In the second part of our series celebrating Women’s History Month 2025, we are sharing the college memories of Regent’s alumna and first female JCR President: Sarah Lenton. Last month, Sarah visited College to have lunch with outgoing JCR President Emma and talk all things Regent’s.

Sarah came to Regent’s in 1985 to study Classics. At the time, there were about 15 students in a year group (half the number of undergraduate freshers we now take in!). As remains the case today, friendships across year groups and subjects were the norm, and everyone knew one another very well. Sarah’s husband, Andrew, was two years below her at Regent’s, where they met!

Before running for JCR President, Sarah had already served on the committee for two years as OUSU (Oxford University Student Union) and NUS (National Union of Students) Representatives. At the time, OUSU was very politically important, and many people who had been OUSU President would go on to become politicians. OUSU was diverse at the time, with Independents, Liberal Democrats, Labour and Conservatives elected. Being very involved in student politics was something Sarah thoroughly enjoyed.

So, for Sarah, becoming JCR President felt like a natural continuation of the roles she had already held at Regent’s. Sarah recalls that the College probably wanted her to become the first female JCR President, well timed as it would be with a period in which Margaret Thatcher – the first female British Prime Minister – predominated. Becoming President felt like a big honour. Sarah remembers that she definitely didn’t want to be Secretary, because that was generally deemed as ‘the female role’, whereas other positions like social secretary and treasurer were more exclusively male.

But taking on the role was also an opportunity to give back to Regent’s: “I was invested in this college; it was such a big part of my life back then.” Sarah found Regent’s to be an incredibly supportive place, really appreciating the community of students and staff who always looked out for one another.

When asked how she found being the leader of a committee full of men, Sarah laughed and said that, since Thatcher was predominating in politics, it felt like the ‘new normal’. Rest assured that the Committee, though, were nothing like the ‘Grey Suits’ – “we were just really good mates – which helped!”

In comparison to recent JCR Presidents, Sarah said that her responsibilities focussed much more on social life at Regent’s. Generally, staff and College leadership “pretty much let us get on with our things, as long as we weren’t trashing the place!”

Sarah remembers the Final Fling, which stood out from other college balls because it felt so different – more relaxed, not at all intimidating, and all about having fun. There were also lots of theatrical things going on in College at the time, mostly serious plays and productions – one fellow student, a Social Secretary, went off to RADA after graduating. Although they weren’t known as BOPs at the time, Sarah fondly remembers many discos in the Regent’s JCR. Students were able to get a special license for the parties, allowing the bar to open – with its full works of spirits, beer, absolutely everything; even including a purple, white foam-topped cocktail.

As for Sarah’s favourite Regent’s memory, it was too hard to pick just one: “It was more just the regularity of us having late nights together chatting in the JCR or our rooms.” And her final words of wisdom for all Regent’s students: “Just hold onto that time while you’ve actually got the time. I know you feel like you don’t any – and it is very, very busy in an eight-week compressed term – but make the most of the ability to just have conversations about anything until silly o’clock in the morning.”