Univ Record 2018

mentally ill intruder who
had rushed into the Hall
and was hurling High
Table chairs with great
force towards him, and
sustained visible injuries.
Univ is possibly more
open to security risks
than many other colleges
because Logic Lane,
bifurcating its full extent,
is a public right of way.
Bob managed the growing
security paraphernalia
of CCTV, railings, gates
and electronic locks –
reluctantly but realistically
accepted by the College –
with tact and efficiency. His training was in the military and police but in his open
and welcoming approach to all he encountered he was more the alert and observant
receptionist than the suspicious sentry guard. He was even polite, if firm, to illegal car
parkers.
In his application for the position Bob Maskell wrote that he had always wanted to
be the Head Porter of an Oxford college. It was true and it showed. He loved Univ: he
was part of it, proud of it, and promoted it. On graduation days, usually at weekends,
he was always there to find and fit a gown for every graduand. He created a successful
business (for the College) out of Univ memorabilia for tourists, with Univ teddy bears
proving, against the scoffing of Fellows, to be the best seller. He organised the annual
Christmas raffle, conjuring extraordinary prizes from only he knew where. He sang in
the scratch College Chorus. He played star performing roles in the College’s promotional
videos. He acquired and nurtured Univ’s tortoise, Percy, with zero success in the annual
intercollegiate tortoise race, probably through overindulgence.
The Lodge is often the first port of call at Univ for applicants, freshers, guests and
casual visitors and as such the public face of the College. Oxford college lodges have not
always been models of assiduous customer care. Bob made sure that the team of porters
under him were helpful, outgoing and resourceful. He was the spirit of the College.
JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOWS
Sir Ivor Crewe
Three of our Junior Research Fellows have come to the end of their time at Univ
this year. DR PAULA KOELEMEIJER, Junior Research Fellow in Earth Sciences,
DR WILLIAM POTTER, Junior Research Fellow in Physics and DR JOSEPH LACEY,
Junior Research Fellow in Politics. We wish them the very best in their future careers.
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