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The Alnwick Garden
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Meet The Peter Robinson
We caught up with Peter Robinson, our man behind the phone calls and emails.
“ G ood morning this is The Alnwick Garden, Peter speaking”, I say those words numerous times each day and in my sleep! I live in the village of Shilbottle up on the hill looking down on Alnwick, but originally I am from Seahouses, a small( once vibrant) fishing village up the coast. I grew up the youngest of four children, with my mum and dad- who was the Customs Officer for that stretch of coast line.
At 22 I moved away to a foreign land called Bradford in West Yorkshire. I lived there for 13 years and then returned to Alnwick with my children, where I became involved with junior football, running and coaching a team in Alnwick and then Longhoughton Rangers. Time flies and my youngest of 5 children, Little Peter( although he is 6ft tall), is leaving for the Navy in April. So it will be me and my wife, Lisa, who is also a Volunteer at The Garden at home except when one our 6 grandchildren come to visit. All of my daughters have worked in the Pavilion Café at some
Words: Peter Robinson, Receptionist
point and my eldest son, Liam, was one of the Visitor service Team during the last few summers whilst he was at university, so it is quite the family affair! I began working at The Garden in 2010, on a 6 week training course, at which time I was asked to stay for the season, and 6 years later I am still here. I run the reception desk along with Julie Chambers, a new addition to the reception team last summer who has become a valued friend and colleague. We are the first point of contact for all phone calls, we are the front line, and it can feel like being in the trenches some days as we can be so busy, particularly in the summer months and Christmas. Most days, time flies by; I sit down, and the next thing a couple of hours have flown by. We handle all enquiries and endeavour to have all answers to hand, and I think more often than not we do. My role also sees me assisting Tracy Cullen, the Friends Manager, with renewals and enquiries. I also assist the charitable programmes like Elderberries including the selling of tickets for Pilates and Yoga sessions with my usual mantra of,“ correct money Ladies!” We are a friendly bunch, and I am just one member of a welcoming and approachable team.