Name: Anthony Bash

Age: 53

Job: Solway fellow and chaplain at University College, Durham - a wonderful post, part-time college chaplain and part-time researcher on the New Testament, which I took up six months ago.

Salary: About £22,000. A working wife balances the accounts.

What is your background? I was a solicitor with a second first degree in theology and a doctorate. I was also a vicar for some years and honorary lecturer in theology at Hull University.

What are your working hours and conditions? I happily work far longer than the 35 hours-a-week I am contracted to. I live on site and so students tend to come to my college flat. I also work evenings and Sundays.

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How many students do you work with? I am chaplain to all 650 students in the college and the senior common room and staff. I'm also a college tutor and there are about 30 students in my group.

What has been your biggest challenge this year? As I am not part of an academic department, it is odd doing research without the benefit of interacting with colleagues - and it's odd not lecturing after having done so for many years at Hull.

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What has been your worst moment in university life? I am going to participate in an 13km college run so I am now in training (painful). The run involves stopping at 23 pubs and drinking 14 pints of beer en route. Fortunately, the students have agreed I can do the run without drinking the beer (can't stand the stuff).

What is your working space like? I have a delightful office in Durham Castle - networked for my PC - and couldn't ask for better.

What university facilities do you use? College is a great place to work, socialise, eat and relax. My colleagues are as congenial as one could ask for.

Do you socialise with people at the university? College social life is hectic and I haven't quite mastered grace in Latin yet - I hope that God knows what I mean.

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Who have been your most difficult customers? The university maintenance officers do their best but it can take a long time to get things done. Having a front door that would not shut, and a bathroom and WC with no lock was a novel experience in the gales of last January. It gave a whole new meaning to the idea of "open-plan living".

What has been the best excuse for bad behaviour? The fire alarm was activated because a student used too much spray-on deodorant.