National Trust anniversary book place for Romain
A book marking the 125th anniversary of the National Trust features a familiar face for those who regularly visit Ickworth House, Park and Gardens.
Romain Arrayet, from Bury St Edmunds, but originally from the Loire Valley in France, is one of the site’s welcome and service assistants, helping people to enjoy what the estate has to offer.
He was chosen to represent Ickworth in the new publication, A Portrait of the National Trust, because of his passion for the site, which has origins dating back to the Domesday Book and once belonged to the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds.
He said: “I was working at Maison Bleue and I had every Monday off, and after a few years I began to feel I was not doing anything constructive with them.
“One day, I was at Ickworth, having a picnic with my partner, Paul, and I saw a poster saying something like ‘What would you do if you volunteered here?’, so I applied and have been here, all together, for around four years now.”
Even now working full-time on the site, Romain still sees the incredible beauty of his place of work.
“It is such a big estate with so many lovely walks, which you could do for hours and really be by yourself,” he said.
“I love the building, with the Rotunda as well. The curves and the general shape of it, it really is just a beautiful place.”
The National Trust’s book tells 125 stories for its 125 years, celebrating so many people who continue to give so much to the charity.
Romain said he was very happy to be one of the chosen few to have an entry in its pages.
He said: “It is very nice to feel you are being recognised for the work you are trying to achieve and bring here.
“But it is not just about me, it is also about what others are doing within the trust as well, there are not just people who work there in the book but also some of the volunteers, members and supporters of the trust, so it is quite a big thing for me.”
The trust said that in 2018 and 2019, more than 65,000 volunteers gave almost 4.8 million hours of their time, in more than 500 different roles to support its work.
With Romain having worked his way from being a volunteer to working full-time at Ickworth, he is also glad they are represented in the book as well.
He said: “We would not be open without our volunteers, that is for sure. It is kind of a big family with our volunteers here because they come back on the same day, every week, all year round.
“Unfortunately, at the moment we cannot have them back yet, but they still visit and we have nice conversations with them.
“They make it a nice atmosphere for us and with some retired or near to retirement they also bring their own knowledge from their different types of work to help Ickworth, which helps makes Ickworth what it is.”
During his time volunteering, Romain worked in many departments including being part of the site’s Living History group.
The picture of Romain in the book is of him dressed as a 1930s footman, which he played during his work with them.
He said: “The group reenacted the lives of the servants in the basement during some weekends,
“We had to all dress up in period clothes and for about six hours do the work these people would have done. People came down and had the chance to see what it would have been like then, I really enjoyed it.”
With the grounds of Ickworth open again after lockdown, Romain feels people have really come back appreciating what the National Trust has there.
He said: “We have had so many people say they are thankful we are back, but also we have had a lot of people in the area join up.
“They discovered their own surroundings and have now realised it is such a great place to have a break from everywhere else.”
One project Romain has been working on for two years and hopes he can complete for Ickworth is a sensory trail for blind and visually impaired people – his innovation was the reason he was chosen for the book.
The plan is to have sensory maps and boards around the estate with tactile objects on them so that everybody can enjoy the history of the site.
He said: “It is a project that I brought forward myself and have wanted to do for Ickworth for quite some time now.
“Hopefully, at some point, we can finish this and make Ickworth even more inclusive in the future.”
In her foreword for the book, National Trust director-general Hilary McGrady praises the work and dedication of its staff, volunteers, members, donors and tenants.
She said: “A Portrait of the National Trust is a record of a moment in time, a representation of the trust as it is today, and a beautiful photographic addition to its collections.
“Most of all, though, it is a huge ‘thank you’ to every one of our members, volunteers, staff, tenants, donors and supporters.
“You are the real heroes of the National Trust. As we weather the current storm, it is your ongoing support that will ensure the trust continues to thrive for the next 125 years and beyond.”
As for Romain, he describes the National Trust, and in particular, Ickworth House, Park and Gardens, simply as: “A day out for the whole family, where everyone will find something they like . . . a bit of everything for everyone.”
The book, A Portrait of the National Trust, which is accompanied by an online exhibition on the National Trust website, can be purchased at nationaltrust.org.uk/shop
