A weekly feature on the lives and loves of people from our city.
My day: My day can start any time from 5 am, when I am doing a day long coach tour from a liner in Holyhead or Liverpool, to evening tours when I am leading a 90-minute after dinner stroll round Chester for a tour party who are only stopping overnight.
I take visitors around the city and area telling them about the history and the city’s development with stories of people who lived here over the centuries.
If I am ‘duty’ guide for the tour from the Town Hall at 10.30am I do a general tour, called History Hunter, which covers the basics of the Chester story. I can also be booked for tours on specific periods of history such as Romans or Victorians; or on a theme like romance or food and drink. These are walking tours but at the visitors’ pace and that can mean I have someone in a wheelchair or who is blind so the route has to fit all needs.
Coach tours vary from the short look round Chester and immediate locality followed by a short walk to see the Rows and a section of the walls, to a full day of Chester with Port Sunlight or Llangollen for example. This will include several stops for photographs, coffee, walks, lunch and shopping.
You would be amazed what people want to buy: coloured sugar strands, a saddle, tea to take home to Japan and coal to California are just some of the things I can remember from forty years of guiding. And very often they have an hour or less to find what they want.
Questions come often, though clearly some of the visitors have reached overload like the person who asked why the Romans had built a wall round London up to and round York then across the Scottish border and round Chester! Yes I do have to be tactful in my replies. All guides have stories of strange questions.
Day long coach tours cover much more than history. The visitors want to know about population, employment, cost of living, environmental issues, the political system and devolution and Welsh language since some tours go into Wales – you name it a Tour Guide can be asked about it.
But it is that variety which makes the job worthwhile: no two tours are the same which makes the job challenging and satisfying.
Dress: No uniform though a guide must be smartly dressed, some companies object to jeans. Much the most important item is my Blue Badge which shows I have undertaken training to a national standard.
What is the favourite part of your job? I enjoy meeting people and showing them hidden gems of Chester.
What is the least favourite part of your job? Being late.
What would be your dream job if you weren't doing what you do now? I have my dream job now talking to people who want to know about Chester.
How do you relax when you are not working? Travelling, visiting places I did not have time for when teaching, and out of season so not too busy or expensive; crosswords, Su Doku and reading, especially travellers’ tales.
What is your favourite film? To Kill a Mockingbird for the power, sincerity and love in Gregory Peck’s performance.
What is your favourite book? Bill Bryson for easy reading and fun.
What is your favourite song? The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen, being from The North East of Scotland still matters to me even after over 40 years in Chester.
If a film was made of your life, who would you like to play you? Meryl Streep.
Have you had your 15 minutes of fame? I am on numerous holiday videos taken by members of my tours from all over the world.
FACT FILE:
Name: Lyn Hand
Job: Blue Badge Tourist Guide in Chester and area
Born: Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Live now: Chester
Education: Gordon Schools, Huntly, Aberdeenshire; Aberdeen University – MA; teaching certificates from Aberdeen and Moray House, Edinburgh; Guide Training in Chester
Family life: married to Tom who was also a tour guide till health issues forced his retirement
We want to hear from people from all walks of life – to take part, email jo.henwood@trinitymirror.com or fill out the form below:
Next week: Hana Goseling, ballet teacher at The Hammond School
