Hatfield Record 2021
Jonathan Rooney, Acting Assistant Master February to April 2021
Notes from the Acting Assistant Master (February-April 2021) To sit down and write this note has been an incredible opportunity to look back and reflect on the incredible year that we have experienced. Every aspect of College life has been impacted in some way; the response has been brilliant to witness. In my short time at Hatfield as a small cog in the system, I have been able to see and help a wonderful cast of characters that have come together and been tested like never before. I would like to thank Professor Ann MacLarnon for her continued leadership and dedication to the College in this trying time. There has not been a single area of College life that has not seen an impact of the restrictions in some form. The restrictions themselves have even been an ever-changing challenge and the whole community of staff and students have come together brilliantly to ensure that people here are safe and secure.
In the last edition of the Hatfield Record, Professor Anthony Bash was looking forward to the appointment of a new Assistant Master and Katie Stobbs has been an incredible source of support for both students and staff in taking up that position. Katie’s dedication and professionalism led to her stepping up as Acting Vice-Master for Epiphany Term onwards. Michaelmas Term saw Gareth Weaver-Tyler join the team as Acting ViceMaster and the groundwork he put in place enabled a smooth transition for me to come in for the Epiphany Term as Acting Assistant Master. I would like to thank both Katie and Gareth for the incredible support they offered me. One of the biggest challenges Hatfield faced was the use of our site in a safe manner. Households, mealtime slots, booking systems for music practice, gym, Multi-Use Game Area (aka the tennis court) and even for the bar have taken a huge amount of administration and our student executive has stood up to the challenge with aplomb. I can seldom recall a week in which David Embleton (College 19
