Introducing our Collections Care Volunteers
Jon
Jon worked for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust from 1971 until he retired in 2020. He worked across all of the Shakespeare family homes in various guiding roles including Chief Guide at Shakespeare’s Birthplace. He has volunteered in the Collections department since 2021.
Will
Will previously worked for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust from 2017 to 2019 in security and as a Coach Park Attendant. He currently works in security at the headquarters of a luxury car manufacturer. He has been a Collections Care Volunteer since 2021.
Rodger
Rodger spent his professional life in London working in genetic laboratories for various hospitals. After retiring in 2015, Rodger moved to Stratford and started volunteering at Shakespeare’s New Place as a Visitor Welcome Volunteer in 2016. Since 2021 he has been a volunteer with the Collections Care team. He also volunteers at the Guild Chapel in Stratford.
Gail
Gail has worked at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage since 1980 in various roles from guiding to retail, and she currently works there as a Visitor Services Assistant. She joined us as a Collections Care Volunteer in 2022
Why do you volunteer for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust?
Gail
I feel privileged to have had paid work with the Trust for 43 years and volunteering is my way of giving something back. Being part of the team is like having a second family.
Jon
I wanted to do something different from guiding and all the other things I’ve done with the Trust. I’ve always been interested in the collections, especially because I’ve grown up with them. It’s also a way to pay something back, plus working with the team keeps us young!
Will
It’s local for me and I have worked here previously. I have used it to build up my skills and try something new.
Rodger
It’s convenient for me as I live locally, and being retired I have time on my hands. I have an interest in local history so I started volunteering for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 2016 at Shakespeare’s New Place. After the pandemic I wanted to carry on volunteering but I wanted a change, so that’s why I applied to be a Collections Care Volunteer.
What have you enjoyed most about volunteering?
Will
Getting up close and personal with the collections and discovering the interesting stories behind them.
Jon
I have enjoyed projects involving cleaning and packing up objects in the collection stores and I enjoy feeling part of the team. I feel privileged and honoured not only to handle these amazing objects, but also to contribute towards our knowledge of them. Many of the objects I recall seeing on display in years past (as objects are regularly rotated) and it’s like seeing old friends again!
The Collections department would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful volunteers who have given their time in support of the museum, library and archive. We are incredibly grateful and it’s lovely to have you all as part of the team.
Find out more about our Collections Care Volunteers in part two tomorrow where Amy asks them about their favourite items in our collections and what they’ve learned while volunteering for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
If you are interested in volunteering with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust visit our volunteer page to see the latest opportunities.