How did you find yourself at Sutton Hoo?
I remember the exact date I joined the team - it was 25th February 2002! My family have always been ‘National Trust people’ so when I moved to the area from Cambridge, it seemed like a natural decision to work here.
In Cambridge I had been a riding instructor and dabbled with a bit of retail. The National Trust took a chance on me, and here I am, nearly two decades later.
What does your work as Retail Manager involve?
My aim is to find new ways of making our visitors say ‘wow, I didn’t expect that’ and helping them to feel inspired by the stories here. I’m always looking to reflect the original and special nature of Sutton Hoo in our products and to bring the story of the royal burial to life.
Each day my team looks to add something extra to our visitors’ experience - we love creating personal memories and special moments for our guests.
How have you been preparing for the site’s re-opening?
We’ve spent time building relationships with local suppliers and artisans. It’s been wonderful to play with new product ideas inspired by the exquisite Anglo-Saxon treasures discovered in the Great Ship Burial and the natural landscape that surrounds it.
We’ve also found new ways of supporting our suppliers, helping them to build even more sustainable businesses through their relationship with us, which is really gratifying.