Volunteer Pat continues to welcome visitors at Lincoln's medieval monument after six-week job turned into an eight-year passion
From retail management to teaching and from broadcasting to food writing, it seems Pat Parker has done it all.
But, in recent years, it is her current voluntary role at Lincoln Castle which has brought Pat so much joy.
Pat, along with husband Gordon, answered a call for volunteers to work for a six-week period at Lincoln’s iconic tourist attraction in 2016. But almost nine years later, although both are now retired, they are still to be found front and centre, providing a welcome and answering the questions of castle visitors.
“We first heard the call for volunteers at Lincoln Castle on the radio. We signed up for a six-week period and immediately we fell in love with working at such a wonderful location,” said Pat.
“However, it soon became apparent that we didn’t have enough knowledge about the castle’s history to answer questions from our visitors, so we both enrolled on the castle guide’s course, took the exam and passed.
“But you have to be prepared for the most surprising questions! I was once asked by a little girl if I knew Florence Nightingale. I know I’m older than I used to be, but I’m not quite that old. I had to explain that I knew of her, but didn’t know her personally.”
Pat was not born and raised in Lincolnshire, but arrived from her home town of Rotherham. She began her working life at 15-years-old, in a department store in the town, but worked her way up to being a buyer for the company by the age of 25.
Her sense of adventure became evident when she moved to Germany after taking a job as manager in the clothing section of the NAAFI. It was here she met her future husband and, after returning to the UK, the couple had two children, Andrew and Claire.
Pat’s creative nature and love of cooking were thrust to the fore when she became Radio Lincolnshire’s cooking expert as well as taking on teaching roles for sugar craft. Her talent for cake decoration has earned her many plaudits and led to her rubbing shoulders with the likes of famous TV chef James Martin.
Pat’s long and varied career has seen her go from retailer to teaching the art of sugarcraft, but volunteering at Lincoln Castle appears to have been the icing on the cake.
“It helps to keep my body fit and my mind healthy,” she added. “I would encourage anyone to consider voluntary work. It has brought only positive things to our lives.”