THwomen40: Profiles
Cathy Staveley (1983)
Economics and Law
Landscape gardener
“Don’t necessarily do what you think is expected of you by others”
How do you look back on your time at Trinity Hall?
I loved my time at Trinity Hall. I felt it was the perfect College – one of the most beautiful, just the right size, ideally located and with all the best people. As undergraduates we were sometimes accused of being insular but with such a close knit community we didn’t really feel the need to spend much time elsewhere. My memories are that I divided my time between the University netball courts, the tennis courts and the College bar; but I guess I also spent some time in the library too.
How did your time at Trinity Hall impact on your career?
I continued with law and became an Articled Clerk at Freshfields where I met my husband, so it certainly had a big impact on my future life! After leaving Freshfields I did a PGCE and taught in a primary school for a number of years before having our five children. I now have a small gardening business which has been up and running for about twelve years now. Perhaps I was inspired deep down by the beautiful gardens and borders all around the College!
Do you have any advice for other women looking to work in your field?
I can certainly say that my present career is my most fulfilling and enjoyable. I would strongly advise anyone to follow their passion and not necessarily to do what they think is expected of them by others.
I can still remember the moment 40 years ago when my dad got a newsletter from Trinity Hall announcing that women were going to be admitted and he joked that I could be going to his old College…