Basic HTML Version
Annual Review
2010/11
34
Interview
When did you first come to Oxford?
I came to Oxford in 1973 after taking the
old entrance exam for a place to read
Classics at Exeter College, which also
turned out to be my first visit to Keble. I
was called to Keble for an interview with
Mr Adrian Hollis; unfortunately as I had run
all the way from the White Horse public
house, and had trouble finding Keble, I
became quite ill during the interview and
was physically sick. However, I gained a
place and came to Oxford to read Classics
in 1975-and then it all went downhill!
How did you do?
I must admit I did do a lot of faffing about,
but my finest hour must have been playing
Mr Toad in a production of “The Wind in
the Willows” , floating down the river on a
wooden stage by Grandpont House.
I managed to gain a half-blue in fencing,
play cricket for my college, and receive an
honours Degree. I was originally awarded
a Third, but 28 years later when I finally
decided to graduate, my certificate had
been upgraded to a Second. I don’t know
why, maybe it was because it took me so
long to get around to it.
What next?
After Exeter I became the Assistant
Manager of the Emperors wine bar in
Broad Street in 1979. I then worked for the
Tate Gallery restaurant in London, where
tasting fantastic wines was just a normal
part of the job. Later an old mate of mine
from college bought the same Emperors
wine bar where I again worked, but this
was to close during the recession of 1984.
My employment path has taken me to
many varied bars, restaurants and hotels,
including (believe it if you will) Trust House
Forte at the Pear Tree service station
as a Shift Supervisor, The Kings Arms,
Woodstock and Wheelers in Chancery
Lane, London– the Group’s Flagship
restaurant - as Manager.
Why did you choose Keble?
I originally applied for the Bar Manager’s
job in 2002, after I was made redundant,
but was not successful (I believe it was
thought that I was too experienced) so I
took up a post at Hertford College. The
Hertford job was not to last long.
Janet Betts (Keble’s Domestic Bursar)
soon called me to ask if I could help out in
Keble Hall until the end of the conference
season. Well, what can I say? The
temporary help lasted three months, then
another three and I am still here, and I can
still remember the day I first stepped foot in
to the Hall, back on 26th August 2002.
And Finally………for now!
I would not swap my time at Oxford and
Keble for anything; whatever the season,
just walking into the grounds of Keble
lifts the soul, and the “Keble Family”
- academics, students, staff and Old
Members - are all delightful.
Penn Bateman
Student Administration Manager
G
erard McHugh is responsible for overseeing the Keble College Hall, Bar and
Café. He joined the College in 2002. Born in Sunderland, Gerard was an only
child. Gerard’s parents were both Head teachers, and Gerard first went to school
in Sunderland but then at eleven went to school at Worth, Sussex, where he
stayed until the age of eighteen, and where his love of classics was born.
Gerard McHugh
Hall & Beverage Manager