D’MOUTH AT WORK Dartmouth at work
The holiday season is in full swing. The following Dartmouth workers effectively ‘man’ the town’s shop front and have a unique insight into what attracts and exercises our visitors most. Interviews by Steph Woolvin
Lesley Turner and Sue Stone Dartmouth Tourist Information Centre
How long have you ladies worked at the TIC? We’ve been joint managers for nearly 4 years. We’re great friends as well as work colleagues and Sue’s northern humor can always bring a smile to a sometimes hectic working day. What makes the job fun? Meeting a wide range of people, all ages, all nationalities. Everyday is different. We enjoy managing the volunteers, sorting the accounts, promoting Dartmouth, working with other towns and even get to climb aboard cruise ships, anything can happen really. What is the first thing you do when you come in, in the morning? Put the kettle on! We read through countless emails and prepare for the busy day ahead. Then we make sure everything is current; no out-of-date leaflets are allowed! What is the most commonly asked question in the summer? I’m here for an hour, what can I do? What is the worst part of the job? Being the ‘face of Dartmouth’. We are often the first port of call whether it’s dealing with parking issues, lost keys, dogs in hot cars or rubbish. From the visitors’ point of view it’s understandable and we always try to go that extra mile but we’re self-funded so it can be a strain on our resources. Do you have to travel far to come to work? No! We only walk down the hill. Lesley had a slightly longer journey when she lived in Kingswear. She does miss the banter with the ferry boys! August is your busiest month, how does the workload differ? We often have to do longer hours but it’s the most rewarding time for us. We love helping families plan their time in Dartmouth and there is a real buzz in the office. We can get more than 800 people a day through our doors so it’s all hands on deck! Our visitor numbers are growing annually and last year we received over 114,000. We are always looking for more volunteers; if interested, contact us at www.dartmoutheverytime.
co.uk
Lesley (l) and Sue (r)
Are people often queuing up at the door then, before you open up in the morning? Yes, sometimes we have very early visitors and we always invite them in. We also have people knocking on the doors when we have closed, often European visitors. They have been out for the day then decide to pop in and sort out some last-minute accommodation.
So you are ready for the big one….Regatta?
Oh yes! It’s very exciting at this time of year. All our staff and volunteers have had their summer training to make sure they are totally up to date with events. We started getting phone calls in January, with people asking what time the Red Arrows will be displaying!
So Lesley… Favourite film? Any musicals. Meal out or take away? Meal out. Beach holiday or city break? Both!
And Sue, now your turn ……Hotel or camping? Hotel. Dogs or cats? Dogs, love dogs! Fish & chips, curry or Indian? Fish and chips every time.
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