Wednesday 30 July 2014

Behind the scenes - Day 3

I am unable to report that the Portaloos have been located in their permanent home, but there have been several new Portacabins erected in the car park outside The College.

However, there has been lots of activity in the Project Office today. The two key people here at Edwina Bell, our Project Director on the right, and Marilyn Tyler, Project Administrator. They were a little embarrassed by the state of their office, but as the saying goes ... the camera never lies!

Edwina has been the driving force behind this project since its inception long before I arrived on the scene. It was her vision and energy that created the project and found the funding for it. All I had to do when I got here was to sign the application form.

Marilyn, who doubles as my PA, oversees all the the detail of the project. Together they make quite a team!

The project is not just the building works. We are also busy planning the first exhibition that will take place in the Crypt and the Library has been moved to Maidstone for storage during the build and also to be cataloged. Future posts will introduce our Community Engagement and Interpretation Officer and our Librarian.

Also key to the success of the whole thing is our encouragement of volunteers guides and welcomers. Again we have a member of staff overseeing this who will feature soon!

Tuesday 29 July 2014

Day 2 - Portaloos cause comment....

I walked down the High Street this morning and as I passed the Diocesan Offices (formerly St Nicholas's Church) I came across 2 portaloos. A few steps further brought me to a member of the diocesan staff, who commented that she hoped that was not the permanent position for these vital necessities....


Well, of course we value our relationship with the Diocese of Rochester much more than that so very soon the cabins were moved.


This is immediately outside our Tea Rooms, located int eh former Deanery, now known as The College.  So I went inside to chat to our manager who shared the view of the diocesan staff, hoping that they were going to be moved very quickly....


While on the subject of the Tea Rooms, they really do a fabulous job, with a wide variety of goodies on sale. When you come to look at our building work or join in one of the tours to see progress, why not book lunch or an afternoon tea to finish off the day?












While on the subject of food, the workers canteen is coming together nicely. I had never really thought about these things before, but in a box outside was a new fridge and all the kit needed for a kitchen.


Monday 28 July 2014

Work begins - Day 1

Buxton Constrcution our contractors for the main building works arrived on site this morning, so as promised last week, it 's All Systems are Go.

And just to prove it....




The canteen is being erected.


Thursday 24 July 2014

It's all systems go....

I have just come from a meeting at which the last bit of permission was granted for our major building project. So the builders can arrive on Monday morning and off we go.

Yesterday we also heard that the Heritage lottery Fund have increased their grant to us so that all aspects of the project are now fully funded. We are so grateful to our funders for their generosity and that they share our vision of how we can put Rochester Cathedral more firmly on the map of the South East of England.

Our funders are:

Heritage Lottery Fund
The Colyer Fergusson Charitable Trust
Garfield Weston Foundation
Rochester Bridge Trust
Wolfson Foundation
Headley Trust
Friends of Rochester Cathedral
Esmee Fairbairn Trust
Church Care / DCMS - World War 1 Cathedral Fund

I will be taking lots of photos during the build and give you a full commentary of what is going on.... Starting on Monday