I was particularly looking forward to meeting Lucy Lewis, the first female Cambridge University Marshal in over 800 years of the university’s history. Cambridge is a beautiful city boasting architecture from bygone times but very much in step with the ‘now’. I made my way to our meeting place up a cobbled street. Having introduced myself to the receptionist I waited for Lewis to arrive. What an entrance … she greeted me with a palpable energy, resplendent in her traditional (now ceremonial) ‘uniform’, with top hat and mace. We immediately repaired to the Senate House Building.
Lewis was walking and talking en route as she strode towards the Senate House with tourists agog in her wake as they quickly reached for their phones to take a snap. We approached the door that all the graduands enter prior to exiting through the Doctor’s door once they have graduated. Once inside this great structure, she explained that although it was also formerly used for meetings of the University’s Council of the Senate, it is now mainly used for the degree ceremonies of the university. Lewis preceded to describe the graduation process. She demonstrated how the graduands enter through the door we had just used and are then presented in the Senate House, college by college; in order of foundation or recognition by the university, except for the royal colleges. The graduands are then brought forward and presented to the vice-chancellor for the degree they are about to take.
Lewis said: “The ceremony is still conducted in Latin.” She went on to explain the procedure in even more detail. Lewis then walked and talked me through the ceremony of where everyone stands and the order that they process in and out this magnificent structure. “After presentation, the graduand is called by name, the vice-chancellor, then states the relevant Latin statement and finally confers the degree. The now-graduate then rises, bows, and leaves the Senate House through the Doctor’s door.” This is where he or she receives his or her certificate, into Senate House passage. Lewis’s vivid description made the entire ceremony come alive. She also walked me through where she stands on the square, on the podium, entering through one door and leaving through the Doctors door as Cambridge graduates had done for hundreds of years.
Every spot was symbolic and worked out to fine precision, so that on the day the ceremony should run like clockwork. It is always a joy to meet security professionals in their work environment. Security locations are always different and from LA to UK, I have been very lucky meeting such interesting and talented people going about their daily work. I was enthralled with the traditions and ceremonial aspects of her work. I compared the traditions in academia with those of the City of London. I explained that like she I was ‘First Lady of the Company’ of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals (WCoSP).
We talked about how women in all sectors both public and private are now forging ahead. Although for some of us it has been a long journey, in relative historic terms we have accelerated at a supersonic pace. It is only 100 years ago since women got the vote and women of my age and even young women are assuming roles that make them the first female to do so. Security is now becoming a career choice for women at last and they are becoming successful in line with their ambitions. I am proud to say that this magazine recognises the contribution that women have made to the profession and each year we present awards to female security professionals from across the UK and abroad. There was so much to talk about in terms of security, but it was time to leave this wonderful space and head off to the marshal’s office.
As we stepped out of the Doctor’s door it was somewhat thrilling to think of the people that passed through those doors who would influence our nation; politicians, scientists, doctors, poets, spies! We made our way through cobbled stoned court yards to the office where we sat to talk. I informed Lewis that I had been living in LA and how sad it was seeing the universities being set alight and campus eruptions due to the shut-down of freedom of views and speech. I asked, has Cambridge succumbed to this type of exclusion of views? I had always thought that university was the place to broaden one’s mind … not close it.
Lewis replied: “We take freedom of views here very seriously. It is our job to maintain the right to free speech in the university.” We agreed how important it was to be open minded in every walk of life but especially on the campus of all universities. We chatted for ages about the role of the marshal in terms of modernity and ancient times. Today the role has responsibility for two main areas. First, assisting the Vice-Chancellor and the wider ceremonial team to perform ceremonial events year-round, which includes royal and VIP visits and church services and of course the graduation ceremony.
Secondly, supporting the Proctors in protecting good order and precious freedom of speech. To assist Lewis in her role, she explained that she has a team of almost 30 University Constables. The history is fascinating, and Lewis explained that originally the officers were appointed under the Universities Act 1825 for a disciplinary and ceremonial role. That role now has to take into account health and fire safety and diversity requirements as well as the culture of an academic community. Security professionals in every sector will appreciate the balance required to meet everyone’s expectations. Lewis knows exactly what it feels like to be a University Constable … she had been a University Constable for eight years before her appointment as Marshal.
These hallowed halls of learning are not an everyday workplace … every cobble stone is steeped in history. It was exciting making our way back to the Marshal’s office. Again, the tourists were thrilled to capture the moment on film. Once back in the office we settled done to discuss Lewis’s background further. Firstly, she spoke about her team and all the great work they do. She said: “I really enjoyed serving as a member of one of the oldest constabularies in the world. I have been able to transfer the skills, traditions and experiences that I gained over the past eight years into my new role.”
I asked how does it feel being the first woman as Marshal. Lewis replied: “I am deeply honoured to be the first woman to be appointed to the historic post of University Marshal.” Lewis then went on to describe how cohesive the team are and how they come together to make the congregation ceremonies and university events safe, orderly and memorable for all. She further explained that although the Constabulary still patrol the precincts of the university, their role now is to act as a security and stewarding service for the university but the ‘policing’ is left to Cambridgeshire Constabulary with whom they have an excellent relationship.
This is not the only area of security that Lewis has prevailed in, nor her first ‘first’. She joined the Army in 1989 and while serving with the Royal Engineers she became the first woman to operate as a bomb disposal officer. She is also a knowledgeable and qualified security professional with over 30 years of experience in policing and law enforcement supported by initial training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Lewis is practised in training and leading complex teams. After she transferred to the Royal Military Police serving as a staff officer in the Ministry of Defence she then retired as a Major in 1998 to start a family.
During that important period in her life she created a portfolio career to suit family commitments. She attained a First-Class Law Degree LLB (Hons) and a Certificate in Accounting. She also became a business woman offering a range of services: public speaker (including national events such as International Women’s Day), retail sales and auditor, field marketing and brand auditing. Her experience enabled her to also offer monitoring and compliance and work for exams award body Edexcel-Pearson. She also created a business out of one of her favourite hobbies working as an antique dealer, specialising in the restoration and sale of vintage fountain pens.
In September 2009 she became a Visiting Lecturer at Cambridge Regional College & North Herts College. She taught Military Legal Studies to international students. Lewis also has a National Diploma in Public Services teaching Employability, Understanding Discipline, Response to Major Incidents and Emergency Services and completed the Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) course. In 2010 Lewis became a University Constable.
All this expertise has stood her in good stead to take on the unique role of Marshal. Lewis is a great security character and has so much to say about all things security but having a daughter she is also an advocate of Women in Security (WiS) and after our conversations relating to WiS I asked her what she would say to aspiring female security professionals. She said: “Women can do anything they set their mind to.” We ended by talking about how not long ago women had to be door-kickers to get through the door and that now the door is open. She concluded by saying: “Just widen the door.”
