Christina Sharp appointed first female president of the Lit & Phil

May 27 2009 by Barbara Hodgson, The Journal

Barbara Hodgson meets the woman who’s making history as the first female president of one of Newcastle’s oldest institutions

A NEWSLETTER is going out this week to members of The Literary and Philosophical Society and alongside the usual snippets of information will be some momentous news.

In a shake-up of tradition, a female president has been appointed for the first time in its 216-year history.

Whether this will raise the odd eyebrow remains to be seen, but members can be reassured that the Lit & Phil, which has been quietly going about its business in Neville Hall, Westgate Road, since its move there in 1825, is in safe hands.

Christina Sharp, a member for 20 years, is amiable and seemingly not one to cause ripples for the sake of it.

The 54-year-old, who lives in Glanton, Northumberland, with her cat and husband – a historian, antiquarian and also a Lit & Phil member for 40 years, who now holds the position of secretary – is mindful of the honour of following in the footsteps of the great and good.

These include engineer Robert Stephenson, inventor Joseph Swan and architect John Dobson, all past presidents, who helped shape and finance what is now the largest independent library outside London.

“I’ll be dragging the society kicking and screaming back to the 19th Century,” she jokes. This heyday for the Lit & Phil marked a time of huge popularity with the public.

Christina loves the beauty of the listed building and the oasis of calm it offers in a bustling city, calling it “a precious space in the middle of town”.

But those past presidents were, after all, exceptionally forward-thinking men, so there’s nothing to say it can’t make room for some changes. They’re hardly radical ones: Christina would like to see members more actively involved; and, while membership continues to grow, she wants many more people – of all ages – through the doors, even if they just want a coffee and a chat.

Sitting in one of its ornate reading rooms, she recalls how a friend introduced her to the Lit & Phil.

“The first time I came here 20 years ago, I walked through the doors and up the main staircase and was struck by the numerous names of the past presidents. It never occurred to me that they were all men.

“They were major industrialists and philanthropists: the real movers and shakers of their age. I thought how wonderful it must be to be president.

“And when you walked into the library, you saw this enormous space, which smelled of books, and the light flooding down through those huge glass lamps and people sitting around a table, having a coffee.”

Naturally, it never entered her mind that her own name might one day be engraved on the panel of presidents. When this happens, it will fill the one remaining space, but she hopes there will another plaque and that she’ll be the first of many women in the role.

Her chance came through voting changes brought about when the Lit & Phil became a limited company in January 2008. “So, I’m not only the first woman president; I’m the first president to be elected since it became a company,” she says.

“It’s very much a question of writing the rules.” She adds: “I’d like to see a change in future so members do directly elect the president.”

She points out that those philanthropic Victorians wanted to put something back into society and were only too keen to see as many people as possible, women included, have access to a rich cultural life.

“This was never a gentleman’s club. The records show women members were admitted in 1804.” Christina takes up her position at a challenging time for the institution, amid talks of a possible merger with the adjoining Mining Institute; another listed beauty with a century-old lecture theatre and Royal Charter.

While some say a formal merger would help protect the future of both, others fear the loss of independence.

For her part, Christina says there is a long process and much consideration to go through before a decision is reached. It seems she’s keen to preserve the Lit & Phil, but maintain the links it already has with its neighbour. “I was elected on the premise of openness and an accountable and independent Lit & Phil.” That doesn’t disregard amalgamation, but is an awareness that both institutions have a proud history and their own identity.

“After all, there’s a permanent doorway between the two buildings and we’ll continue to co-operate in as many ways as possible.