MEET THE WOMEN WHO KEEP BRITAIN SPECIAL
THE INFLUENTIAL WOMEN PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE
THE NATIONAL TRUST “We have a lot of leaky roofs!”
DAME HELEN GHOSH, 61, IS THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL TRUST. THE CONSERVATION CHARITY, WHICH WAS STARTED IN 1895, PRESERVES AND PROTECTS HISTORIC PLACES AND SPACES. SHE LIVES IN OXFORD WITH HER HUSBAND PETER, A HISTORIAN, AND HAS TWO GROWN-UP CHILDREN, WILLIAM AND OLIVIA.
THE NATIONAL TRUST HAS ALMOST FIVE MILLION MEMBERS, AND I’VE BEEN A MEMBER ALL MY LIFE. I ENJOYED GOING WITH MY PARENTS AS A CHILD TO STATELY HOMES. FROM THE RESEARCH THAT WE’VE DONE, THOSE WHO HAVE VISITED AS CHILDREN WILL CONTINUE TO VISIT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAVE A FAMILY OF THEIR OWN. THANKS IN PART TO
THE NATIONAL TRUST, I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN HISTORY FROM A YOUNG AGE, AND KNEW I WANTED TO READ IT AT UNIVERSITY.
I HAVE BEEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE ALL MY LIFE – I WORKED AT THE CIVIL SERVICE FOR 33 YEARS, LATTERLY AS PERMANENT SECRETARY AT THE HOME OFFICE – BUT BEFORE I BECAME TOO OLD, I WANTED TO SERVE
THE PUBLIC IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT. THE NATIONAL TRUST POSITION CAME UP IN 2012 AND IT WAS PERFECT BECAUSE I LOVE HISTORY, AND HAVE DEALT WITH MANY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES DURING MY TIME IN GOVERNMENT. THE JOB COMBINED BOTH OF MY PASSIONS. WE HAVE AROUND 500 PROPERTIES, AND I RECKON I’VE VISITED AROUND 300 SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF HUNDRED TO GO – WHICH IS EXCITING AS WELL AS DAUNTING! DURING A TYPICAL WEEK, I MIGHT SPEND TWO DAYS IN THE OFFICE. I HAVE THE KIND OF MEETINGS YOU’D EXPECT IN A BIG ORGANISATION – WE HAVE AROUND 10,000 STAFF AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS. I’LL THEN VISIT A COUPLE OF OUR PROPERTIES. LAST WEEK, I WENT TO THE PEAK DISTRICT – WE’RE RESTORING PEAT AND SPREADING HEATHER SEEDS BY HELICOPTER AS PART OF OUR INITIATIVE TO BRING NATURE BACK TO THE COUNTRYSIDE. THEN I VISITED THE VYNE, A TUDOR MANSION IN HAMPSHIRE – WATER HAD BEEN POURING IN THROUGH THE ROOF BUT NOW THE SCAFFOLDING IS UP, AND WE’VE ALLOWED VISITORS UP THERE TO ADMIRE THE VIEWS. THE NATIONAL TRUST DEALS WITH A LOT OF LEAKY ROOFS!
I WAS PREPARED FOR CRITICISM. EVERYONE KNOWS THE NATIONAL TRUST AND HAS AN OPINION. WE GOT CRITICISM AT ICKWORTH HOUSE IN SUFFOLK FOR PUTTING IN BEANBAGS. WE WANTED PEOPLE TO LIE BACK AND ENJOY THE SPACE WHILE THE FURNITURE WAS BEING RESTORED. IT WAS TEMPORARY – AND PEOPLE LIKED IT. WE GET SOME FLACK ACCUSING US OF DUMBING DOWN. IN FACT, WE’RE DOING MORE CONSERVATION WORK THAN EVER. I’VE LEARNED WE NEED TO BE BETTER AT COMMUNICATING WHAT WE’RE DOING, AND WHY WE’RE DOING IT.
LUCKILY, SEXISM HASN’T BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ME. AT THE NATIONAL TRUST, THERE ARE EIGHT OF US IN THE SENIOR TEAM, AND FOUR ARE WOMEN. IT WAS THE SAME IN THE
CIVIL SERVICE – I MANAGED TO GO AWAY, HAVE TWO CHILDREN, COME BACK AND BE PROMOTED. THE PROBLEM THE NATIONAL TRUST does HAVE, THOUGH, IS ATTRACTING
MEMBERS IN TERMS OF ETHNIC AND SOCIAL DIVERSITY. THAT’S A REAL CHALLENGE.
I’M NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A FAVOURITE PROPERTY – IT’S LIKE HAVING A FAVOURITE CHILD – BUT I’M FOND OF ONES WE
USED TO VISIT WITH THE CHILDREN, SUCH AS HARDWICK HALL IN DERBYSHIRE OR WALLINGTON IN NORTHUMBRIA.
WHAT KEEPS ME AWAKE AT NIGHT? IT’S ALWAYS TO DO WITH PEOPLE. I BELIEVE YOU CAN ACHIEVE GOOD THINGS WITH GOOD PEOPLE AROUND YOU. AS A BOSS, I TRY NOT TO MICROMANAGE. SOMETIMES PEOPLE EXPECT ME TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE DOING, BUT AS ONE OF FIVE CHILDREN, MY MOTHER ALWAYS SAID, “I’M GOING TO ASSUME ALL IS WELL UNLESS YOU TELL ME OTHERWISE.”
WHEN I WAS AT THE HOME OFFICE, I WAS KNOWN FOR BRINGING IN HOMEMADE CAKES FOR CELEBRATIONS. IT SHOWS THAT YOU CARE, AND THAT YOU’VE TAKEN TIME TO MAKE SOMETHING. NIGELLA’S CAPPUCCINO CUPCAKES ALWAYS WENT DOWN WELL.
THE BEST ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED IS: DON’T LET THE BEST BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD. IT CAN BE CHALLENGING WHEN YOU’RE A WORKING MUM, AND FEEL YOU HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING PERFECTLY – TURN UP TO WORK LOOKING WONDERFUL, DO A FANTASTIC COSTUME FOR WORLD BOOK DAY... IF YOU CAN DO THINGS WELL ENOUGH, THEN THAT’S GOOD ENOUGH.
“I don’t have a favourite property – it’s like having a favourite child”