New tour guides needed in Southampton (From Daily Echo)

New tour guides needed in Southampton

9:00am Sunday 17th March 2013 in News By James Franklin, Political reporter

Southampton's tourist guides at the Bargate - picture by Derek Callaghan

SOUTHAMPTON’S army of tourist guides is in urgent need of reinforcements.

Southampton Tourist Guides Association (STGA) is looking for new team members to show visitors around the city’s most famous sites and share its stories.

With the number of cruise ships due to call in to the city set to rise from 405 last year to 460 this year, the association needs to bolster the numbers of its 25-strong team.

It will run a training course for new walking tour guides later this year.

Association spokeswoman Diana Callaghan said: “From Roman times, through the medieval and Tudor periods and right up to the present day, Southampton is steeped in history.

"With an ever-increasing number of visitors, more tourist guides are needed to show the sights and share the fascinating stories relating to the city.”

Among the topics guides will find themselves talking about will be Jane Austen, the Titanic and the Second World War.

On average the tours, which cost £3 per person, take up to one-and-a-half hours and cover up to 1.7 miles.

The association is currently running its winter and spring schedule, where a tour takes place every Sunday morning, but that will increase to four a week in June, July and September, and seven in August.

The money from the tours is divided up between all the guides every six months, with a small percentage going to the STGA.

Potential candidates will be interviewed in the next two months before the course, which costs between £400 and £500, is held later in the year. There would also be examination costs.

Mrs Callaghan added: “If you are looking for a new interest and an opportunity to associate with like-minded people to help enhance visitors’ experiences, then this may be for you. No previous knowledge is necessary. If you can speak another language in addition to English, that would be a bonus, but not essential.”

People who complete the course will gain the Institute of Tourist Guiding Green Badge qualification. Email Penelope Rose on pennyrose2b@aol.com or Diana Callaghan on diana_callaghan@hotmail.com.