Archive News

Previous newsletters will be archived here so you can always refer back to what has gone on:

Latest News

24th April 2025

Dear Volunteers,

I am delighted to report that we have seven fluffy cygnets that hatched at the weekend (I won’t mention the other two mature cygnets that are still hanging about!) There will be our usual cygnet naming competition next week so please email suggestions to [email protected] any time after Tuesday. You can watch them 24/7 on the swan cam which is on our website. By all accounts it can be very addictive!                                                                                                                           

Please find attached an invitation to come to a Garden Party on Sun 1^st June 6-8pm to celebrate National Volunteers Week. Please let Gemma know if you would like to attend by emailing [email protected]

The Book Nook is looking a little empty so please bring any good quality second hand books you can spare and drop them to the shop.

Back by popular demand is the Fun Facts & Anecdotes talk. It will run on Fri 6 June 11-12 in the stableyard room. This is a good one to attend if you are new and you would like to pick up some light hearted information to pass on to visitors. If you would like to book a place please email [email protected]

If you missed it here is a lovely video of our tulips this year   https://youtu.be/iR4D1uyRhNM?feature=shared  Well done to all the garden volunteers who helped plant them. Back breaking work half way up a steep slope!

We have decided to turn the volume down slightly in the palace after visitor and volunteer feedback. It is great to have music and information but some of it has been a little overwhelming recently especially for people who struggle with their hearing or who have sensory sensitivity.

It really feels like Spring has arrived now and the number of visitors has certainly reflected that. Thank you for all that you do to make their visit so special.

Best Wishes

Siobhan

10th April 2025

Dear Volunteer,

I hope you are all well and enjoying this beautiful sunny weather.. As many of you know, our Easter Trail for families is in full swing here and lots of children going away happy, especially with their chocolate gift at the end. 🙂 🍫

One of our lovely volunteers Janet and I have also been busy lately doing Outreach workshops with local Primary schools before the Easter Holidays. The children have had enormous fun learning about the Great Hall and its 700 year old floor tiles, creating their own stamped tiles onto cards and dressing up as a Bishop, peasant or medieval woman! 🤴 We will continue to run them in the summer term.

Volunteer Future Strategy Brainstorm! 🧠As you may or may not know 2025 marks the end of our current strategic cycle and we have begun the process of looking to the future. We would love to hear volunteers thoughts and ideas for the coming years ahead. You have the option to either fill in your thoughts in our online survey here:  https://forms.office.com/e/YQ5mtS8XLt  or if you would prefer, attend an in person session with Merryn Kidd (our CEO) from 10am-11:30am on Friday 2nd May in the Stable Yard Room. Please reply to Gemma if you would like to attend the session on 2nd May – [email protected]

Moat Boat Race – 26th August Bank Holiday Monday: ⚓Calling for any volunteers who would like to take part in this enormously fun activity for charity. We have the raft already set up so you just need to come along on the day to take part! When else do you get a chance to row a raft on the moat? We need a team of 8 altogther made up of staff and volunteers. Don’t worry, I did it last year and didn’t fall in or get wet! Please contact Gemma if interested.

Length of service: 🥇If you have been volunteering here for 5 years or more please could you reply to Gemma letting us know how many years you have been a volunteer.

Joe Gilmer’s photography exhibition “Inspired by The Bishop’s Palace” – 📷 There is a new video up on our website talking to artist and member of the volunteer team Joe Gilmer about his work.https://youtu.be/j3T7sHETNoU?feature=shared The exhibition which is currently up in the Stable Yard Room windows will be moving to The Conference Room by 11th April. Please do have a look at the exhibition if not seen!

Palace Lecture Tonight! (10th April): ‘The History of Fencing in the 15th to 17th Centuries’ 6-7pm: All volunteers are welcome to attend for FREE

That’s it for now.. Have a wonderful Easter if I don’t see you around the site 🐔🥚🐣

Gemma 

31st March 2025

Dear Volunteers,

We have had an excellent weekend, sun shining, alomost 200 people enjoying afternoon teas on Mothers’ Day and lots of happy visitors. Nothing like a bit of sunshine to cheer everyone up. Long may it continue.

To celebrate National Volunteers Week 2025 we will share our celebrations with other volunteers across Wells. This will be in the form of a Garden Party with Fizz n Nibbles 6-8pm on Sun 1^st June (not 2^nd June as previously advertised). Date for your diary. Invitation and chance to rsvp to follow a bit nearer the time.

A reminder that all volunteers are entitled to 10% off purchases in the cafe and shop, just show your lanyard. You can also claim travel expenses of up to 45p per mile. Please do take advantage of the excellent volunteer website which has so much practical and interesting information. Here is the link  https://bishopspalace.org.uk/about/volunteers/ just click the ‘click here’ box at the top of the page for existing volunteers and the password is Wellpools246 . You can also join the Palace Singers, a fun group who get together to enjoy singing and occasional performances (please email [email protected] for more info) This year we are going to introduce the opportunity for you to bring a guest for free. This will be part of the new Friends of The Palace offer and there will be one day every quarter where you can do this. You will just need to show your lanyard when you accompany your guest on the following dates.

Wednesday 14^th May

Friday 18^th July

Sunday 21st September

Thursday 13^th November

Bishop Ruth is to become the new suffragan Bishop of Wigan in the Diocese of Liverpool and to serve as the Interim Bishop of Liverpool. Unlike her secondment to Coventry, this will require her to lay down her role as Bishop of Taunton. We’re delighted that Bishop Ruth has been appointed to this role but sad to see her leaving us. In Bishop Ruth’s words “I shall miss Somerset and the wonderful people and places here and, as I follow God’s call for me, I will be praying for all of you, and for all that is to come.”  Bishop Ruth’s last service in the diocese will be the Chrism service at Wells Cathedral, on Tuesday, 15 April at 10am. If you would like to attend this service please let Gemma know [email protected] and she will book a place for you.  A new Bishop of Taunton will be appointed in due course.

There are currently 8 eggs in the nest. There are also two mature cygnets still hanging around! Do keep an eye on the swan cam on our website which is now live.

You may have noticed new labels on bins and new food waste bins around. This is to comply with new legislation. If you’re eating at your desk, please dispose left over food in the nearest food bin (bevy room, stable yard room, brewery kitchen). Please try to help us by putting your waste in the correct bin.

This weather is certainly giving everyone a spring in their step. Let’s make the most of it!

Best Wishes

Siobhan Goodwin

18 March 2025

Dear Volunteers

Spring has definitely sprung here around the Gardens, and we are seeing sunny daffodils and primroses popping up everywhere.

Did you know, officially Spring starts this Thursday with the Spring Equinox, where the Earth’s axis is tilted neither towards nor away from the Sun making an almost perfect balance between day and night! We all need more balance in our lives from time to time so this can only be a good thing…

Just a few updates for you:

• This Thursday 20th March : 6 – 7pm Palace Lectures ‘A short history of the Longbow and its use in the Hundred Years War’ https://bishopspalace.org.uk/event/the-palace-lectures-history-of-the-longbow/ Please let Jeremy Coles or Adam Saunders know if you’d like to come to the lecture and they can book you on. [email protected]
•  We have a new Quarterly update from Roger and Merryn in our “3 minutes with a chair” Trustee video. Please do have a watch! https://youtu.be/Bm5rUJL4mPE
• Jeremy would like to put together a list of VSV, Palace Welcomers, and Tour guides, who we can call on at very short notice. If you are happy and willing to be called at the last minute for shifts please email Jeremy: [email protected]
• The 2025 Volunteer Training programme has begun but there are lots of talks still available if you haven’t yet booked on. Please see attached timetable and email Gemma your preferred sessions if you still want to book a place.
• Volunteer Induction and Safeguarding: Thursday 28^th March 10 – 2pm and Tuesday 15th April 2:15 – 4:15pm in the Stable Yard Room. If you would like a refresher or still need to complete this please email Gemma to book.
• Radios – You will all be pleased to know we have 10 new shiny radios available to use when you are next in. If anyone needs help using the radio please let Gemma / Siobhan / Jeremy know.

Have a great week and happy Spring Equinox

Gemma

28 February 2025

Dear Volunteers,

There’s a lot in this email, too much really, but it is all quite pressing info that I felt you needed to know about asap. Brace yourself!

Firstly it was good to see so many of you at yesterday’s annual briefing. The stableyard room was full to bursting! We will put a summary of the presentation on the volunteer website in the next couple of weeks. I am probably going to be off next week as I have been called for jury service. I will be checking my emails on my usual working days though.

Now for some excellent news: each year an assessor from Quality England visits anonymously. This year we got an outstanding 94% (our best ever mark) and may be nominated for awards (watch this space!) We will put a summary of the report on the volunteer website in the next week or so. Thanks to everyone single one of you for helping us to achieve this fantastic result.

We have only had one person sign up to attend the team meetings this year. Ideally we would like two more volunteers please. It is a 30 min meeting held first thing on the first Thurs of the month. If we have three volunteers who take it in turns that works out at only one meeting per quarter!  It is a chance to hear from all departments about what they are up to and of course to share any updates you may have. Please email Gemma (cc’d) if you are interested.

A reminder to please have a practice at using the radios if you haven’t done so for a while. We all need to know how to use them. We have ordered an additional 10 radios so there will be plenty available. Also a reminder of the fire procedure. Please exit the building immediately and assemble on the croquet lawn. On your way out please remind any visitors that they also need to leave the building. You are not expected to search for people, just those you happen to pass on your way out. Report to the duty manager on the croquet lawn and let them know if you saw anyone who was not leaving the building. A member of staff will be appointed fire marshall to each area of the palace and grounds in the event of a fire alarm going off. If you are in the outer gardens when the alarm goes off please stay out there and wait further instructions on your radio or assemble by the willow bridge.

We are about to start new guide training. Have you ever thought about it? If so please contact Siobhan to discuss. It is a very rewarding role.

If you have any spare good quality books please bring them in for the book nook.

Guides: during Sunday lunches and days when weddings are set out in the undercroft (not when guests are there of course!) we will have a roped off section at the top end, away from the kitchen area, that you can take groups  into, to show the undercroft without disturbing anything.

Would any garden volunteers be prepared to come along to a meeting on Thurs 13^th March 2-4pm in the stableyard room about your volunteering experience? We need at least one as all the other departments are represented now. Please contact Siobhan if you are interested.

Would you like to be part of The Palace Singers? It is an informal group, more of a fun sing along than a choir really. There is a range of music and an opportunity to do public performances at Palace events if you wish. Please contact Jeremy (cc’d) if you are interested.

Staff and volunteers went to a quiz night last week to support Wells Community Network. While we didn’t win we did clean up on the raffle prizes!

We have put the 2025 training programme on the Volunteer website and added in the 2025 social events in the Social Event page. (Please note that the Other Side of Moat tour is not taking place on 21 April as first advertised, it will now take place instead on Thurs 24^th April 2-3:30.)

In addition, we have also added the following to the volunteer website:

• An updated guide to the History of the Gardens bringing it fully up to date.
• An analysis of who commissioned the Dutch Style garden. This is questioning the normal attribution to Bishop Ken and Garden Guides in particular may want to take a look at this.
• Research looking into the demise of the Great Hall in the mid 1500s – this includes a timeline and summary. It would appear that Bishop Barlow was, in all probability, the instigator of the Great Hall being taken down. The research explains why.

Here is the link to the volunteer website  https://bishopspalace.org.uk/about/volunteers/ and the password is Volunteer2018  . This password will change to Wellpools246 on 27th Feb. I thought it was about time after 7 years!

Best Wishes

Siobhan Goodwin

10 February 2025

Dear Volunteer Team,

After a very helpful suggestion from one of our team, I thought I would share these interesting figures about the impact of the volunteer team: In 2024 volunteers contributed just over 17000 hrs here, the equivalent of just over £200,000, roughly the equivalent of  8 full-time members of staff. Nationally, in 2024, an incredible 14.2 million volunteers dedicated their time to giving back to society, contributing an estimated £4.6 billion to the economy. Pretty impressive I am sure you will agree. Thank you for playing your part. We just couldn’t do what we do without you.

Bishop Ruth, Bishop of Taunton, returned on to our diocese on the 3 Feb after working up in Coventry over the last year or so. It is wonderful to have her back.

There is new research on the Great Hall on the volunteer website, listed under ‘Palace’. Many thanks to the research team and in particular Stuart Moore for his hard work. This will form a new exhibition in the Conference Room in May.

It may be helpful to know that RHS made a mistake in their recent handbook, listing us as a free entry for members until March. In fact this is only the case on Fridays. Should you encounter a visitor who is understandably unhappy about this, please direct them to a member of staff in the shop who have a letter form RHS they can show them.

A reminder to please use the correct bin in the Bevy Room for waste (recycling/general waste/food waste). Thanks.

Guides – there are now five locations in the palace where there is music/audio playing. Can I suggest standing by Bishop Ken’s table to talk about the entrance hall as the introductory video up the other end is pretty loud (cannot easily be turned down). You can easily turn down the music in the Coronation Room with the remote control. It’s a bit trickier in the study but if you need to just, please use the volume control on the kindle which is tucked away under the wireless. In the chapel the volume control is in the cupboard by the entrance, above the stereo on the slider. I suggest you familiarise yourself with how to do it before you take a group around. And please don’t forget to turn it up again on your way out of the room! I don’t recommend taking groups in the East Gallery, but if you do end up in there then you can use the remote under the telly.

Expenses are usually reimbursed every two weeks. Apologies for recent delays but all should be back to normal from March.

Training, Talk & Tours: I plan to send out the programme for 2025 next week. Watch this space!

Here is a link to a write up on Wolf Hall (filmed here last Spring) which may be of interest to you https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/somerset/24795173.wolf-hall-mirror-light-somerset-locations/

Last but not least there will be a talk in Frome about the new Shoemakers’ Museum in Street (due to open later this year I believe). Rosie Martin (former CEO here who I am sure many of you remember) is giving a talk on the Shoemakers’ Museum and the history of the Clark family on Saturday March 8th at the Frome Society for Local Studies, Memorial Theatre, opposite Christ Church at 2.30pm. Non members £5, includes tea and biscuits

Best Wishes

Siobhan

31 January 2025

Hi,

Our first meeting about the Investing in Volunteering Accreditation (Iiv) took place on Wednesday this week. Thank you to those of you who were able to take part. We had about 15 participants from our team for the meeting with Janet Lewis Jones, our mentor from Iiv. Janet explained the accreditation process and we took at look at the self assessment tool. The process is that we do a self-assessment, then we work on improving our practice, then we are assessed, then we receive the award (fingers crossed!) which is valid for three years. So the next step for us now is to start the self-assessment process. This will involve volunteers, staff and trustees forming a working group and should be completed over an 8 week period. Would you like to be on the working group? It will involve 2 x 2hr meetings, at least initially. One will be online in the evening and one will be in person in the stableyard room. It would be good to have at least one volunteer from each team eg archives, guides, gardeners etc. Please let Gemma [email protected]  know if you would like to be on the working group, your volunteer role, your availability and whether you would prefer an in-person or online meeting.

Jo Stevenson, Community Gardener would be most grateful for clean, label free jam jar donations please. ‘Standard’ size (not the big gerkin/pickle jars or the teeny ones). Please give to Jo at briefing or give to Ticket Office. Thank you.

Expenses: Just a reminder that the deadline for claiming expenses for 2024 has now passed. Apology to those who have experienced delays in receiving your expenses over the last few weeks. Our finance department has been short of staff due to illness.

A reminder that the next Induction & Safeguarding session will be 13 Feb 2-4pm in the Stableyard Room (3-4 safeguarding only). You are welcome to come along as a refresher, just let Gemma know so she can book you in.

Last but not least, all volunteers can join the Palace Lectures. They are listed on our website. All you need to do is book with [email protected] as there are limited places, and then bring your lanyard along on the night (no need to wear it). The next one is on 13^th Feb.

I thought you’d like to know that the new multi-media guides have been going down very well with visitors. Thank you to all of you who have had a go with one and given your feedback. Do pop in and try it if you haven’t already had the opportunity. They are available from the entrance hall of the palace building all day, every day!

Best Wishes

Siobhan Goodwin

10 January 2025

Dear Volunteers,

Let me start by wishing you all a happy and healthy 2025! Christmas events here went very well and thank to you all for your hard work. We will certainly return a healthy surplus for 2024 which can then be used to make various improvements in 2025. To hear all about the plans for this year please come along to the Volunteer Briefing on Feb 27^th 2-3pm in the stableyard room. Please let Gemma know if you are planning on attending [email protected] .

Firstly I want to let you know that this year we are working with Investing in Volunteering https://investinginvolunteers.co.uk/ to achieve a quality standard award for our work which is nationally recognised. This will obviously involve you all and the first online meeting will be 2-4pm on Wed 29^th January for any of you who would like to participate. I will send a separate email about that in the next few days but I just wanted to alert you about it for now.

There have been some changes to ticketing and prices. We now have a day ticket!

Annual Pass is now £25 per adult (now includes rare plant fair)

The new Day Ticket is £14 per adult

Joint Cathedral Day Ticket remains same at £20 per adult.

Membership has been relaunched as Friends of the Palace at £65 individual / £100 joint. It’s worth saying that all adult Friends can now bring in two children each for free. It doesn’t matter what it says on the membership card because existing memberships (i.e. those bought last year) have the same benefits as the new Friends of the Palace. There are also a number of great new benefits included.

There’s an info sheet inside the lodge with the new prices, and the Friends of the Palace benefits; also all prices and ticket types can be found online: (https://bishopspalace.org.uk/visit/tickets-and-opening/)

We have a second Anna Chaplain called Gill Goodall who will be working alongside Fran who most of you already know. Gill and Fran’s role is to be here for visitors, staff and volunteers in more of a pastoral role and they volunteer for the Diocese of Bath & Wells rather than The Palace Trust, but we all work together.

On 17^th Jan there will be training 2-3:30 on the new digital devices (audio guides for use in the Palace) . If you would like to learn more about them please book in with Jeremy [email protected] . This is essential for Palace Welcomers and VSVs. For everyone else, especially guides, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the content at some point.

You may have noticed the Bishop Ken’s table has a new glass top (to showcase the original legs from the late 1600s) and has been relocated to the other end of the entrance hall of the Palace. That is so visitors can watch a short video which will be displayed up at the other end of the entrance hall in the next few weeks.

There have been a few changes lately with the portraits upstairs, one or two have been rotated / stored away and may undergo some conservation, Wynne Willson’s is now in the study and of course Bishop Peter Hancock’s and Bishop Bradfield’s are in the Coronation Room. The order of them in the Long Gallery also changed a few months ago so now the newest are at the far end.

It’s that time of year again when you can apply for free onsite parking when volunteering. We have one space each day for volunteers and if you live outside Wells and volunteer on a regular weekly basis for at least a morning or afternoon please contact Gemma [email protected] if you would like to put your name down. We allocate the space quarterly. If you have a blue badge you can pre-book parking any time.

Now we are in to 2025 we are looking for three or four volunteers to take it in turns to come along to the monthly team meeting on the first Thursday of the month at 9:15am. If you are interested please email Gemma Palmer [email protected] . The meeting lasts 30 mins and is for each department to update everyone on what they are up to. You are not expected to represent the whole volunteer team but rather just put in what you think is helpful and useful feedback for the team.

Here’s to a wonderful 2025!

Best Wishes

Siobhan

13 December 2024

Greetings,

I thought I would start my email with a couple of seasonal photos (see in Gallery Page) from the Eco Art Exhibition which you can see up in the Conference Room. The ‘mural’ is over 7ft tall by the way! I hope some of you made it to see the Christmas Lights last week. Sorry I wasn’t there in the end (I had to make a dash to Basingstoke before the storm kicked in).

Please click on this link   https://youtu.be/AENuQZfVmDE      to see the quarterly update from the Chair of our Trustees Roger Hawes and our Chief Executive Merryn Kidd

I thought you might like to know about some of the community engagement work we have been up to in the last few weeks:

• Over 500 children from 12 different schools and nurseries took part in the schools’ Christmas Eco Art Exhibition. Six of the schools have come to visit to see the exhibition and yesterday St Cuthbert’s school got to meet Father Christmas when they were visiting too!
• Twelve families have received free tickets to come and meet Father Christmas. These families are all going through difficult times for one reason and another (health, financial, caring responsibilities, family member in prison) so we are fortunate to be able to share a little joy with them this Christmas. Each family also receives free annual tickets.
• We have given over 100 free annual tickets to people who use Wells Foodbank.
• Golden Oldies singing group has their Christmas Party here and did some singing in the chapel. A great time was had by all.
• Museum To You (a local community interest company that we employ to do outreach work for us) has visited 6 care homes and day centres for learning disabled adults. 50 people have enjoyed dressing up as bishops, making printed cards from stamps of tiles form the Great Hall and doing a puzzle of the tiles too!
• YMCA had their Christmas get together here and their staff and volunteers were able to enjoy the Christmas lights too.

You can imagine the difference this makes to people, especially at this time of year, when feeling included and cared about is so important. Thank you for all your hard work all year round, that means our charity is in a position to do this.

I am away 17 Dec-8 Jan (longest holiday of my working life!)

Do you, or someone you know, want to work on a really special project? The cathedral have just ‘gone live’ with advertisements for three new roles to support the delivery of the Vicars’ Close project in Wells. Application packs for each of the roles is available on the Cathedral website: Vacancies – Wells Cathedral  Closing date for applications to all roles: 12.00 on Wednesday 8 January 2025

That just leaves me to say a massive thank you for going the extra mile lately to get everything ready for Christmas here, and for making our visitors feel so welcome.  I wish you all a wonderful Christmas time and look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

Best wishes

Siobhan

Monday 2nd December

Dear Volunteers,

A busy week last week getting things ship-shape for Christmas inside The Palace (as many of you are well aware having helped out – thank you for your hard work and skill). Do go and have a look next time you are in. Have you been spotting us in Wolf Hall? Visitors are asking lots of questions about it so do have a look on BBC i player if you haven’t seen it yet.

Please find a letter here from our Chief Executive, Merryn Kidd. A summary of the year and of course a thank you to all of you.

Carol service readings – would any of you who are coming to the carol service on 16^th Dec like to do a reading please? If so just let me know and I will email you it and make sure I have it ready and waiting for you on the day (don’t forget your specs!)

Present wrapping – there is still quite a bit to do so if you would like to help please email [email protected]

Since I mentioned the new digital devices that will be coming in January, for our visitors to use inside The Palace, I have been asked by a few guides if they will still be needed. The answer is a resounding YES! There will always be a place for guides, who can share their love and knowledge of this unique place, answer questions and make that personal connection with visitors, that a device will never be able to provide (however marvellous it is!).

A reminder that we are opening between Christmas and New Year for the first time. I am sure lots of folk will want to get out of the house and come here for a breath of fresh air.

This Fri evening is a members only evening for a preview of the Christmas Lights. You are very welcome to come along but please remember your lanyard to show at The Lodge (not to wear around the site) If you are coming on your own and would like someone to go around with then why not meet in The Bevy Room? If my car is not still in the garage (don’t ask!) I will be in there at 5pm.

Best Wishes

Siobhan

Thursday 21st November

Dear Volunteers,

There is quite a bit of news this time so please take your time reading through it all. Certainly turned chilly here the last few days so I just wanted to say a particular thank you to those of you who are working outside in these conditions.

The volunteer website is being reviewed and updated so please go on and have a little look: https://bishopspalace.org.uk/about/volunteers/ then click on blue box that asks if you are an existing volunteer and the password is Volunteer2018

After 4 years the Palace 800 exhibition has been removed. This is to make way for the new digital information that will be starting from Jan 2025. More info on that in the attached document. Basically we will be loaning devices to visitors inside the palace which they can use to find out about the building, its contents and the associated stories. I suggest you all have a go with one so you are familiar with them too.

Party at the Palace – The event advertising has gone live, tickets will go on sale 1^st December https://bishopspalace.org.uk/event/party-at-the-palace-2025/ . Please do share any Facebook posts you see on our socials to spread the word. I can’t wait as believe it or not I have never seen The Wurzels!

The Mendip School – I thought it would be useful for you all to know that for the next few months The Mendip School will be joining us two days a week. The school is for students with a primary diagnosis of autism (ASD) and speech and language communication needs. The six students coming here will be age 16-18 and will be with support staff. They are working towards a life skills qualification and being here, studying on site and doing some volunteering will be both useful and enriching, for them and us. They will be studying in the stableyard room 10-2 on Tuesdays (except for Tues 26 Nov). Then on Thursdays they will be volunteering which will include meeting and greeting visitors at the Lodge, being palace welcomers, polishing plaques on benches, tidying the Bevy Room and Gardeners Mess room,  and making briquettes for the fire from shredded paper ( this looks like fun!).

I know you will make them welcome. New situations and meeting lots of new people can be a bit overwhelming, so keeping conversations short and sweet is the best bet at first, ideally not too many instructions at once or too many questions. Please contact me if you have any questions. Here is a link to the school if you would like to know more https://www.themendipschool.co.uk/  .

Do you have any clean, empty golden syrup, treacle and posh tomato tins (tomato brands like Mutti which have design printed directly on tin, not on paper wrap, pic attached). If so please hand in at ticket office for Jo Stevenson, Community Gardener. They are to be used for a project in the Spring.

From Jan 2025 we will have a new ticket offer, including a day ticket again. Please read through the attached document so that you understand the rationale behind the new pricing and tickets. It is really useful to be able to explain our reasoning to visitors.

A gentle reminder to please submit your travel expenses before the end of Dec. Ideally these are done monthly so we don’t suddenly have large expenses requests coming in at the end of our financial year!

Best Wishes

Siobhan

Monday 4th November 2024

Dear Volunteers,

At long last Wolf Hall, The Mirror and The Light will be appearing on our tv screens this Sunday evening. Here are a couple of articles about it. Some of it was filmed here earlier this year. ‘It’s going to be much darker’: inside the deadly return of TV masterpiece Wolf Hall | Television | The Guardian  (there is also a copy of this article on the table in the Bevy Room) and   https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/wolf-hall-mirror-light-air-date-confirmed-newsupdate/

By the end of this week we will have posted the results of a bumble bee survey onto the volunteer website. (It is now here: Wildlife < The Bishop’s Palace) Do have a read if that’s your thing. In short, we had far fewer bumble bees this year, probably due to the weather.

A reminder to please let me know if you have the Volunteer Cup. Just pop it back in the Bevy Room if you don’t want to own up! It is a pewter tankard.

A very nice piece of stained glass was left in the Bevy Room with RUTH written on the brown paper covering it. If it is your please let me know.

A few people have been asking about the Volunteer Carol Service at 2pm on Mon 16^th Dec in the chapel. Yes, you can bring one guest with you. Please book in with Gemma. First come first served as places are limited. Mulled wine and mince pies afterwards. It will be freezing cold in the chapel so please wrap up warm!

Thank you to everyone who helped during the Artisan Market this weekend just gone. We had the busiest day of the year in terms of takings, lots of happy stall holders and visitors. A real team effort.

The Somerset Poppies are back. This time displayed in front of The Great Hall. Each poppy represents the life lost of a serviceman from the county in WW1 and were made by local school children. They will be on display until Thurs 14^th Nov.

Soon we will be gearing up for Christmas so brace yourselves folks!!

Best Wishes

Siobhan

Thursday 24th October 2024

Dear Volunteer,

A very happy Thursday to you all as we prepare for Autumn half term here at the Palace! I had a quick wander around the gardens earlier and the reds and yellows appearing everywhere are just stunning.

A few news items for you…

Winter Rotas: Clocks go back in the early hours of Sunday morning so don’t forget our new Winter opening hours 10 – 4pm will begin from Sunday 27th October. Please note this will mean briefing starts at 9:45am!

Eco Trail: For those working in the Lodge there is a new children’s Eco Trail for families to explore until 1st November 2024. 

Young Photography exhibition: We had a highly rewarding Private View on Friday evening in the Conference Room for the 16 young people who won an award for their photographs in our Young Photographers’ comp..  Over 150 entries and the overall talent was outstanding! The exhibition is on until 25th November in the Conference Room so please do go and have a peek. You can also vote for your favourite photo and ‘The People’s Favourite” will be announced at the end of November! 

Swan Lanterns: If anyone would like to work together to make a big Swan lantern for this year’s Lantern Parade on Saturday 18th January 6:30pm, there will be workshops on the first and second weekends of January. The theme is Carnival of Animals! Please contact me if you would like to be a part of the Swan Making.

Ray Willis: Some of you will know Ray Willis who played the organ at the services in the chapel. He sadly passed away at the start of October. There will not be a funeral but if anyone would like to leave a prayer card at the chapel it will be read out at one of the Tuesday at Noon services.

Christmas: Sorry to mention the C word already but a nice date for your diaries…. We will be holding a Carol Service in the Chapel for Volunteers on Monday 16^th December at 2pm with a mince pie and drink after. Let me know if you can make it so we can cater accordingly!

On this theme, Head Gardener James Cross has also been asked to encourage carol singers along to the Market place on Wednesday 11th of December at 11am to join Christian Aid Wells group. Don’t worry about your singing skills, everyone sounds better in a crowd!

Thanks everyone and hope you all have a lovely, autumnal weekend…

Gemma 

Community Engagement Assistant

7th October 2024

Dear Volunteers,

The new rotas are up on supersaas for VSVs, guides, and welcomers so please sign up when you are able. Ideally guides will only sign up for a maximum of one tour a week initially as there is only one tour per day during the winter opening times. If it suits you to do more than one tour per week then do fill in any gaps after a couple of weeks when everyone has had a chance to book in some tours.

James will be giving a talk / presentation on the 24th October from 6pm – 7pm in the stableyard room. It will be ‘The Gardens: Past, Present & Future’. Please email [email protected] if you would like to attend. We will provide some fizz afterwards if anyone would like to stay for a mingle!

Has anyone got the Volunteer Cup? I have lost track of its whereabouts! Please let me know if you have it and drop it back to me please.

You’ll be relieved to know (sorry I couldn’t resist that!) that the toilets are due to be finished by the end of this week.

You may notice some new signs up around the palace and gardens. They are green and are informing visitors about what we are doing to reduce our carbon footprint and to be more environmentally friendly. This coincides with Wells Environment Week which is coning up. There will be a special trail for visitors. The signs came about as part of some work we have been doing with Historic Houses to produce an activity for GCSE students studying Geography at GCSE. Do have a look at our learning pack on our website if you are interested to see the activity.

Last but not least towards the end of next week you will see a new exhibition in the Conference Room. The Young Photographers’ Exhibition will feature 20 of the best photographs from over 150 submissions. The themes are water, nature and buildings. Do go and have a look. I think you will be impressed. Considering they were taken by young people age 11-18, some just on smartphones, the standard is very high.

Best Wishes

Siobhan Goodwin

25th September 2024

• Tuesday 8th October 11am
• Thursday 21st November 2pm

28 August 2024

Greetings!

Let’s start off with some excellent news! Our moat boat race team won a trophy for best dressed crew so we retain the trophy we won last year. Of course I realise it is the taking part that counts, and we entered three races so we did ourselves proud. Well done to everyone who helped out decorating the raft as well as racing on the day.

We are having a very busy summer and I am pleased to report that visitor numbers are excellent. The joint day ticket with the cathedral is certainly proving very popular. We have given out more than 200 free tickets to local schoolchildren and their families so I am sure they will be making the most of it during the summer holidays. These tickets go to those who need them the most.

Just to let you know that the Long Gallery will be shut on Mon 2^nd and Tues 3^rd Sept. Please let visitors know that this is due to the portraits being rehung. They will be in reverse order to how they are presently, so as you walk in at the staircase end the oldest one will be first, ending with the newest one down by the drawing room end. Guides, please just show your groups the remaining upstairs rooms.

A reminder that we have a smart new mobility scooter that visitors can borrow. Ideally they book this in advance by email or phone but should they show up and it happens to be free they can go to the shop to arrange to borrow it.

And lastly there is a chance to win the Volunteer Cup coming up! Thurs 26^th Sept there is another quiz night organised by Adam, here in the undercroft. Teams of six people, soft drinks provided but bring your own snacks and / or alcohol. Gates open 6:30, quiz will be 7-8:30ish. Please let Gemma know if you would like to be on a volunteer team [email protected] . It should be a fun evening.

Best Wishes

Siobhan Goodwin

Thurs 8th August 2024

Dear Volunteers,

Just a few updates as we enjoy a very busy August!

Attached is a document put together by Jeremy, Visitor Experience Assistant Manager, from all of the frequently asked questions that people regularly ask the team. I am sure you will find it useful. It is also up on the volunteer website https://bishopspalace.org.uk/about/volunteers/

Our six week Nature Connections course for a group of learning disabled adults is coming to an end this Friday. Based mainly in the Community Garden, each week participants have explored a range of playful activities in the sessions to develop a deeper connection with nature. Activities have included mindfulness and relaxation exercises, listening to birdsong and feeling the breeze, pond dipping, going on a bug hunt to identify different insects, bird bingo games and craft making such as making an apple bird feeder, a dragon fly racer and clay bug sculptures! It’s been a truly inspiring and uplifting experience for all involved.

Following an investigation into negative behaviour and culture, it has been agreed that Debbie Halsey will cease her employment with The Bishop’s Palace from the end of July. We are grateful for her long service of 24 years at The Palace Trust. The Bishop’s Palace is an organisation that promotes a positive and kind work environment, and is seeking to eradicate negative culture in the workplace. If you feel that you are experiencing any difficulty in this respect, please speak to your line manager or Siobhan Goodwin, Community Engagement Manager, in confidence at any time.

 Just to keep you all up to date on the changes to what was known as Drawing Room, and is now known as The Study (on the first floor of the palace on the south side). It is a ‘recreation’ of Bishop Wynne Willson’s study who was here from  1921-37. He was a modest, interesting man who treated the staff at the palace extremely well. Have a look in the desk drawers! There is a golf club too as he enjoyed a round of golf now and again. In the next week or so there will be some information going up on the volunteer website about him so do check on there if you would like to know more about his life and work. There are still some finishing touches to be completed to the room. There is currently an exhibition on transatlantic slavery in there too, as Wynne Willson married in to the Wills family who were well known cigarette manufacturers from Bristol. Here is a link to the Wells wide website so you can find out more about other bishops and institutions across our city https://wellsandtransatlanticslavery.com/

 The next coffee meet up is at 2pm on Thurs 29 Aug in the stableyard room. A chance to meet some of the volunteer team who you may not come across during your usual duties. Drop in at any time.

 Wishing you well,

 Siobhan Goodwin

29th July 2024

Sorry folks, I forgot a couple of important things in my email last week (more haste less speed….)

•  There is going to be an interesting members talk on https://bishopspalace.org.uk/event/august-members-only-event/ on 22 Aug about Catholic Queens. Limited places so do book in. It is open to volunteers as well as members.
•  Next volunteer coffee meet up in the stableyard room is on Thurs 29 August 2-3pm. Hope to see you there.

Big thanks to those of you who stepped up to help out at the last minute this weekend. Saturday may have been one of our busiest days ever! Visitors loved the Vikings and the archery.

I won’t keep you any longer and thanks for your patience.

Siobhan

26th July 2024

Dear Volunteers,

It’s looking like we are due a spell of decent weather over the next couple of weeks. Just as well as this is our busiest time of year. Thank you for all of your hard work keeping the show on the road here and making it such a special place for our visitors by going the extra mile.

The Vikings will be here tomorrow! Lots of events coming up so do keep an eye on our website please. We are running a Young Photographers’ Competition this summer holidays so please spread the word. Here is a link to information on our website https://bishopspalace.org.uk/event/young-photographers-competition/  and I attach a poster. 6 x £50 prizes, free workshops with a professional photographer and a chance to be part of an exhibition here in the autumn. We are also running yoga sessions on Wed afternoons for people living with neurodiversity (this is often autism and/or ADHD) more info here: https://bishopspalace.org.uk/about/community-engagement/

Have you had a peep in the Book Nook yet? It’s near the bike racks and I must say the maintenance volunteers have done an incredible transformation on what was a grotty damp shed and turned it into a charming, fresh space. If you have any good quality books you can donate please drop them off at the shop.

What was the drawing room is currently being turned into a recreation of Bishop Willson’s 1930s study. Do go and have a look. It looks quite cosy in there now. There is also a new display on the role our bishops played in transatlantic slavery. In short, two key bishops were abolitionists.

We are very short of visitor services volunteers on Fri/Sat & Suns at the moment. Please can those of you who haven’t been in for a while try to sign up to help out, or let us know if you have decided to stop volunteering. Many thanks.

Thank you for making the 13 work experience students so welcome. They had a wonderful time and learnt a lot.

Best Wishes

Siobhan

21st June 2024

It’s been over a month since my last Volunteer news, so it must be time for another update!

We’ve had a busy week here with lots of school visits and events happening and the sun has continued shining throughout. Hurrah! Thank you to everyone who attended our “Fizz and Nibbles” social evening at the start of the month when the weather was a little chillier! Lots of you sent lovely emails saying it was a very enjoyable evening. Unfortunately, I didn’t take any photos which shows what a busy and fun night it was. Siobhan’s Human Bingo was a real laugh and got everyone mingling with new people.

Coffee meet ups: Talking of social events.. our next Coffee meet up is coming up next Tuesday 25^th June at 11am in the Stable Yard Room. Please do come along! Following this we have others happening July 22 at 10.00am and August 29^th at 2pm.

Talks for Volunteers: In July we have 3 dates for talks happening for volunteers. Numbers are limited on these so places will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. Please contact Jeremy Coles in Visitor Services to book [email protected]

• 1st July (Monday) at 10.30am: Head Gardener, James Cross, will be taking us round the gardens pointing out some of our notable trees, plants, beds and borders.
• 12th July (Friday) at 2.30pm: guided tour with Robin D
• 25th July (Thursday) at 11.30am: guided tour with Mark H

Volunteer hours: As you know, all volunteers should sign in and out for their shifts on the clipboard in the Bevy room. Please could you also ensure you are including your travel time from home within the hours you record. Thank you.

Moat Boat Race 26^th August (Bank Holiday Monday): We now have a full team for the raft but if anyone is happy to help run a Bishop’s Palace stall on the day for a few hours between 11 – 4pm please contact Siobhan:  [email protected]

Tin cans: Jo Stevenson in the Community Garden would be most grateful if you could bring in clean, washed and unlabelled tin cans in preparation for Nature Ninjas in the holidays. Jo needs them by mid-July please and they can be left with the Ticket Office or given to Jo at the briefing.

Dog poo! Please note, there is new dog poo bin in the free area by the large shed to direct people to!

“Three minutes with the Chair” quarterly video with Merryn and Roger (Trustee) is now available on this link for you to view https://youtu.be/aXWhfSjm2lw

Coronations research: Rosemary Cooke (one of our volunteers) has been researching the history of the Bishops of Bath and Wells’ attendance at coronations. Some interesting stories have arisen, some of which may be worth relating on guided tours. A document giving the findings to-date has been placed in a new page on the Volunteer website under “Coronations” (click on “Palace and Gardens”/ “Coronations”). Discover why the Bishops of Bath and Wells were not at the coronations of: Henry VII, Mary I, William of Orange. If any of you can fill the gaps in the table (on the document linked on the website, look at Appendix II), please contact Rosemary! [email protected]

Palace Events coming up this week:

22nd (Saturday): Somerset Flutes from 2pm

23rd (Sunday): Opera in a Box – Hansel & Gretel gates open 6.30 / performance 7pm (We have lots of tickets available for this. Free Gingerbread available I hear!)

Chapel door: Finally, you may have noticed that the main door to the chapel is remaining closed for the time being as we’ve had a problem with pigeons. If you are taking a guided tour, you can only access via the entrance hall. (Obviously if someone has access issues then we can arrange for the door to be opened.)

That’s it for now… Enjoy the sunshine 😊

Gemma Palmer

Community Engagement Assistant

31 May 2024

Happy National Volunteers’ Week everyone. This is a great opportunity, on behalf of our whole team,  to thank all of you for everything that you do to support the work of The Palace Trust, doing so much to make the visitor experience here so special, and for going the extra mile. Thank you. It really is a pleasure and privilege to work with you all. I am very glad that so many of you have signed up to go to the WCN Tea party on Tues afternoon and/or our Fizz and Nibbles evening celebration the same day.

There is a bottle of Prosecco (or non-alcoholic alternative if you prefer) up for grabs! All you need to do is take part in the challenge below:

We are very fortunate to have a very comprehensive volunteer website. I hope you are all taking advantage of it. Click on this link https://bishopspalace.org.uk/about/volunteers/ to access it, or go to the volunteering page on the Bishop’s Palace website. You need to click on the box at the top of the page where it asks if you are an existing volunteer, then put in the password:  Volunteer2018 . Every so often we set a little challenge to encourage you to keep having a look at the website. Please email me the answers to the questions below by 11^th June and the first name out of the hat will get the prize.

1. Which Bishop of Bath and Wells supported Henry VII at his coronation? Clue: refer to document in the new Coronation page in the website
2. Where will you find the Health and Safety policy at the Bishop’s Palace?
3. Which bishop is linked to Wells Recreation Ground and where can this information be found in the Volunteer site:
4. How many volunteers are there at the Palace. Clue: check out the Palace Trust page.

Well done to all of you who have spotted that I have sent this email out one day early. I didn’t want to leave it until I am back in the office next week so I thought better one day early than three days late!

Best Wishes

Siobhan Goodwin

16 May 2024

Dear Volunteer,

I hope this newsletter finds you well on a mixed weather day in May! Wasn’t it nice to have the sun shining last weekend.. Let’s hope it returns soon, especially as we have a wedding on Saturday at the Palace! In other news…

Book Nook – We would like volunteers to bring in good quality books for the Book Nook in the next couple of weeks. Max one bag per volunteer for now so we don’t get too overwhelmed. Please leave them at the shop and the staff there will store them in Stableyard room.

Family Volunteering Day: Sunday 9^th June – Siobhan needs 6 volunteers to help 9:30 – 12:30 and 1 – 4pm welcoming families who may never have visited us before and supporting them with their tasks. (See poster) Please contact Siobhan if you can help.

Mid Somerset Show: Sunday 18^th August, Shepton Mallet – Volunteers needed for this event to help on our Bishop’s Palace stand in the Heritage tent. Morning and afternoon sessions available. Please contact Siobhan on [email protected]

Wells Moat Boat race: Monday 26^th August (Bank Hols) – Time for us to start forming a team for this fun annual event! We need a team of 8 made up of staff/volunteers to row the raft. We have a raft already but will need to check it over and think of a theme for fancy dress! Please contact Gemma if you are interested in being on the team or have any ideas.

Two New Volunteer roles with Katy Love, our Property and Collections Manager. Please click on the links to see more information on the new roles: “Collections Care Volunteer” and “Research Volunteer”. Please email Katy if interested: [email protected]

Reminder to All Welcomers: If you are volunteering on the drawbridge and you are concerned about a dog’s behaviour please radio the duty manager. You are not expected to deal with this yourself. If a member of the public is concerned about a dog’s behaviour on or off the lead out on palace green or around the moat, they can ring 101 and report it to the police. If the dog enters the moat, please call the duty manager. Once people are on the drawbridge and inside the palace grounds, their dog must be kept on a short lead, at all times.

“Fizz and Nibbles” 4^th June 5:30pm – 7:30pm, South Terrace – See posh invite on this link! Thank you to those who have already replied. Please RSVP to Gemma by Friday 24^th May to join this wonderful, celebration for all our volunteers.