What we do and how to join
The London Girton Association (LGA) arranges regular events for its members which are publicised in our termly Newsletter.
Anyone who is an alumnus of Girton College can join and we always welcome new members. You do not have to live or work in London, although bear in mind that most events are held in the London area.
Membership is £20 pa but if you’re not in paid employment it is £10 pa. The association is run by volunteers so after meeting administrative and events costs, any surplus funds are used to benefit Girton, often current students. For instance, the LGA currently supports an annual music award for a Girton student.
If you would like to join please download an application form and send it to the membership secretary at lga@girton.cam.ac.uk.
Forthcoming and Recent Events
Further information about these events can be found in the LGA’s Newsletter or by contacting the Association at lga@girton.cam.ac.uk.
2025
Monday 10 March, Visit to the College of Arms
6.30pm - 8.30pm
The College of Arms was founded in 1484 and is the official heraldic authority for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and much of the Commonwealth. It is responsible for the granting of new coats of arms to individuals and institutions and maintains registers of arms, pedigrees, genealogies, Royal licences, changes of name and flags. There are thirteen Heralds
altogether, who are members of the Royal Household, and our guide will be James Peill, Bluemantle Pursuivant.
He will welcome us to the College and show us the main rooms, speaking about the history of heraldry, the role of the Heralds and the architecture of the building. We will then spend a good hour in the Record Room, viewing a selection of records and other manuscripts dating back to 1484. We will also hear from the conservator about some of the work of his studio.
The College of Arms is a fascinating place, with wonderful historical records. It is situated between Blackfriars and Mansion House tube stations.
COST: £28
TO BOOK: Please email lga@girton.cam.ac.uk
We need to confirm our tour by about 10th February, so please contact us sooner rather than later!
Tuesday 4 February, Tirzah Garwood – Dulwich Picture Gallery
Dulwich Picture Gallery has a retrospective exhibition of the work of Tirzah Garwood. She is better known as the wife of the artist Eric Ravilious but was a fine artist and printmaker in her own right. Unfortunately, there is no opportunity to organise a private tour of the exhibition but several members are planning to visit it on Tuesday 4February and invite any members interested to join them. Please email lga@girton.cam.ac.uk for further details if you would like to join the group.
Recent Events:
- A private tour of little-known Boston Manor House in Brentford. This Grade 1 Jacobean manor house was built in 1623 and boasts wonderful ornate plaster ceilings. We had the house to ourselves and thoroughly enjoyed the tour led by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide.
- A private tour of the fascinating new Lambeth Palace Library that was completed in 2020 and designed by Wright and Wright.
- A marvellous tour Charles Dickens Museum in Doughty Street. This is the only extant house lived in by the author and we enjoyed a fascinating private tour, seeing many of Dickens’ personal possessions, including the desk where he wrote Nicholas Nickleby and Oliver Twist.
- An online talk by Dr Amy Jeffs about her two books, Storyland and Wild: Tales from Early Medieval Britain. Members joined online for this intriguing look at these very early stories and their medieval source manuscripts. Our thanks go to Amy – and do look at her absorbing titles if you can; she has illustrated them herself with beautiful woodcuts.
Join the Committee
Have you ever considered becoming more involved in the LGA? Why not join our friendly committee! You would be made very welcome and it is not an onerous commitment: we usually organise between us one or two events per Spring, Summer and Autumn season. If you are interested, just email lga@girton.cam.ac.uk.
Book Circle
The LGA Book Circle continues to thrive, with 16 members and 70 books read to date, a mixture of fiction and non-fiction. We meet on Zoom about every three weeks or so and read both fiction and non-fiction. Our most recent read was On Hampstead Heath by Marika Cobbold, and we are currently reading Unruly by David Mitchell. We meet every three weeks or so on Zoom. Members are welcome to join – just email lga@girton.cam.ac.uk.