Eileen Alexander was born in Wolstanton, near Newcastle–under-Lyme on 2^nd April 1911.  She studied at Dartford Physical Training College and taught in two schools before being appointed lecturer at Homerton College in Cambridge.  Eileen served in the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) for five years, where she was responsible for training PT (physical training) instructors.  Upon release from the ATS in 1945 she returned to Homerton and in 1946 became a member of HM Inspectorate of Schools.

In 1951 Eileen became the Principal of Bedford Physical Training College and oversaw huge changes to the College including the building of the new state of the art Warwick gymnasium and swimming pool in 1956.

In 1962 she presented her paper ‘Education and Movement’ at the 3^rd British Empire and Commonwealth conference on Physical Education, held ahead of the British Empire and  Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia.  She was the only female English delegate to attend.

Eileen was Chair of the Physical Education Profession Advisory Group which was set up in 1968 by the Eastern Sports Council.  The group was to examine the contribution of the Physical Education profession in the region and advise on how make a more effective contribution to the development of community sport and recreation in the Region.

Another of the changes Eileen oversaw whilst being Principal was the change of the 3-year Certificate of Teaching into a 4-year degree in Education.  The first attempt to establish the degree was in 1966 but was rejected by four votes.  A second successful attempt was made in February 1968.

Exhibition curated by Natasha Dalliday, Reader Services