Introducing…
Here at Six in the City we have exciting news! We have expanded our ranks and welcomed a new member to our team!
Introducing Sarah Brierley. What better way to get to know our newest member than with a quick Q&A session. 10 Questions pulled from a hat…let’s see what she has to say…
What made you interested in becoming a tour guide?
‘What a good first question and an easy one to answer. I love living history, and by that, I mean tangible history that you can see all around you. Living in London all my life, I pass it every day. However, it wasn’t until I was older that I started to appreciate what is all around us here in the City of London. We have it all – evidence of Roman life to the present day. I also love people and talking, so combining my passions into one is brilliant!’
Do you enjoy what you do for a living?
‘YES!’
What is a book you’d recommend?
‘Ok, I am going to sort of cheat here if that’s ok. I am going to name a series of books called the Kingsbridge Seriesby Ken Follett. They are a wonderful mix of historical facts woven into fiction. The first book I read from the series was Pillars of the Earth. It is based around the building of a cathedral, and I couldn’t put it down.’
What is your dream job?
‘Easy – being a City of London tour guide. I get to combine my love of history and telling people about it.’
What is your favourite type of cuisine?
‘All of it…I love food. I am a vegetarian and enjoy trying all types of cuisine. I am very partial to any sort of stinky cheese too!’
What sort of music do you enjoy?
‘Oh…again I like lots of different types of music. Definitely upbeat music though – I love something I can dance along to.’
Do you enjoy spending time outdoors?
‘Another big fat YES! Apart from pounding the streets regaling people with stories of The City of London, I also have 2 dogs that I walk. I enjoy being out in nature…it is very good for your wellbeing.’
What building has dominated your mind the most in the City of London?
‘Ooh good question. If I had to choose just one, it would be St Bartholomew the Great in Smithfield. I just love the fact that parts of the original church built in 1123 are still there. They have survived so much, and I get goosebumps walking in there every time.’
What do you like most about meeting the public?
‘The fact that every day is different and the wonderful people I get to interact with. I wouldn’t have met such fabulous people in this last year had I not just qualified as a City of London Guide. It is a joy to go to work.’
Do you ever learn things from your groups?
‘This is a fabulous question because the answer is so easy. Another yes! As mentioned before, I have met some wonderful people and learnt so much from them too. For example, I was leading a walk called City Highlights and it involved going into Postman’s Park. I was telling the story of Ernest Wilson and the glorious Handkerchief Tree. It turns out that a woman in the group was a relative of one of the gardeners at Kew responsible for growing the original seeds bought back from China. She was a horticulturalist herself, and I learnt so much from her in our talk after the walk ended.’
Bonus question: What is a cause you feel strongly about?
‘Haha! Ok, so this is not an answer you will be expecting… I really love pigeons! They are synonymous with London, and they are such sweet birds in my humble opinion. I would love to convince people to be kinder to them. They are trying to live their lives in a somewhat hostile environment, finding food where they can. I was thrilled when the new London Museum unveiled their new logo…a pigeon with a glittery poo splat!
