Richard Brain

Joined 2004
Housekeeping Facilitator

Richard joined Keble following a phone call from his sister. As he explains, “Nepotism was a tried and trusted recruitment method back then. She said they wanted someone strong but not too stupid. Obviously one out of two was good enough.” Eighteen years later Richard is the most senior member of the Housekeeping Facilitators, more affectionately known by generations of students and staff as ‘The Men’*. “Ask the men” is the solution to many a Keble conundrum.

Whether setting rooms for Fellows, dealing with a complicated college event or tackling a busy conference season, Richard meets every task with the same cheerful optimism.

Away from Keble, Richard is passionate about art. It is a passion that began many years ago when a teenage boy popped into the Ashmolean to shelter from the rain, it quickly turned into an obsession and forty years later Richard graduated from the Open University with a BA (hons) in Art History. Richard admits his own artistic endeavours are less formal but he can boast of having a number of cartoons published in national newspapers over the years.

When not carrying tables and chairs or poring over old masters you might find Richard at a birthday party duelling with over excited, sugar saturated children. Under the guise of “Professor Splendid” Richard has been entertaining children at parties, fetes and on stage for over twenty years.

Richard’s love of entertaining blossomed into the Keble staff children’s panto, and for the last sixteen years Richard has written, directed, and performed in this festive Keble tradition. Also helping out the big guy when he was too busy to come himself.

Richard’s hearty laugh, cheerful greeting and emphatic “splendid!” drifting across the quad is reassuring evidence that someone somewhere has asked the men.

*Keble is an equal opportunities employer.