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7 January 2026
Dear Volunteers,
Wishing you a belated Happy New Year. We had a successful Christmas period and now everything is cleared away and we are ready to re-open to the public in the morning. Thank you to all of you who went the extra mile to make it such a joyous celebration for our visitors.
The big news is that there is a new Visitor Reception (formerly known as the stableyard room) and the space where the shop used to be is now all part of the café. Amazing really that the transformation has taken place in just 3 days!
Just a reminder that during opening hours the new entrance (and exit) is through the new Visitor Reception where you will need to scan the barcode on the reverse of your lanyard on the black box on your right as you go in. Please collect your new lanyard from the Visitor Reception if you haven’t already done so (and hand in your old one). For those of you who start before we are open to the public ie a few garden and maintenance volunteers, for now please walk down past the parked cars, in front of the palace and round that way to get in. You can unhook the chain by the palace building to slip through.
It’s that time of year again when we start gearing up for the busy Spring and Summer months. Here is this year’s Volunteer Training/Talks/Tours programme. Please contact Gemma to book your place.
This Sunday 11th Jan at 3pm is the evensong service in the quire at the cathedral to remember Bishop Beckynton and his gift of water to the city. I will be there representing the Palace but do come along too if you would like to.
Sat 17th Jan is the Wells Lantern Parade meeting at 6:15 in the cathedral. We have two swan lanterns (kindly made by some of volunteers for last year’s parade) if anyone would like to represent The Bishop’s Palace. Let me know and I will get them ready for you! That day is also the Community Day in the cathedral and we will have a stall. It’s always an interesting day so do swing by and say hello if you are in town. We will start our recruitment for new volunteers that day too, so if you know anyone who would like to join our team, as a welcomer, please ask them to contact Gemma.
Just a reminder that the new times for Palace Welcomer sessions are 10:30-1 and 1-3:30 just while it is fairly quiet in the palace.
Here’s to a great 2026!
Siobhan Goodwin
Pictures of the Month – December
Here are some wonderful pictures of the Sparkle event with a lovely full moon taken by Liz Pedley – A volunteer Guide
