Dr David Hartley
Emeritus Fellow
Could you tell us a little bit about how you ended up where you are today?
I was an undergraduate and postgraduate at Clare from 1956, when I read Mathematics and, in my third year, the Diploma in Computing, followed by a PhD in computer programming languages. Until 1970 I was an academic doing research and teaching in Computer Science, but then transferred to the newly established Computing Service in the University where I was Director for over 23 years.
I left my University post in 1994 to become Chief Executive of the company that runs the education part of the Internet (known as JANET) and then returned to Cambridge in 1997 as Executive Director of the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC) - a not-for-profit spin off from the University.
During my career I have held various consultative positions, including advisor in IT to the Prime Minister from 1981-86 and President of the British Computer Society in 1999-2000.
I returned to Clare as a Fellow in 1986, having been variously a Fellow at Churchill and Darwin Colleges. This was a wonderful ‘home coming’ for me, finding the place changed out of all recognition since my student days. The College is a remarkably friendly institution with a Fellowship that operates by consensus, and a devoted and dedicated staff ranging from managers to bedders.
In semi-retirement, I was privileged to serve as Steward of Clare being responsible for catering, housekeeping and all the domestic functions of the College, my main task being to develop the job in advance of a more permanent appointment.