Shrewsbury town guides awarded Green Badges
A group of individuals have recently received prestigious Green Badges for guides at a recent event in Shrewsbury.
The 11 guides received their coveted awards in a recent award ceremony at Rowley’s House organised by Shropshire Council’s Visitor Information Centre. The Mayor of Shrewsbury and Shropshire Councillor for Monkmoor Tony Durnell presented the town guides with their official Green Badges.
Blue and Green Badges are the recognised awards for those tour guides who have successfully completed a period of professional training for the whole of the county or country or for specified areas in Shropshire. The award is accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding.
All guides had undergone extensive training, passing both practical and academic guiding examinations. On receiving these Green Badges, they will become part of a team of 26 guides who already hold Green or Blue Badges.
Shrewsbury has a long tradition going back over half a century of providing guided tours. From the early 1950s Shrewsbury was one of the first towns outside London to have official tour guides.
Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for tourism and culture, said:
“I would like to congratulate the guides who must be delighted to be receiving their Green Badges. With their abundance of local knowledge, tour guides know the ‘hidden gems’ normally found only by locals, and provide visitors with fun and enlightening commentaries. This is why our guided tours are still very popular with visitors to the town, to UK and overseas visitors and local people.”
Shropshire Council’s Visitor Information Centre at Rowley’s House arranges the general history tours that take place all year round, plus the many private tours that are booked throughout the year. The guides have a wide range of knowledge and experience, and have led themed tours on a wide variety of subjects including Charles Darwin, Brother Cadfael, Tudor Shrewsbury, Christmas Carol and the ever-popular Ghost Tours.
Andrew Bannerman, Shropshire Councillor for Quarry and Coton Hill, added:
“Congratulations to the town guides. They are in the frontline of welcome to our town, and as we aim to dramatically increase the number of visitors, their role will become ever more vital. They do not only have to be knowledgeable but attentive and entertaining as well. Furthermore they are able to give us information on visitors’ interests and enthusiasms and to point out any problems they meet on their routes.
“We owe them a big debt of gratitude and they well deserve this accolade.”
The guides and the rest of the team of tour guides are looking forward to another year of guiding visitors around Shrewsbury and informing them of the wonderful history and buildings the town has to offer.
For more information on the guided tours of Shrewsbury, to book on any of the tours available, or if you would like to become a guide, please contact the Shrewsbury Information Centre on 01743 258888 or email guided.tours@shropshire.gov.uk
