VOLUNTEERING
Give them a hand
As the Coronation weekend celebrates the nation's volunteers, we meet some of those who donate their time to guide visitors round the UK's historic buildings
by ANDREW SOUTHAM
The Coronation weekend will not only mark the first time we've seen a British monarch crowned in 70 years, it will also seek to highlight the invaluable work carried out by Britain's volunteers. The additional Bank Holiday Monday on 8 May - added to calendars to mark the Coronation of King Charles III - has been dubbed 'The Big Help Out' as it will see the UK's largest ever one-day effort to encourage more people to lend a hand. Charities, including the Royal Voluntary Service, have organised the day to showcase the benefits of volunteering - something eight million in the UK participate in at least once a month.
Around 600,000 of those work in the highly popular area of heritage and most volunteers in this sector are over 50. In fact, the vast majority of the 44,000 working for the National Trust are actually over 60 with some in their 80s and 90s. Almost 70% of English Heritage's 3,500 helpers are over 50. A number of these heritage volunteers study the history of a house or location in depth so they can guide visitors round while imparting a wealth of insight into all the drama of its past. From retired vets and office workers to ex-engineers and nurses, like taxi drivers learning 'The Knowledge', this brigade of volunteer 'professors' master a brief bursting with dates, context and anecdotes.