I'm a Lancashire lass with two daughters. I have three grandsons, all born in Yorkshire; a great reason for me to move to this beautiful county of North Yorkshire. The weather is so much better this side of the Pennines, too!
I worked for a very large communications company, enjoying many various roles ....I got the clock on my retirement, after 40 years service!
Behind the scenes saw me (the claustrophobic, height fearing Jan), being offered the chance to go up to The Dome, in the Great Hall.It was a spur of the moment event, I had no time to think about it....so I went for it!
With much encouragement from those around me, I managed the spiral staircases, and ventured out onto the balcony to be met with the most spectacular views. Both out of the windows onto the estate beyond, and down into the vastness 80' below me. To see the painted ceiling, The Fall of Phaeton, up close, was also special. Now, when I meet visitors, I can give them my first hand experience of scaling the heights, and they love it.
If you like history, making new friends, welcoming and engaging with visitors in stunning surroundings then Castle Howard is a wonderful place to volunteer. There are so many different ways to learn about the place, joining the tours, online talks given by the curators, guided walks on the estate, hands on sessions, and of course notes for each room.
You learn at your own pace, and it is surprising how quickly you acquire the knowledge and stories of the family and estate, to hopefully make the place come alive for our visitors.