New Faces at Pembroke: Part 1

At the start of the academic year, new faces are everywhere. First-years arriving at Pembroke are bombarded with a vast array of new people, places, ideas, emails and terminology. In order to help our new students get to grips with the many exhilarating and daunting experiences of Freshers’ Week and the term ahead, some of our more recently-arrived staff agreed to share their first impressions of life at Pembroke…

Annette Hawes (Payroll Officer)

Annette started work as Pembroke’s Payroll Officer in April this year. Previously she worked for a company near Huntingdon, doing payrolls for the education sector.

Firstly, what is a Payroll Officer and what do they do?
I prepare everyone’s pay and ensure that employees are paid accurately and on time, which involves working quite closely with HR. I deduct tax and National Insurance payments according to HMRC guidance; I complete pension deductions and payments, the Fellows’ Research Fund payments, healthcare and so on.

Were you familiar with Cambridge and the College system before starting this job?
No – I didn’t do the whole university thing, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I think people are basically the same wherever you work. The payroll is quite different though – I previously worked in Cambridge at Shire Hall in the payroll department and at Next when it was in Petty Cury.

How does Pembroke compare to your earlier workplaces?
People are much more chilled here. There’s a really pleasant atmosphere. Although generally people who work here are busy, there’s always a relaxed feeling and it’s a lot less pressured than working in a business environment, where people can be quite stressed. I’ve also been learning lots of new things, which is always good – I’ve done some training in Excel, for example. For the first month I was working alongside Susan Elson, the previous Payroll Officer, and learning about the job. Susan kept everything in such good order and I’m looking forward to making the payroll my own.

You start work horribly early in the morning – what’s it like being here at 8am?
It’s lovely! It’s really quiet. You might see some of the housekeepers, people from Maintenance, maybe the gardeners, and sometimes a porter if you’re lucky. I get here early to avoid the worst of the traffic. Some of the other people in the Finance Office start quite early too, so I’m not on my own for long.

What would you say is the weirdest thing about working at Pembroke?
Definitely the people taking photos and staring at you through your window while you’re trying to work. Tourists come and wander round college and they’re not shy about taking photos! Some people in the office smile and wave at them, but it’s very strange.

What was it like the first time you saw Pembroke?
It was when I came for my interview, and what really struck me was how beautiful it was. Pembroke doesn’t look all that impressive from the outside, but I came in, met the Porters, who were lovely, and then I was shown into the College and it was just stunning. It’s such a beautiful surprise when you walk in.

If you had to choose your favourite thing about working here, what would it be?
That’s really difficult. I’m so torn between how beautiful it is, and the people – it’s really hard to choose between the two. I’m still new enough that I feel privileged to be working in such a beautiful place. And I think one of the best things about Cambridge is that you could walk down the street wearing absolutely anything, and nobody would bat an eyelid; you get weird stuff happening, like the free pianos which popped up everywhere a few years ago. You wouldn’t get that in Peterborough. It’s so diverse here and I really like that.

Matilda Watson (Library Graduate Trainee)

At the start of September, I joined Pembroke College Library as the new Graduate Trainee. The Library creates a striking impression as you walk to it from the Porter’s Lodge, through the Old Court and alongside the beautiful Library Lawn. I arrived just as all of the trees were turning golden, which provided a perfect setting for the Library, with its red bricks and stained glass windows.

My arrival coincided with a period of change for the Library, which had recently bid farewell to Peter, my predecessor, as well as having gained a new member of staff in Natalie Kent, the new Assistant Librarian. Natalie was taking over from Trish Howard, who was retiring after 24 years of service to the Library. Trish and Pat Aske, the Librarian, have carefully and thoughtfully inducted Natalie and me into the running of the library and the myriad of tasks, large and small, which that entails.

September was a busy month for the Library as the International Summer Schools came to an end and the Library prepared for the start of a new academic year. I have had the chance to attend training courses and become accustomed to the Library’s processes and procedures. The biggest learning curve for me has been the introduction to cataloguing, which has been challenging but also satisfying, especially when, under supervision, I was able to catalogue a book for the first time and put it out on the shelves ready to be borrowed!

After one month, I have already learnt how central the Library is to the running of the College. Every day the Library welcomes undergraduates, postgraduates, members of staff and Fellows, as well as visiting scholars who come to see the Library’s archives and rare books. New books and resources ready to cater to these readers are constantly arriving.

There is a definite buzz in the air as new and returning students arrive. The Library is one of the first calling points for students, and it will be wonderful to meet them over the coming weeks. I am very much looking forward to the coming year!

Dr Iza Hussin (Graduate Tutor and Fellow)

Dr Iza Hussin is a Lecturer in Asian Politics at the Department of Politics and International Studies. Her research focuses on Islamic law and colonialism. She has been the Mohamed Noah Fellow at Pembroke College since August 2014, and a Graduate Tutor since last week.

[caption id="attachment_21834" align="alignleft" width="300"] Dr Iza Hussin (far left) welcoming the new graduate students at the Induction talk last week[/caption]

What were your first impressions of Pembroke?
How beautiful it was – the clock face, and the gardens... I came for my interview last spring and the gardens were amazing. I was given a tour of the College by Mark Wormald, who showed me the charcoal drawings behind the panelling in the Thomas Gray Room, and the bloody handprint in the Yamada Room.

How does Pembroke compare to other places you’ve worked before?
I taught for three years at the University of Chicago before coming here. I think Pembroke is very intentional about being a community, without being overly earnest about it. People here are very kind and the College feels very intergenerational.

How are you finding life as a Graduate Tutor?
It’s wonderful to get to talk to the students. I didn’t have so much interaction with students last year outside of teaching.

What are you most looking forward to about the year ahead?
We’re launching the POLIS/Pembroke Asian Film Series at the start of November. The idea is to open windows onto the region for current graduate and undergraduate students by showing films about Asia and by Asian directors.

What is the most interesting thing which has happened to you so far at Pembroke?
Definitely the goose fat. Apparently, as a Fellow, you’re entitled to a jar of goose fat – I have no idea why. I got an email in December, saying it was waiting for me at the Porters’ Lodge, but I was away and couldn’t collect it. I don’t know what happened to it.

Do you have any advice to offer to Freshers who’ve just arrived?
Try to enjoy the town now, before you get too wrapped up in coursework. It’s an unbelievably rich and quirky place.