Acts of kindness are an everyday occurrence for the Porters of Gonville & Caius College. When the recipients of these kind acts express their gratitude, the acknowledgement is heart-warming.

Porter Michelle Whitehead, pictured, was delighted to receive a letter and a small gift from the United States last week. The gift was from an alumna with whom Michelle had spoken last year. The alumna had visited Old Courts on a first trip to Cambridge in years and was welcomed ‘home’ by Michelle.

The alumna wrote: “You could not have been nicer. You set down everything you were working on to say hello, and to chat for a moment about current life at the school, and how wonderful it continues to be. It was likely a blink of an eye on a random weekday for you, but it was an incredible moment for me.”

Michelle’s conversation included a discussion of her former role, working at Cambridge Women’s Resources Centre, which was a place for women to go to get education, training, support around domestic violence, and put them in touch with support groups. 

And Michelle was touched to learn a donation was made in her name to a US resource and shelter that the alumna has worked with herself. 

“I know it's been months now, but I was determined to let you know that your kindness, your hard work, and your general wonderfulness is both seen and appreciated,” the alumna adds in her letter.

The alumna mentioned in her letter a saying from a friend: “Think Globally, Act Locally.” As Michelle demonstrates, our Porters act locally with a global effect.