Just after the Busy Christmas season, I heard a rumour Miranda was planning on running Tour Guide training, something she has not undertaken for several years. I did not want to miss this opportunity of being trained by Miranda, and as I had been doing Taster talks at Reception for some time, I was really keen to find out if I could take this further and become a full Tour Guide. I told Miranda my hope and she added me to the group.
So training started, firstly with classes with Miranda on a Tuesday each week, learning the route, the correct format, introducing our selves, how to address the Tour, explain what our Tour covers, time scale etc, making sure we could be heard by all, we discussed the do's and don't regarding our audience, health and safety, making sure all needs were recognised, Pointing out possible resting areas, for people to sit etc.
Then in the following weeks practising each section, with notes and guidance from Miranda or one of the current Tour guides, who's advice was invaluable.
An experienced Tour Guide, Alan Malcom, with a tour group at Fulham Palace”
We were given home work, in the form of reading materials from Miranda on each section of the Tour route, and encouraged to research and ask any questions from either Miranda or current Tour guides ourselves. Both I must say were so helpful, with the endless questions I myself asked them.
We then progressed onto our own practice runs, once a week several of us would get together, choose a section and do the whole tour, giving each other feedback as we went along. By this stage several of the original group had dropped out, which was something Miranda had spoken to us all about at the start, explaining it was not unusual and nothing to be concerned about. Life can get in the way and some may find they have other commitments elsewhere which take over.
In the end it came down to just two of us, myself and Chantal. We carried on with practice, each taking a turn doing the tour.
Miranda then said she felt we were ready for assessment! A date was fixed that suited everyone, 9th August was chosen for our assessment. All we had to do was decide between us which sections we'd do, so we worked out the tour, decided to break it up into 8 sections, taking 4 each, put each section on a piece of paper, folded and asked Val at Reception to witness us choosing from a cup.
A tour group exploring a chapel on a Volunteers' day trip!
Funny thing is we each choose, the four sections we least liked, and agreed to split the difference and swap two each.
So on the 9th August we took our assessment, Miranda had arranged an assessor, Pat Astley-Cooper who is a Trustee of the Museum of Richmond. (I was pretty nervous) but she was so kind and put me at ease immediately. And I'm happy to say we both passed. With some areas each we need to keep working on, well no one's perfect!!
Grateful thanks to Miranda, and all the Tour Guides for your knowledge and patience during this process.
Lee Copeland, Visitor Reception Volunteer, Events Assistant and Volunteer Representative