The Fifth Decade: 1959 – 1969

Published 17th May 2019
My Lord becomes My Lady The 1960’s was a time of profound social change. The abolition of capital punishment, legalisation of homosexuality and abortion, the introduction of the contraceptive pill, and the Married Women’s Property Act affected women’s rights in everyday life. More girls than ever before went on to higher education and in 1962 there were over 26,000 women at university. In this programme, we discuss Dame Elizabeth Lane, England and Wales’ first woman High Court judge; women in the judiciary and public office; and the role of networks, leadership and flexible working. Special Guests: Frances Burton – Retired barrister and judge and Senior Lecturer in Law at Buckingham University. The Rt Hon. the Baroness Butler-Sloss GBE – The first female President of the Family Division of the High Court, member of the House of Lords and Chair of a number of public inquiries. Dame Janet Gaymer DBE QC (Hon) – The first woman senior partner of international City firm Simmons & Simmons, former Commissioner for Public Appointments and until recently non-executive Director of the House of Commons Commission and Chair of its Administration Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. Susan Roscoe – Partner at Linklaters specialising in contentious restructuring and insolvency, asset recovery and tax litigation.
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