Handsome, intimidatingly brilliant and somewhat unhinged, The Dean of College is a force of nature. Little is known about The Dean’s personal life, if he indeed has one, as he takes his role very seriously indeed. Answerable only to The Master (and often, not even him), his primary objective in College is to ensure everything is done in the correct way, which is, of course, his way. The Dean’s area of academic excellence lies in law and he is unusual among The Fellowship in that he actually had a highly successful career out in the real world before taking the mantle of Dean at Old College. He has travelled widely and has a worldliness that is noticeably absent in many of his learned colleagues. Often unintentionally hilarious, his bombastic mindset is both terrifying and awesome to behold. He carries himself with the kind of justified arrogance one cannot help but admire and he is truly the power behind the throne at Old College. His influence reaches to the very top of The University itself and he is a man to be crossed at one’s peril.
Despite dedicating himself to a totalitarian rule of Old College, The Dean still finds time to indulge in (and often instigate) the exploits and investigations that arise from the Porters’ Lodge. His great sense of adventure means he has no qualms about covering up murders, nor even embarking upon a sham affair with Deputy Head Porter. He has limited tolerance for foolishness and insists that whisky is the only proper beverage to be consumed after elevenses.
The Dean has always been my very favourite character of Old College. He is enormous fun to write as he really can do or say pretty much anything and get away with it. One of the original cast, he is based quite heavily on the real Dean from my time as an actual Deputy Head Porter. DHP’s admiration for The Dean comes from my own open-mouthed veneration for the larger-than-life, stentorian gentleman that would strut about College as if he owned the place. His literary namesake is quite obviously an exaggerated parody; the original possesses a very dry sense of humour (which, by his own admission, was subject to failure on occasion) and a consummate professionalism that the Old College version lacks. I am incredibly tempted to introduce you to the real Dean, but he is even more fearsome than the Old College version and if he isn’t amused, vengeance would be swift and definite. I fear nothing and no one – except the Dean of College.
Lucy Brazier 
I wonder how the Dean feels about DHP having acquired a love interest. Unless, of course, ’tis he…
DHP has always had a soft spot for The Dean, but he would make a difficult romantic partner, I reckon. She is resigned to the fact that nothing will happen between them (for now, at least – possible spoiler wink wink) She has herself another love interest, although he is equally as unlikely. DHP won’t be getting romantically involved any time soon because I have no idea how to write romance… 😉
Difficult partners are the most (fictional) fun! Just read the love scenes in Sebastian Faulks’ Birdsong and then you’ll know all the pitfalls to avoid… 😉
Hmm now you’ve got me thinking! A farcical romance with an unlikely partner might be fun. I will certainly look it up, I am intrigued.
In my mind the Dean was older – now I have to run through everything with a fresh perspective – especially the fake affair. Love the background – and I hope more are coming.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
– ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
Don’t you hate it when a writer ruins your image of a character? 😉 There are more character pieces coming up – next is Junior Bursar!
Xx
Not ruined – improved! xx, mgh
Hurrah! This is actually my good friend John – the picture doesn’t really do him justice as he is a good looking fellow. He teaches English and Music and is ridiculously talented. Also bloody awkward, which made him the perfect choice for The Dean
Xx
VERY good looking fellow. His appearance has rewritten the Dean for me. I don’t know where I got the idea the Dean was older – so many Deans are, I guess (in my experience, anyway).
Like I said, the affair excuse and follow-up comments make sense from a whole new perspective. Interesting, huh?
xx, mgh
I guess I had an idea of him in my head when I was writing, based on the real Dean, so it always made sense to me. The power of the Internet brings characters to life!!
Xx
It’s fascinating to hear other points of view, yes? The i-net makes that easy (as long as people comment, that is).
xx,
mgh
It is the commenters that have built PorterGirl, really! I have gained so much from doing this all online. It’s scary at first, putting it out there, but it has really paid off. I am very grateful 🙂
Xx
You get a lot of comments and continue to build a community of supporters because you *always* engage back – and so engagingly, too. 🙂
You also have a very creative way of involving your readers as you write. I believe we are all looking forward to the time we will able to say that we knew you when!
xx, mgh
Oh my I hope you all still know me then, whatever the future may hold! Apart from anything, I still need you all to help me along with feedback and madcap ideas. PG is what it is for many reasons, and it would be foolish to abandon a huge one of those reasons just because I reach a certain level of success. In many ways, the readers are part of the world – a much needed and loved supporting cast. Every time I log on, I thank my lucky stars that I have such brilliant support. I don’t know if you have noticed, but the comments section is often the most creative and entertaining part of the post and to me that speaks volumes!
xx
Not “the most” – but certainly a contributing factor. I almost always read them for that reason. I have subsequently visited the blogs of some whose frequent comments intrigue me, and now have new blog buddies – so they are most certainly part of the world. Good job building it.
xx,
mgh
Thank you! There are some super blogs and bloggers out there, I am so pleased you have found some of my favourites. The whole blogging experience is very conducive to creativity, I think all modern writers should at least try it.
Xx
I agree. I have found the writing community most engaging – and amazingly supportive of one another. Not sure why, but it’s not something I’ve seen a great deal of in the coaching community (oddly enough), unless money is involved, of course.
Some coaches have said thanks for the support they received from me, but support BACK – especially online – seems to be in short supply for the most part. Perhaps, as ADDers themselves, many are overwhelmed with everything else they have to do to stay on track, but it has always struck me as odd, not to mention hurtful.
In any case, my heart has been warmed by the caring behavior of the writing community in blog-land.
xx,
mgh