Dave Pearson

Visitor Team – Visitor Team

I was a regular visitor to Holkham after moving to Norfolk in 2012, attending many events and thoroughly enjoying the amazing variety of experiences that Holkham Hall has to offer visitors. Christmas was then and of course still is, a highlight, my two young grandsons had certainly never been serenaded in a car park by elves before. We left that day with fond memories and with me starting to think that this might just be the ideal place to work a few days per week in my impending retirement.

Home Our People Dave Pearson
Back to Our People

My Holkham Journey

I was fortunate to join the Holkham team midway through the 2017 season, driving a golf buggy, fresh air, sunshine, cooling breezes from the sea, which were occasionally rather chilly! Happy smiling visitors and within a month a ticket to see UB40 in the sunshine on the South Lawn. Passengers on my buggy would often engage in conversation, asking what it was like working at Holkham, my immediate response was that “I have the best retirement job in the world”.

October brought Halloween, the cooling breezes became cold winds then all to soon the season was over. To my delight and amazement my line manager Sarah asked “Are you coming back next year? And I have a nice little job for you in December”. It took less than a minute to reply! Who could turn down the opportunity to work with the Elves and inside the magnificence of Holkham Hall? Not me, that’s for sure.

My journey as an employee at Holkham had certainly begun. My skills were recognised, utilised and developed; a wide range of differing duties and challenges were offered and accepted with enthusiasm. I continue to have fantastic support from every member of the Holkham team.

Being a part of the Visitor Experience Team is a truly rewarding role, my time here so far has seen me grow in confidence as an individual, actively encouraged to pass on skills and knowledge to new and old colleagues alike, sharing best practice and taking pleasure from their successes.

What does a typical day in your role look like?

Well, let me sum that up by saying expect the unexpected, every day is different, every customer is an individual and the team and I work together to help them have the best experience and take away happy memories of Holkham. We have a quality product and take immense pride in doing things the “Holkham way”.

How has Holkham supported your career growth and development?

Many different opportunities have been presented to me during my time here, helping on recruitment days and induction days also welcoming new members to the Holkham family. Encouraging team members to engage with visitors, grow their own knowledge, challenge their boundaries and have confidence in knowing that the whole Holkham team are there to support them.

I have worked with colleagues across the Holkham family in employee forums like Heads Up, become a mental health first aider, been trained as a fire warden, attended award ceremonies, been on numerous Go See’s to help my understanding of how other departments at Holkham operate, worn the red robe in December for school visits, cleared tables in the Courtyard Café at busy times, helped out in the gift shop too, parked cars, picked litter and joined the Hall team each December to welcome visitors to the Holkham Christmas Experience.

How do the Visitor Team incorporate Holkham’s sustainability vision into day to day life?

We live and work in constantly changing and challenging times, our team embraces the goal of Holkham’s vision to become the UK’s most pioneering and sustainable rural estate, we have worked tirelessly to reduce the amount of paper and consumables used in our daily duties, moved effortlessly to use electric vehicles, actively promoted the separation of waste by colleagues and visitors so reducing the amount we send to landfill significantly.

What is your top Holkham Highlight?

I have been asked to give one highlight of my time here so far at Holkham, a close to impossible task as there truly are so many but if I were to choose just one it would have to be my contribution to the team effort in achieving such significant growth in Group Travel since 2022 and being asked to deliver a presentation about our success to every member of staff on Induction day 2024.

So as another season, another year draws to a close I am reminded of my comment way back in 2017 to visitors, do I still have the ‘Best retirement job in the world?’ Oh yes, I certainly do!

Other team members

Vicki Uttridge
Visitor Team

After attending the Recruitment Open Day in 2022, I secured a role in the Visitor Team where I have been for the past three years. No two days are ever the same in the Visitor Reception. The role is wonderfully varied and every day goes by in a happy blur.

As a member of the Visitor Experience Team, the number one priority is to look after our visitors. Our role involves meeting and greeting, dealing with phone and email enquiries, selling entry tickets and generally making sure everyone is having a great time whilst here. We are also on hand to support other teams where necessary.

Read bio

Curtis Austin
Forester

My day to day work in the forestry department can vary from carrying out thinning and clear-fell work with chainsaws, to using some of our machines to assist the others foresters with felling. During the winter we are focussing on planting which comprises many steps such as staking, making holes, tree selection, planting and tubing which you may have spotted throughout the estate.

Read bio

Jane Gooderham
Cafe Supervisor

I joined the Holkham team in March 2010, working in the Stables Cafe which is now the Courtyard Cafe.

I have worked in many of the Holkham cafes over the years, including the Rose Garden which is now Ancient House – accommodation at The Victoria.

Whilst the Stables Cafe was being refurbished, I worked in the pop up cafe which was situated by the front of the Hall in a marquee.

Now, I am mainly based at the Courtyard Cafe, but I do occasionally work at The Lookout and the Beach Cafe.

I started my job at Holkham as a general cafe assistant before being promoted to cafe supervisor in 2012.

Read bio

Gavin Chapman
General Builder

Before joining Holkham as a general builder, I worked for a family business for 19 years where my Grandad and Uncle taught me everything I needed to know to build a house from footing to finish. Together we constructed anything from new builds and barn conversions to renovations and more.

Now, as a qualified builder I relish the opportunity to pass my skills onto the next generation.

Read bio

Abi Faima
Holiday Sales Adviser

I am a Holiday Sales Adviser at Pinewoods, and I have been I my current role since 2016 where I began as a trainee. After two years, I qualified in my current role.

Read bio

Mai Sussex
Forester

I have worked at Holkham since July 2022. I was a trainee for just over a year and have been a qualified forester since then.

Read bio

Katy Allison
Visitor Team

I have been with Holkham since 2021 but have worked in a few different roles during my time including with the car park team, in visitor reception and in the gift shop.

Read bio

Ethan Bix
Wells Beach Bus Conductor

I’ve been a Wells Beach Bus Conductor since March 2023.

My day as a conductor starts with getting to the depot in the morning to meet my fellow colleague who will drive the bus that day. From then, we discuss the day’s plan and the weather conditions to enable us to prioritise tasks such as cleaning the buses and getting them looking pristine for the day ahead. I also help the driver with some of their daily checks too.

Once I get down to Beach Road, I open up the bus stops and make sure everything is in order and ready to welcome our brilliant passengers!

Throughout the day, I am always in communication with the driver and our car park team to make sure the day runs smoothly, along with welcoming passengers and answering any questions about Wells and Holkham that they may have.

Read bio

Louise Hubbard
Cafe Team

I started working at Holkham by applying online through a local advert over three years ago. A typical day at the Courtyard Cafe begins with greeting the team and finding out if any functions around the estate will involve us that day. We then start to prepare for the day by putting away the deliveries, turning on the machines, ovens and dishwasher. Hot food then needs to be cooked, and we begin to prepare the fresh sandwiches and salads for the day. Throughout the cafe opening hours, we all work together to ensure all aspects of the role are covered in producing the food, drink and welcome to the customers.

Read bio