Even though we think we’re there for specific tasks, such as building walls or taking photographs, we are really there to help visitors make some sense of the place, according to what they want to know. It’s important to give them pointers, so that they can discover the richness of Croome for themselves.
And I still do stone wall building, restoring Croome’s boundary wall (very satisfying).
What exactly does a volunteer photographer do?
Officially I work for Tracey Blackwell, Croome’s Marketing & Publicity Officer. However, I’ve become ‘on call’ for many other people who need photos of the contents or activities around the Court, and the garden.
Over the last few months I’ve become involved in two major projects: taking record photographs of the re-development work at the Elgar Birthplace Museum in Lower Broadheath; and the current participatory art project, Adam Speaks, which has taken me to London and Birmingham to record meetings and events.
Otherwise, I take pictures of people enjoying themselves at Croome; staff and volunteers at work; events such as the return of the Coventry Collection; new items in the Shop, and so on.