And what of Philippa?

Philippa Fawcett, only child of Millicent and Henry Fawcett was born in 4th April 1868. Just sixteen when her father died, his loss meant that Philippa and her mother had to move to the house in Gower Street which was owned by her Aunt Agnes.

As befitting the child of parents who were committed to the emancipation of women, Philippa was gifted with an excellent education. Her schooling began at Bedford College so named for its original location of 47 & 48 Bedford Square, Bloomsbury. She then went to Newnham College, Cambridge, which had been co-founded by her mother.

Philippa had inherited her father’s gift for mathematics who had been named as seventh wrangler in the Cambridge Tripos (degree exam). As a woman, she could sit the Tripos but would not be awarded a degree. When the results of the Tripos were announced, Philippa was declared to be ‘above the Senior Wrangler’ having secured 13% more marks than the foremost male student.  It would be a further 102 years before a woman, Ruth Hendry was officially declared a Senior Wrangler. Philippa’s contribution to the First World War saw her delivering post in the North of England, a rôle usually reserved for men. 

Philippa devoted her career to teaching, first as a lecturer at Newnham College, then in South Africa before taking a rôle in educational administration for the London County Council. Never awarded a degree by Cambridge University, she was amongst the ‘steamboat ladies’ who were so honoured by Trinity College, Dublin. Philippa died in June 1948 a mere month after Royal Assent was given which allowed Cambridge University to grant degrees to women.