Esme Smith

Former Domestic Bursar Esme Smith passed away at the end of 2025.

Remembered by Dr Arthur Mawby

Esme Smith was appointed Domestic Bursar in 1978 by Richard Davies during his short but excellent Wardenship. She came highly recommended from Allen Hall, where she had occupied the same role, and she brought to us a new level of competence and professionalism from which the Hall was to benefit enormously for the next quarter century. Step by step, cooks were replaced by Chefs, the caretaker-handymen was replaced by skilled craftsmen, and the quality of the housekeeping was driven upwards. Yet throughout, she kept the closest eye on the budget, and at the end of every month was waiting apprehensively for the release of the Hall’s monthly operating costs; she helped ensure that St. Anselm Hall operated consistently in credit. She worked seven days a week long into the evening - hours which would shock a modern trade unionist - insisting only on the one unbreakable rule of being able to take her beloved dog (all but one were English bull terriers) for a walk during the Hall’s the early afternoon lull.

Esme was presented with a portrait of an English bull terrier upon her retirement

Throughout her 25 years of service, I was Senior Tutor, Acting Warden (three times) and then Warden (for the last thirteen years), and we collaborated closely. The early collaboration was particularly necessary as a number of Richard’s successors (under whom we both served) were less than fully committed or were seriously undiplomatic in their dealings with the students. One of Esme’s never-acknowledged contributions to the Hall occurred when the situation under the worst of the last-mentioned offenders was becoming impossible, and she made an unprecedented appointment to see and explain all to the Deputy Registrar. By then, her quality and integrity were so well acknowledged throughout the University that her intervention precipitated corrective action.

"In a typical fashion, she did not want anything for herself, but was happy to receive something for her pet Staffordshire Bull Terrier. In fact, Simon Walsh found a painting of one of the breed in a London gallery, and she was happy to accept this plus an array of gifts for her dog." - An article published in Floreat upon the occasion of Esme's retirement

As Warden, I was always aware how fortunate I was to have the material side of the Hall’s operation in such competent and committed hands. This general awareness acquired particular force during the two great building operations on which we collaborated – first the design and building of Canterbury Court (while I was Acting Warden), where she played a formative role in deciding operational issues; and secondly, coping with every aspect of the consequences of the disastrous fire which put Summerfield and Manor out of action the day before the end-of-year exams were due to begin in 1996. The wide reverberations of the latter operation governed the lives that summer of not just the then Senior Tutor, Aiden Hargreaves-Smith, and myself, but also of Esme, uncomplainingly as usual. Thereafter, the rolling refurbishment of the whole Hall, which continued for years, was greatly enhanced by her competence and managerial skill.

Her qualities were widely acknowledged, and led inter alia to the University of Salford twice trying to entice her away to a much more senior (and better paid) central administrative post. However, each time, after due consideration she chose to remain at the Hall. This is perhaps remarkable as she was not what one might call a clubbable person. She had no wider family of which I was aware, and just a few close friends. More remarkably, though she was most conscientious about students’ welfare, and would go to great lengths for students, she was perceived by many as distant and somewhat fierce – an impression quickly allayed amongst the student officers and Tutors who dealt directly with her, many of whom became good friends. Crucially, she was wonderfully understanding of the character, routines and requirements of a collegiate community, and so helped enrich the experience of large numbers of St. Anselmians. Sadly, in retirement she chose to withdraw from contact with all her Hall colleagues (despite my own attempts to keep in touch), and I was deeply sad to learn that she died alone.

Arthur Mawby

Memories of Esme by Charlie Barlow

I imagine that the majority of my contemporaries will remember "Miss Smith" as rather stern and a "woman not to be trifled with". When she joined Slems I was the Socials Secretary which required us to work together - so I was fortunate to meet Esme the person, not just Esme the domestic bursar.

She always gave me a hard time when I put socials proposals to her, usually resulting in me defending some sort of action by the JCR. But once she had put me in my place, she was always wonderfully supportive of the JCR. In those early days of her tenure, she never showed favouritism to any student, but acts of kindness towards her, such as some chocolates as a thank you, would be repaid many times over.  Entering her house was a rare honour (and required careful canine management) but once there I found a kind and funny person who liked to chat and gossip with a frightening grasp of the goings on of the members of the JCR.

Many of the happy memories from my era were as a result of Esme's support. Her work (and that of her team) for the multiple social events held every year was crucial and very much taken for granted. Whether it was hot drinks and baked potatoes served outside for the bonfire parties, the extra sherry for the exchange dinners with other Halls, various "hall discos" and our annual formal black-tie dinners she was always there in the background making sure it all ran smoothly. And always noting what went on so she could remind you of it later! I don't think I ever saw her flummoxed at even the most challenging situations such as when we constructed a large castle in the Open JCR as a cocktail bar, or when she came in to breakfast to discover a student's room transposed onto the stage at the end of the hall, with the unaware student still asleep in their bed.

 Sadly, not enough of us realised how much she did for us and just how much was "above and beyond", but she was a true Slems hero.

Charlie Barlow