Drive to bring in tourists

The head of Southwell’s tourist information centre wants more people living in the town to take part in festivals and events.

Mrs Honor Dunkley (37) of Newark Road, Southwell, is the new events and tourist information centre co-ordinator.

She succeeds Mrs Sue Rodgers who was the tourist information centre manager for 21/2 years and now works for Nottinghamshire County Council’s community archaeology team.

Mrs Dunkley and her husband, Dr Colin Dunkley, moved to Southwell from Leeds nine years ago.

She said: “I’ve helped with the Christmas lantern walks and the Christmas shopping weekend in the town for the last three years.

“I was always very interested in events in the town and wanted to support them and be part of them.”

Before moving to Southwell Mrs Dunkley worked as a housing officer.

She gave up her job to look after her daughters, Maria (8) and Lauren (6) who attend Lowe’s Wong junior and infants’ schools.

In her new role she will run the tourist information centre and help organise events including Southwell Festival and the Christmas shopping weekend.

Mrs Dunkley said she hoped to build on the work of Mrs Rodgers.

“I’ve loved all the events that have taken place in the town, especially recent ones like Southwell Festival, the folk festival and the family fun day on the Burgage.

“I want to bring the tourist information centre to people’s attention because it is such a good resource, not just for visitors but for people in the town.

“I want to bring more tourists into Southwell and raise its profile because it is such a great, historic town.

“I also want to encourage events that bring the community together and create spaces for families and societies to meet and feel part of the place they are living in.”

Mrs Dunkley has been a volunteer with Homestart in Newark for nine years. She said she would continue to volunteer one morning a week.