This blog post was kindly written by Alexander Ogilvie-Graham, a regular front of house volunteer at Fulham Palace.
Volunteering in March 2021 we are at the end of our third Lockdown. It feels to me that I have had training times 10 as a security in a pandemic. There is more than meets the eye. It can be tiring being constantly vigilant yet I was proud to be there for the palace during the lockdown
I think that Fulham palace is a hidden gem. This Cottage is the icing on the cake and reminds me of the Halloween film from Hocas pocas.
I am here at the entrance of the beautiful cottage with my two old Flatmate’s.
It is a skeleton staff during lockdown. It was just me my career and the on-site manager. It was a brilliant role that Rachel Bagnall Bray created.
Over the 2020 lockdown, Fulham palace became vital to my mental health because of the daily walks in the walled garden. Fulham palace became a home from home.
Every Sunday for two months it would become routine to waltz to the palace for my shift. In Lockdown the shift kept me alive and focused.
Benji Simpson and I patrolling the beautiful gardens in Lockdown.
Volunteering on Sundays and doing my general sweeping of the Grounds and the gardens.
During Lockdown 3.0 our shifts were now 2.3 half hours. My afternoon shift would start at 2.30 and finish at 5 pm. I signed up for 2 months every Sunday for volunteering at the palace.
It was a lifesaver during the last lockdown to be outside in the gardens. Or patrolling around the palace. Field marshal marshalling in the field. It was a gift from the hand of god to still feeling valuable in a time of crisis. Overall it was a privilege to guard the museum and to be there in its hour of need.