The Volunteers of Fulham Palace

Alexandra Palumbo - Volunteer Events Assistant

 

When did you first come to Fulham Palace? 

I just arrived in Putney three months ago, so when I caught sight of the park I thought it must have been a nice place to go visit in the future, but I didn’t have a clue it was so large and important in the area. This summer, as I was looking for things to do and visit around here, I ended up on the website talking about Fulham Palace and I went to have a walk and see with my own eyes! It’s through the website I saw there were volunteering vacancies and I decided to apply.

What is your role and what does that involve?

I started as an Event assistant, which means I will be involved in the administrative and practical tasks to prepare this season’s events. I would also like to have a go at learning activities, and why not communication if I can do some time.

How often do you volunteer?

I try and come at least once a week, but I hope to come twice on the weeks I have more free time.

What is your favourite thing about Fulham Palace? 

I like the fact it is completely quiet and you have a feeling as if you were out of the city for a moment. It is a beautiful place, and the Palace itself as well as its garden and outdoors, so it is difficult to say one favourite thing. It would either be the history of the place which I find really interesting or the walled garden.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?

The fact that I feel like participating to a good cause, which is protecting and bring out a piece of the English / London heritage, meeting new people and learning things for myself.

Would you like to share anything else about your experience?

I have just started so I cannot say I have already a huge experience of the place and the work here, but I am looking forward to it!


Sense of Place Survey Findings

Over the last few months, many visitors to the Palace & volunteers have kindly completed one of our Sense of Place surveys. These surveys aimed to find out how people currently use the Palace to inform our future plans as we prepare our Round 2 funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to carry out additional restoration work to the building and improve interpretation across the site.  Eleanor Sier our Education Officer has put together a summary of the findings you can read by clicking here. 

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Hazel Coppicing Workshop

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Monday 25 January 1.30pm-3.30pm, we are offering five free palace for volunteers on our Hazel Coppicing Workshop. (normal price is £20 per person.)


For more information and to book a place click here.

 




The Recent Volunteer Christmas Party

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Thank you all who attended the recent volunteers' Christmas party and made it such a lovely evening.

We had a great turn out with fifty seven volunteers mingling over mince pies and Miranda's mulled wine. The Chairman of the trustees Tim Ingram and Sian our Chief Executive both gave a short talk and thanked all our volunteers for their work and support over the past year. To have a look at the photos click here.

If you took any photos yourself please do share them with us and we will add them to the gallery. For directions on how to upload your photos via Dropbox please click here or email us for more details.

 

 

Free Christmas Taster Sessions

Hammersmith and Fulham Adult Learning and Skills Service are offering free taster sessions for a number of different skills on Monday 14th December.

You could learn how to:

  • Make your own chocolate truffles
  • Try floristry
  • Gift wrap in style
  • Dance a Ceili
  • Make a stained glass decoration for your Christmas tree
  • Learn QPR’s story
  • Decorate festive biscuits

Taster sessions take place on Monday 14th December.

All sessions are FREE and take place at:

Macbeth Centre, Macbeth Street Hammersmith W6 9JJ

For more information visit www.hfals.co.uk or call 020 8753 3600


Reciprocal Visit: London Transport Museum Depot

When you think of Transport for London (TfL), the first thought that comes into your mind is the crowded underground or a diversion bus. Well, my mind has changed after visiting the London Transport Museum Depot, in Acton Town, on Friday 13th November with a group of fellow volunteers and Fran, our Volunteer Development Officer.

We had the honour, as Fulham Palace volunteers, to get into this collection for free and as part of a special tour run by few friendly volunteers. This amazing warehouse is only opened to the public for special open weekends and guided tours. You can find more information in their website here. 

I would define it as the history of a city through its transports. Buses from the beginning of 20th century that show the evolution of the industry,  people's lifestyle and the evolution of the public services in London. You can even see how poster adverts on buses has been developed through the years.

We had the opportunity to go inside one of the first Metropolitan line train couches and experienced the textures of the old wood and seat materials. We literally travelled  in the time.

The posters and signs were one of the favourite parts for all of us. You can see how the designs and the way we advertise have changed with the time.

Below are some quotes from other volunteers who attended the tour.

“It was a privilege to get really close to the original artwork for the LT posters, underground maps (including the iconic ‘Mr Beck’s’).

Then we were amazed to see not only the actual rolling-stock, trams, trolley-buses and buses from the 19th to the late 20th centuries, all displayed in the vast Depot Shed; but also to view a comprehensive collection of much smaller items, such as uniforms, and cutlery plus crockery from the old LT staff canteens.”
— Jane
“We had a very good tour of the Depot in Acton. From horse power to steam to electric, we wandered this vast warehouse through the ages. One tube carriage had sat idle and was used as a make-shift home but was later restored to its original condition: a plush, velvet upholstered private car with blonde wood ceiling, gilded mirrors and brass fixtures. I felt like I was on the Orient Express! I also enjoyed having permission to look at the poster collection with original graphics and sketches. ”
— Kathy
“It was genuinely interesting and something unusual. It was very kind of the volunteers to give up their time and I really appreciated it. ”
— Steve
“It was fascinating and a privilege. ”
— Vicky

If you want  to know more about this tour please visit the Image Gallery where you can find a new folder with pictures from the visit. If you went on the visit and took any photos please do share them with us and we will add them to the gallery. 

Don't worry if you missed this tour because we will have more visits soon. Keep an eye at this blog and the Calendar page.

 

Marlen Armendariz

Volunteer Communication Assistant

Looking to book onto a volunteer slot? Please click the blue button below.

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