My Volunteering Journey

By Lindsay Parrington

I was idling down Church Street one afternoon. On approaching the John Moore Museum, I thought to myself, you know what I’m going to visit the John Moore, right now, hang the expense. A full three of your English pounds, if you are old enough!

So I did. Donning my mask, I stepped over the threshold and unknowingly stepped into the world of volunteering. I had heard of John Moore. I knew of him, but nothing of his life. I had passed the row of rickety old houses hundreds of times, but knew nothing of their history. For me it was the beginning of a new chapter of learning!

The Abbey Lawn Trust Cottages on Church Street

Now if that sounds a bit pretentious and posey then so be it. I walked around the museum fascinated with the collection of ancient farm implements ( I grew up on a farm) and absolutely loved the tour of the Merchant’s House, given by Angela, who I later discovered was a volunteer. How could she be so knowledgeable and not be a professional? Before I left, I asked about becoming a volunteer. I left with a handful of information leaflets and a form to fill out. The rest if you will pardon the pun is history. I am now a fully-fledged volunteer and give tours of the Merchant’s House myself. I love it. Informing the public about this rich Tewkesbury history is my favourite part of the volunteering role. Simon, Curator and Kirstie, the Learning & Access Officer, are so very knowledgeable and are prepared to answer any of my questions, no matter how daft they may be.

I now know a bit about John Moore. Some of the stuff I have learned about him is a revelation. John Moore was an eco-warrior. He was telling whoever cared to listen in the 1960s about the dangers of exploiting and abusing our planet. In his book, The Year of the Pigeons, he said: “It is not entirely out of the question that despite man’s ingenuity the insects might beat us in the end. If they do it will be because we haven’t used our biological knowledge but instead have employed Chemists as our hired assassins to kill our fellow creatures in their caveman fashion, ignorantly, wantonly, wastefully.“ Now Moore was not talking about global warming back in ‘63. No one was. However, what he said has even more relevance today. Moore railed against the town planners who seemed hell-bent on erasing our architectural heritage, and replacing it with brutalist buildings without any obvious merit.

The Year of the Pigeons by John Moore

I have a little more insight into the everyday life of folk in Tudor England, and that rickety row of old houses have become a source of joy to me. I hope someday you will visit the John Moore Museum and share some of my enthusiasm.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, then please don’t hesitate to get touch by emailing education@johnmooremuseum.org or call 01684 297174.