Revolt of the volunteers
who comes to the hall with the same respect. Visitors’ sexual preference has never been an issue before.’
The couple had been helping out the trust for 24 years. Mike Holmes, who has served at Felbrigg Hall for 13 years, said: ‘I heard it was 75 people no longer working. Five left last Saturday. I am in a team of 14 who work on Tuesdays – those that refused were told to go home. The others, including myself and my wife, just went on sabbatical.
‘There are all sorts of issues of not being able to open the hall at peak times. They are doing nothing to calm the situation. They’re just saying they’re following a protocol.’
The trust confirmed that 240 people had cancelled subscriptions. One said he had removed the charity as a beneficiary in his will, the Daily Telegraph reported last night. A trust spokesman said the losses were countered by the 5,000 who joined up in the last week of July at a typical cost of £64.80 for an individual.
Staff have been told to wear the badges for a six-week period at most properties taking part in the 50th anniversary celebrations. At Felbrigg, a five-minute film narrated by Stephen Fry controversially outs as a homosexual the hall’s last private owner, Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer.
‘This is not about homophobia’ ‘They are so out of touch’
Volunteers said they were appalled by the film and the former squire’s godchildren said it was just done for ‘cheap publicity’.
Mr Holmes, 72, added: ‘This is not about homophobia. It’s about a great and private man who left a wonderful property to the National Trust being outed in an appalling way. We never knew they were raking through his documents. It is a horrid film, exposing the last squire.
‘The first we knew was two days before when we were told in an email that the lanyards and ribbons would have to be worn.
‘They need to change their approach and treat their most valuable commodity with a bit of respect.’ Another volunteer said: ‘For a lot of people, Felbrigg Hall is their life. They feel betrayed.’
Sources had claimed around 50 volunteers were refusing to wear the lanyards, although the trust insisted it was around 30.
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: ‘Ketton-Cremer bequeathed his house to the National Trust, not his reputation. If people who wanted to join supported wearing the rainbow lanyards they’d have joined Stonewall.
‘This is virtue signalling gone mad. It’s a shame the management of the National Trust are so out of touch with the membership who support them and who we rely on.’ Ukip MEP Gerard Batten said: ‘This is politically correct nonsense gone mad. Who the hell do the National Trust think they are?
‘Why should the people who volunteer to show people around be forced to wear a badge that’s got nothing to do with their role? If half the staff have walked out it serves the trust right.’
Volunteers are also furious at an order issued in a meeting two months ago to stop approaching visitors and offering to answer questions. They claim they were told to keep a lowprofile and avoid becoming distracted as visitors file past valuable artefacts.
One said: ‘The faster they come through, the quicker they get to the tea room and shop.’
Mr Ketton-Cremer donated the property and its grounds and outbuildings to the nation on his
‘They need to treat their most valuable commodity with a bit of respect’
‘Visitors’ sexual preference has never been an issue. We treat everyone who comes here the same‘
death in 1969. The trust’s Prejudice and Pride campaign – publicising the alternative lifestyles of some donors – is running at a number of sites.
Peter Tatchell backed the trust, saying it would be wrong not to reveal the sexuality of historical figures. ‘We are marking the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality,’ added the gay rights campaigner.
‘It seems entirely appropriate that the National Trust should join in the celebration. If they ignored it people would understandably ask why.’
Stonewall, the pressure group which worked with the trust on the campaign, declined to comment.
The trust said: ‘We are encouraging volunteers to wear lanyards for public-facing roles but we are discussing concerns with those who do not feel comfortable doing so.’
It claimed that ‘around 30 of 350 volunteers’ had ‘chosen to take a break from volunteering or have been found other roles’.
Other trust properties featured in the Prejudice and Pride programme include Knole in Kent and Kingston Lacy in Dorset.