The Phone Call
It is the first week in February and I answer the phone:
"Hello Allan...David Paynter, we would like you to volunteer for a manager’s role at one of the exhibitions this year. How do you fancy being the trail designer for our 25th anniversary show at Hatchlands, near Guildford? Only three or four trips, you get your fuel paid for...it’s great fun, you’ll really enjoy it!"
"‘Alright", I reply, "I’d like to give something back to the SSS but thought I was too far away from Surrey. What do I do?’"
"Don’t worry, Henriette will give you all the details and help you along."
That was how it started. I didn’t really know what was involved in "volunteering" and thought I would just leave things to the "others" who knew what they were doing.
The Learning Curve
I was very excited and looking forward to getting to know new people and just have a go. How hard can it be?
The first meeting was at Hatchlands where I met Sarah Scott, the Exhibition Manager, Nick Baker, who would be sorting the Marquee, and Henriette, Chair and Exhibition Coordinator. I was then introduced to Sue and James from the National Trust; we walked the grounds and arranged our next meeting at Henriette’s house in Guildford.
After plenty of coffee, I was issued a file of all the sculpture photos, and then a third meeting at Hatchlands where we discussed which sculptures would be suitable for exhibition. Our final list was analysed by the Senior Curator for The National Trust and then it was down to me to sort out the trail.
20
celebrating 25 years of creativity
HATCHLANDS PARK EXHIBITION
Text supplied by Allan Mackenzie, Exhiibition Designer
Precious 1 by Sigi Hill
Elephant's Child by Carol Bryant
One Way Street by Jean Gunn