Madeleine Pottenger was born 28 February 1909 at Parkstone, the daughter of Gilbert John Pottenger, a joiner, and Clara Rosina Medhurst. She was educated at St Aldhelm’s School, Branksome, and Bournemouth High School before studying the History Tripos at Girton from 1927-1930. On leaving Cambridge, Madeleine trained as a hospital almoner. She then became a Staff Trainer in the Education Office of Selfridge & Co from 1931 to 1935, followed by six years as a reporter for the Richmond and Twickenham Times from 1937 to 1943. She became sub-editor of Newspaper World in 1943. She then became editor of Nursery World in 1948, a post she held for twelve years before retiring in 1960. Madeleine had a number of interests and voluntary positions, chiefly related to journalism: she was Honorary Treasurer of the Women’s Press Club and Press Correspondent for Ockley Women’s Institute in Surrey. She was also a member of the committee of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists and Secretary for the Surrey District of the Institute of Journalists, ultimately becoming a Fellow of the Institute of Journalists. She also undertook voluntary work for the Citizens’ Advice Bureau. Madeleine Pottenger married Charles Daniel Binnington in 1957. She lived successively at Capel, near Dorking, Surrey and Richmond, Surrey. She died on 15 July 1986. [Notes drawn from the Girton College Register Volume 1, from Madeleine Binnington’s Girton Roll file (ref. GCAS 2/3/1/59), and from the autobiographical excerpt at GCPP Binnington 1.]