Unsung Hero 21/10/09 16:12 Page 46
46 Monday 26/10/09 thePublican Book your tickets today at www.thepublicanfda.com
The finalists
UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR
ELAINE BLAKE
THE FACTS
Office Administrator
The Devonshire Arms, Beeley, Derbyshire
• Type of pub: Young’s
managed
• Age: 75
The Devonshire Arms is a village pub and destination dining and accommo- • Length of service: 33
dation venue on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District. It has strong links years
with the Duke of Devonshire’s estate nearby. Elaine Blake has worked at the • Wet/dry split: 80/20
pub for 22 years and is known for her helpful attitude towards customers.
Please detail your career history.
Elaine began working at the Devonshire Arms in 1988 and has held a series
of posts within the pub over the intervening period, involving cooking, clean-
ing, book-keeping and organising events.
Please describe your role in the pub.
Elaine manages the office and takes care of a number of back-of-house duties,
but also gets involved in menu design, recruitment and training of staff. She
advises guests on how to spend their time in the area and will devise specific JOANIE CLEMENT
activity packages for them, including hot air balloon rides or fishing trips.
The Nightingale, Balham, London
Describe an initiative that you have been involved with.
Elaine is proud of the menus she designed, with striking colours to match the Joanie has been working behind the bar at community local the Nightingale
Duchess of Devonshire’s colour-scheme in the main dining area of the pub. for 33 years. Now 75, she is one of the two longest-serving members of staff
She feels the design enhances the identity of the pub. within the Young’s estate.
Why should you win this award? Please describe your role in the pub.
In the words of Devonshire chef patron Alan Hill: “Elaine is being put forward Joanie brings the community together, according to customers and her
for this award because every day she goes the extra mile for both customers manager Lee de Villiers. Customers come in specifically to see her and if she
and colleagues. From the minute she arrives she interacts with everyone, isn’t working they come back when she is. She waits on tables and serves
ensuring guests are 100 per cent satisfied.” drinks, cleans the pub and trains new staff.
Describe an innovation that you have been involved with.
The Nightingale Walk, an annual charity event, has raised more than £500,000
in its 30 years. Joanie writes in the pub’s newsletter, launched in 2007.
THE FACTS In what ways do you support your team?
Joanie leads by example, treating everyone as if they are important.
• Type of pub: Village According to Lee: “She makes you feel as if you’re having a drink in her front
pub/destination diner room, which is infectious and spreads throughout our team.”
• Style of outlet:
Freehouse What training have you undertaken?
• Number of bedrooms: The pub has regular individual and ‘team buzz’ sessions and Joanie has
8 completed Young’s due diligence training. She has also trained in preparation
• Length of service: 22 for the company’s mystery visitor programme.
years
Why should you win this award?
Lee says: “Joanie is an inspiration not just to those who work here but to the
customers that come in every day. If I could be half the person she is, I would
be very proud. She is the heart of our pub and community.”
Four years... thousands of pubs...
hundreds of MPs... thousands of pints...
WE ARE PROUD OF PUBS,
ARE YOU?
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