The term applied to the people who really run the University by providing technical, clerical and similar services. The Assistant Staff Board, previously a Registry committee, was set up in 1973, following the establishment of the office of Personnel Officer in 1971. It has since been subject to administrative re-organisation, merging in November 1999 with the Work and Stipends and Staff Development Section (General Board Division) to form the Personnel Division, but there continues to be an Assistant Staff Office in Trumpington St. See https://www.hr.admin.cam.ac.uk/.
