Eleven recently qualified green badge guides have been presented with their badges at a ceremony at the Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds, one of the Georgian treasures they help visitors to Bury St Edmunds to discover.
The guides have completed a rigorous, nationally accredited course to achieve the green badge, the professional equivalent of the blue badge for those who do not work full time in the leisure industry. The guides belong to the charity the Bury St Edmunds Association of Registered Tour Guides, and work through the busy Tourist Information Centre in Bury St Edmunds, taking daily tours around the town. It is not unusual for eight guides to be taking parties around the historic town at the same time.
Cllr Nigel Aitkens, portfolio holder responsible for tourism, said:
“Our guides are ambassadors for the town. They have an intimate knowledge of its history and a gift for sharing it with visitors, who are highly complimentary. Congratulations and thanks to the guides for so admirably representing Bury St Edmunds.”
Geoffrey Pickess, one of the successful guides, said:
“What you do is put across the history of the town in a way that people understand. You make it entertaining by telling stories and making links to the present day. We encourage people to ask questions. Part of the fun is not knowing who you will be talking to.”
ENDS
ISSUED BY SALLY EASTON, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL, Tel 01284 757046 sally.easton@stedsbc.gov.uk
