When it came to choosing the Campus Celebrity for Her Campus Manchester’s Launch Week, Norman Gillson seemed the perfect choice as a memory of student accommodation. As the Ashburne & Sheavyn Hall Warden, he keeps “the peace” about town, which he persistently complains makes him seem like “an interfering busybody”. Lighthearted and most definitely a student at heart, Norman tries to create and uphold a sense of community for the year, both for the new students (Freshers) and those Post-grads who have already mastered the “tightrope walk” of living in student halls, “Come to a party in the common room and meet people, but be very quiet once it’s finished” is the usual juxtaposition.
Originally from Torquay in Devon, Norman arrived in Manchester in 1976, during the summer of the “big drought”. “The only rain I saw in 4 months was the four days in September when I came to look for work. It poured down of course”, says Norman, the weather nothing like how it is today as the rain, as per usual, continues to pour down. He started work at the University on the 2nd of October, 1978, as an assistant cook in a woman’s hall at Uni. “I was only going to stay there until I had trained my new puppy, who was ripping my flat to pieces” he remembers, but he instead fell in love with the community spirit of the hall and decided to stay. Twenty-four years later he not only is Warden, but also the Events coordinator for Fallowfield, the biggest student hub in Manchester.
I ask Norman what his proudest work and non-work achievements have been and am astonished with the eclectic response: “I have cooked a 7000 year old menu from a pyramid wall for an Egyptology conference, and have stayed up ridiculously late with the crew from Fresh Meat.” However he quotes his favourite as “organising the uplifting and joyful conference – Cancer Self Help. Boy, do those guys know how to party.” It’s not all professional work however, as most of you know when it comes to Freshers, there’s quite a few “lads” who enjoy messing around. When asked about funny moments as Warden, he replies with this story –
“I had to get up one night a couple of years ago as someone was in the grounds with a megaphone. I took it off him and he ran away just as three lads at the top of Sheavyn opened their window and threw eggs at the guy with the megaphone. Me! They were all very good shots and I have to say that it took until the next morning for me to see the funny side of it.”
Given the masses of students that swamp you at University, especially the 50,000 that live around Manchester, each member of the community needs something to define himself/herself. Norman went on the very first Gay Pride march in London, although “it wasn’t called that then”. He recalls that “there were only about 200 of us”, and continued that support when walking in the first University entry into the Manchester Pride Parade last year. “I only waited 40 years in between to join in again!” When asked about his future, Norman admits the “countdown to retirement”, which is fair enough after almost 40 years of dedicated service to both the University of Manchester and the hundreds of students that pass through Fallowfield every year.
However, retirement won’t be the end for Norman, as he’s considering working at the International Society, so we won’t get worried that he’ll disappear from Fallowfield. I can vouch personally for the amazing help, time, and consideration Norman gives to every student who passes his way, and I think it’s fair enough to say that he could definitely be the Best. Warden. Ever.
(Photo credits to Norman Gillson)