Tim Connor Hits Trouble by Frank Lankaster Page B

you want me to bring anything … any notes for modules that I might introduce?
    ‘You could do. All you really need is a notebook or a diary. To be honest we’re so near the start of term that you’ll have to teach to the existing curriculum. But we can talk about all this later. So, see you in the
Mitre
at four.’
    ‘See you then. Cheers.’
    The
Mitre
turned out to be an old Tudor-style pub, with an open forecourt that extended to the river pathway. The battered timber of its outer shell looked original. The interior clearly was not, although the low wooden roof beams and wall paintings of rural scenes were a decent stab at retrieving tradition. Hampered by the low-key lighting and thick support columns Tim struggled to pick out Henry. Finally his attention was caught by the flapping of a newspaper to the accompaniment of assorted incoherent noises.
    ‘Hey … ay … ere … hey.’
    Behind the newspaper was Henry. Two pints of bitter were already on the table. One was half empty, the other untouched. Tim greeted his new Head of Department.
    ‘Hi. Nice pub but not the easiest of places to find someone in. I guess this pint is for me unless you’re drinking two at a time.’ Tim grinned at his own chancy humour but nothing about Henry suggested the need for formalities. He sat down opposite him.
    ‘It’s yours. Yeah it is a bit dark inside, but I like that. You found this place easily enough then?’
    ‘No problem. It was only when I got inside that I got lost. Is this your regular watering hole?’
    ‘One of many.’ Without too much difficulty Henry adopted an expression of mock decadence. ‘And before you get too comfortable, why don’t you bring in your round? I’m about done with this pint,’ he picked up his glass, emptying it with a gulp.
    It soon became obvious that Henry had no intention of providing Tim with a detailed job description. He pushed a timetable across the table, mentioning that he had left most of Thursday blank so that Tim could continue with his research. That was more or less it. What he really wanted to talk about emerged soon enough.
    ‘You know, I don’t usually talk about job interviews; why somebody gets a job or not I mean, but in this case it’s a bit different. You need to know how the wheels of powerand decision making turn in our small world. You’ve probably worked out how the panel split, anyway.’ He glanced at Tim, gauging his reaction. ‘You don’t mind me talking about this? I suppose it is a bit unethical but I don’t always go by the rulebook; there are so many rules and procedures these days I don’t even know most of them. Anyway more was going on in that panel than just straight interviews.’
    ‘Really? Go ahead, feel free. I’m no ritual conformist myself. Some rules do more harm than good.’ He checked himself. It was a bit early in his career at Wash to start unloading his opinions. And he was more interested in hearing what Henry had to say. ‘Fire away I’d be interested to know what kind of impression I made on the panel.’
    ‘Good point, you’re entitled to a feedback session. This is it. Straight and above-board. The two women, well, originally it was only Steir on the panel with the other three of us. But she insisted on another woman - a fair gender balance she called it. In fact she wanted three and three but Swankie refused to set a precedent. But he caved in to the extent of letting her bring her mate along. As it turned out the two women wanted to block your appointment. It was mainly Steir. They might have got their way if Aisha Khan hadn’t already been appointed. They were determined that a woman should be successful.’
    ‘Regardless of merit?’ Tim was sceptical.
    ‘Well, they seem to see more merit in women than men.’ He hesitated for a moment, uncertain that Tim was on side. ‘You need to understand they want to take over the subject. They’ve been moved from the Ridgewell site to Green Park. The college is being