| Southampton Tourist Guides Association |
|
 New guides trained by STGA got their white and green badges yesterday presented in the Mayor’s parlour by Southampton’s 795th Mayor. Well done to all our new guides. You worked hard and the awards were well deserved. We look forward to you joining the team and sharing the fantastic history of Southampton with residents and visitors alike.
Preparing for STGA's new 'Around the Walls in 80 minutes' walk  Another Blitz to D-Day walk. This time the turn of Jo and Di. Interesting to hear stories of people's family members in Southampton during WWII.  Good turnout for our two free Southampton Blitz to D-Day walks from Guildhall Square. Run as part of the celebrations for the opening of Nuffield Southampton Theatres venue in Southampton’s city centre and their production of The Shadow Factory  Great evening at the Star for Southampton Tourist Guides get together. It was lovely to be joined by our recently qualified White Badge guides, soon to become Green Badge guides.   There's a rumour that tourist guides hibernate in the winter, but a number were seen on Saturday outside the Civic Centre on a training walk.
 The Southampton Tourist Guides Association has been proudly serving the City for over 40 years, and this successful year has shown that none of our members have lost their enthusiasm. We have trained new guides, researched new walks, and worked with new partners.
A debt of gratitude is owed to Cheryl Butler and her team for running the training courses. We now have newly qualified 'White Badge' holders, and soon to be 'Green Badge' guides! New guides are like a blood transfusion bringing new energy and ideas. It's an exciting time in the city. The new West Quay development shows off our ancient western walls to good effect, soon the eastern walls will become more accessible and God's House Tower looks set to become a hub for cultural and heritage activities later next year. During 2017 the STGA has also played its part in the highly successful Jane Austen commemorative walks and events. We have also designed new walks, and worked in partnership with both the Docks Coffee House, and the Southampton Bowling Green plus running tours of God's House Tower prior to its renovation work. We had the privilege of taking the Mayor of Southampton on a bespoke tour walk ,and working with the Sheriff we helped some local school children 'beat the bounds' thus keeping alive an ancient Southampton ceremony. We were also able to honour two of our long standing guides and make them Life members of the Association. We held two enjoyable social events at the Dolphin Hotel. We have re-structured our website. It now has facilities to purchase tickets, subscribe to our mailing list, and it has a blog page. We already have plans for 2018...and beyond! If you have ideas, please let us know, and do come on one of our walks soon. We'd love to show you around! Dave Adcock Chair Great turnout for our special tours of God's House Tower on Saturday. Thanks to White Badge Guides Pam, Pauline, Inge, Helen, Jill and Jo for volunteering. GHT closes now for refurbishment and will re-open approx. Autumn 2018.   CONGRATULATIONS to the new WHITE BADGE GUIDES
The Southampton Tourist Guides Association have been piloting a new ‘escalator’ training programme for tourist guides in collaboration with the Institute of Tourist Guiding. The scheme has just seen 21 guides complete the first phase of their training which was an ‘enhanced’ White Badge curriculum. As well as studying for examination on two sites [and the first sites in the region to have white badge guides] the students also undertook additional training which was developed in conjunction with the heritage sites. At the ceremony the students were presented their badges and certifications by the Association’s patron, the Mayor of Southampton, and Marilyn Collis, Deputy President of the ITG and were addressed by Mark King, Chairman of the Guild. The course received sponsorship from three Heritage Lottery Funded projects - Netley Hospital, Gods House Tower and the Jane Austen Festival. “We are thrilled at the positive response to the training course, and to have so many students set to become tourist guides, some already have their sights set on the coveted Blue Badge.” says course director Dr Cheryl Butler.
|
