Our volunteer: Bett Leech
Meet Bett, our volunteer who has been here over 20 years.
- How long have you worked at Martin Mere?
- Just over 23 years, now.
- What was the first job you did?
- I started in the education department, and on my first day I had to type up a report, and then tidy the education office – it was a tip! After that I worked with the school groups – we would show the children a short film and supervise them while they did craft activities like brass rubbings and badge making. We could have up to 12 different schools a day at that time.
- How has your role changed over the years?
- I’ve worked in lots of different departments since I started. After the education department, I helped Eileen Beeseley with publicity. I also volunteered in the shop and on admissions for seven years. The admissions desk was very different then to how it is now – we had a hole in the wall where we sold the tickets, and a turnstile. Nowadays, I work on the information desk – I’m 88 this year, and this role suits me because I like meeting different people, and at the information desk, they all come to me!
- What are your fondest memories from your time here?
- There are quite a few, really! I think my favourite was working with the children, doing different craft projects. Some of them would make really lovely things, and I always enjoyed helping them.
- Tells us something that your average visitor would never know about the Centre
- All the ducks have to be rounded up each year for health checks and vaccinations. The grounds team work very hard for those few days – I’m glad it’s not my job!
- What is the strangest thing you’ve ever found yourself doing for Martin Mere?
- When I was working with the publicity department, we travelled all over swapping leaflets with different attractions. The strangest thing was probably standing in the middle of Ormskirk handing out leaflets and talking to people about Martin Mere – I never thought I’d be doing that.
- What do you think Martin Mere will be like 40 years from now?
- I think it will keep growing – I’d like to see the reserve double in size if the land is available. I hope it will still be running on the same lines, but bigger and better. I hope there will still be lots of volunteers.
- Anything else you’d like to tell the world?
- I have really enjoyed meeting so many people over the years. Very often when people retire, they get isolated, but Martin Mere has kept me in touch, and I get to spend time with lovely people of all different ages.
