Jurrie Menkman. Photo Guy Ackermans Fifty years minus four weeks. That is how long practical assistant Jurrie Menkman will have worked for WUR when he retires this summer. ‘If it were up to me, I’d stay on for another year.’
His fifty-year tenure would take place on 15 August of this year. ‘But my birthday is on 15 July, when I turn 67 and must retire’, says Jurrie Menkman. ‘I have already trained my successor, and I will focus on cleaning up, checking the storerooms and getting lists updated in these coming weeks.’
How did you end up at WUR?
‘My father worked at Tropical Plant Breeding when I was a young adult attending the Technical College. He knew the lady responsible for HR and asked her whether she knew of a job for me. They said they would give it some thought. Two weeks later I got a call inviting me for an interview later that day after school. I talked with the manager at Organic Chemistry on the Dreijen for an hour or so and was directed to HR on the Heerenstraat immediately after that to sign my employment contract.’
Have you held the same job all this time?
‘No, I held different positions. I started out as a practical assistant for bachelor students. WUR used to have a glass-blowing studio at which I worked, and I worked as a janitor for a while. However, I spent most of my years as a practical assistant, and that is also my current job. My colleagues and I get the practical equipment ready, and I prepare the required solutions. The teaching staff do this with us by discussing the required protocols ahead of time.’
‘When the glass-blowing studio was privatised, I was offered the opportunity to switch jobs and become self-employed. I didn’t want to because WUR is a great employer. The differences between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research in terms of salary, long-service bonuses, and leave do annoy me.’
In what ways has WUR changed over the past fifty years?
‘In the past, one look was enough to see what programme students were following. You would see the farmers come to the campus on Thursday afternoons in their grey woollen socks and wooden shoes. Biologists were also easy to spot. And practicals with many female students were more than likely a practicals in the field of nutrition. Those differences have become less obvious,’
What will you do once you retire?
‘My wife and I are on the waiting list for a golden retriever puppy, which, if all goes well, will be born in about two weeks. So, I will go on many walks once I retire. Moreover, I like to do handiwork, and my garden needs some attention. I have enough to keep me busy, but I will miss my colleagues. We are well-aligned and hardly need a word between us to know what’s what.’
