Head Porter, Gerald Meade, has worked for Peterhouse for 18 years. He told us about life at Peterhouse, his favourite place at the College, and the resident ghosts! Peterhouse is one of the Colleges on the Bridge the Gap walk route this year
OC: How long have you been a Porter? And what did you do before you were a porter?
GM: I have been at Peterhouse since 1994 and Head Porter for 18 years. Before that, I was in the army, starting as a junior soldier at the age of 15 in 1968. I left as a Warrant Officer in 1994.
OC: How would you describe your role as Head Porter, and what is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
GM: My role involves leading a team of six porters and heading up security, making sure the College is in safe hands in the quiet hours. Student welfare is a major part of my job and the most rewarding, especially seeing them arrive looking nervous, watching them getting carried away in Freshers’ week, and then putting on my top hat and tails and walking the graduation parade to Senate House. Handling post and parcels is now a big part of our job with everyone shopping on line. Fire safety and First Aid also play a major role.
OC: Where is your favourite place in Peterhouse and why?
GM: The Deer Park because every season has its own story. In the Spring, it has all the flowers coming out on show. During the first part of summer, you see the students lying in the park studying, and in the main summer season every other year we have a May Ball with old students attending.
OC: What do you think makes Peterhouse so special?
GM: Peterhouse is a small family-sized College where everybody knows everyone. If something is wrong everyone pulls together and helps out.
OC: What is your favourite little-known fact about Peterhouse?
GM: Peterhouse is the oldest and smallest College in Cambridge.
OC: In your opinion, when is the best time of year in college and why?
GM: Christmas time! We have carols in the chapel, dinner feasts in Hall, new students come for interviews, and when it snows it’s even better.
OC: Can you tell us about one of your most unexpected experiences to date as a Porter?
GM: There are several stories about ghosts at Peterhouse. In the late 90s, there was a report of a ghost in the Combination Room. Two butlers were working in the Parlour and when they went into the Combination Room they heard a noise and saw what they could only explain as a mist going from left to right in the room.
OC: What should Open Cambridge walkers look out for as they pass through the grounds of Peterhouse?
GM: The route through Peterhouse will take walkers alongside the beautiful Chapel, through the Old Courts and pass the Tudor-Gothic style Whittle Building, a new purpose built student accommodation that was opened by the Prince of Wales in 2015.