Cynthia Short (1926-2018)

摘要

Cynthia Hill was born on 25 April 1926 at Harrow, Greater London, the daughter of Stuart and Dorothy Hill. She was the eldest of three sisters, all of whom were encouraged by their parents to get a good education and pursue professional careers, an admirable and rather unusual stance in the pre-war era. She was educated at Bromley County Grammar School for Girls and worked hard to win a state scholarship which afforded her the means to take up her place at St Hugh's to read Modern History. Life was not easy during the war: Cynthia did several of her final school exams in the air-raid shelter, and rationing meant that fuel and food were scarce while she was at Oxford, with supper often comprising little more than a sardine on toast. Nevertheless, with characteristic determination, she gained a very good degree at St Hugh's.