Louise Armstrong, York Museums Trust Volunteer, discusses her experience as a volunteer and the excitement of volunteering in the Castle Kitchen at Christmas.

When anyone used to ask me ‘what would your dream job be? I always answered, ‘to work in York Castle Museum.’ After moving to York a few years ago I noticed the Volunteer Section on the Museum website and I realised I could actually fulfil part of my ambition.

Over the past two years I have had wonderful opportunities to actually handle items of the Museum’s collection and I have learnt so much about the history of food whilst working in the Castle Kitchen.

During my time I have worked with people from China, Italy, Germany & Poland as well as all areas of the UK.

It is an education to talk to our visitors who come from all parts of the world and who can add their own stories to the information we are giving out.

It was quiet nerve racking to serve porridge to the Scots and Anzac biscuits to the Australians but so far I have had no complaints.

Working over the Christmas period adds another dimension to the volunteering experience. The atmosphere is great and the decorations beautiful.

Each weekend as the big day approaches there is a growing feeling of excitement as the children come through the kitchen having met the most fabulous Father Christmas I have ever seen. 

It is great to be able to offer visitors a taste of Christmas in the form of the novelty Gingerbread shapes we are producing.

Whilst the children are eating the gingerbread I find that most adults are happy to learn a few facts about the history of gingerbread and how it has changed throughout the ages to become the biscuits we are offering them today.

After a couple of shifts at the Castle Museum in the run up to Christmas I find that I am beginning to feel the excitement and magic of Christmas that I have not felt since I was a child.

To find out more about the volunteering programme at York Museums Trust, click here to visit the Volunteering Page.