese Commerical Law. Then in 1997 she was selected for the Great Britain Team in the double scull finishing 10th at the World Championships. In 2002 she won the bronze with Helen Casey at the World Championships in the lightweight double.