Irina, Tour Guide Volunteer
I am super excited to become a volunteer guide for Willesden Jewish Cemetery.
Since moving to England from Russia in 1991, I’ve worked as a translator, interpreter, secretary and web designer, but my ambition has always been to be a tour guide, as I have a life long interest in English history and culture.
In 2005 I qualified as a Blue Badge London guide. After Covid, I wanted to go back to being a full time tour guide. I decided to do as much volunteer guiding as possible to get practical experience. I have been interested in local history, so looking for guiding opportunities locally is an obvious choice.
I’ve been involved with the Willesden Local History Society since 2000, and currently I am Chair and Journal editor – and the webmaster. We hold monthly meetings, regular local walking tours and publish a journal twice a year.
I am a Trustee of the Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery and run a programme of tours and events there.
In the last few years I have been working on several local history projects funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Mayor of London and Brent Council. I am currently doing a Masters Degree in Heritage Management at Bath Spa University.
From my perspective, WJC is a cultural heritage site, of interest not just to the Jewish community, but anyone who is interested in British history. The people we are talking about on tours shaped the history of London and the country as a whole and being involved/going on tours will be of interest to a much larger circle of people, not just sharing the same cultural heritage. I am doing my best to help spread the word through the Cemetery’s marketing programme.
I am fascinated by Jewish history and culture, and I am always learning something new from my numerous Jewish friends, both here and in Russia. Preparing tours for Willesden Jewish Cemetery gave me great opportunities to learn more about this amazing culture, the more I dip into it, the more I realise how much there’s still to uncover!
My favourite part of tour guiding is learning and telling stories of people in the context of political and social history – how they were shaped by history and how history shaped them. In this respect, Willesden Jewish Cemetery is a treasure trove of opportunities to bring history to life, and I am looking forward to doing guiding and research on a regular basis.
