When we caught up with the butler we also found, chatting to him, Julie, working as a room guide and dressed in costume of the period, her own full-skirted dress with lace collar - her 'posh frock' she called it. So it was natural to ask her too for a portrait for my strangers' project.
This is the first time I have been bold enough, when I've encountered two people, to ask if I can take their portraits separately. I find issues other than photography creep in when photographing folk together.
Julie told me that she did not 'make a good photo' and that she could not smile for a photograph - a good challenge to me! With her co-operation, I took 9 or 10 shots, in groups and with a bit of a chat in between. So here's Julie smiling for a portrait. She tells me she will use it for a profile pic on her Facebook page.
As well as volunteer duties as a room guide, Julie works one day a week in the property office, which is where she began working at Lanhydrock seven years ago. She also has a really important role as VSVA (Visitor Services Volunteer Assistant) in which she supports all volunteers. They wear a pendant whereby they can contact her via a pager if they are in need of any support or help.
Julie pre-empted my question about hobbies by telling me that, if I asked her, she would say that Lanhydrock is her hobby.
