September 3rd 2023.
Malcolm Walford has been a part of the Croome Estate in Worcestershire, run by the National Trust, for a remarkable seventy years. He began his journey as a labourer just two months after the Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 and has been there ever since.
The National Trust is a firm family favourite in the UK, celebrating its 128th anniversary this year. The Trust operates over 500 sites, including the iconic Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, Stonehenge in Wiltshire, and Cheddar Gorge in Somerset.
Malcolm has worked a variety of jobs at the Croome Estate over the past seven decades, such as conserving the Capability Brown-designed parkland and acting as a general handyman. On his 90th birthday, celebrated on-site with his colleagues, Malcolm was described by General Manager of South Worcestershire National Trust, Michelle Fullard, as a ‘true friend of Croome’s’.
When Malcolm ‘retired’ he immediately rejoined the Croome Estate as a volunteer, spending his days greeting visitors and leading tours of the 18th century house and palatial grounds. He also works at the on-site church two days a week, and has no plans to stop anytime soon.
Malcolm loves Croome so much that he’s written a book about his time there, with the profits from the sales funding conservation work at the site. He says that Croome ‘took over my family life’ and that ‘as long as I’ve got breath in my body, I shall be here at Croome’. When his time comes to an end, he plans to be buried on the estate.
The National Trust’s Heritage Open Days festival will take place from September 8-17, running under the theme of ‘Creativity Unwrapped’. If you’re looking for a place to explore and appreciate the beauty of our nation, the National Trust sites are a perfect place to start.
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