Volunteers’ Week 1-7 June
Much of the work that supports cathedral music happens quietly behind the scenes. From organising events and coordinating logistics to nurturing connections within Cathedral Music Trust community, volunteers play an essential role in making so much of what we do possible. Their dedication, energy and expertise help create the gatherings, experiences and opportunities that bring people together in support of cathedral music.
Jean Duerden is one of those volunteers. As Event Administrator for The Trust’s National Gatherings, she has been at the heart of planning and delivering memorable events across the country since 2022. Drawing on a lifetime of professional experience and a passion for organisation, Jean brings warmth, efficiency and enthusiasm to the role, ensuring every gathering runs smoothly. Here, she reflects on how volunteering has become such an important and rewarding part of her life.
Jean talks to us for Volunteers’ Week about how she began and some of the brilliant (often unseen work) she does for the Trust.
My husband is the Local Ambassador volunteer for Blackburn, and through this role we started to attend gatherings around the country at a time when fellow volunteer Rosemary Downey was responsible for them. She announced she was giving up this role and was looking for a successor and it sounded right up my street so found myself declaring an interest straight away – probably not realising just how much it involved.
I have to confess to being a bit of a computer nerd with a love of spread sheets! How sad is that?
After I retired from the NHS and a long career, mainly in midwifery, I set up a company organising NHS conferences which I ran for five years until my husband retired. I guess I was missing the buzz, hence putting my hand up as a possible Rosemary replacement. The role has certainly given me lots of enjoyment, meeting all the lovely folk who attend gatherings, and also working for Cathedral Music Trust with the super people employed there and other volunteers. It is great to know we are supporting such a worthy cause.
I have some wonderful memories from each of the gathering events I have organised, too many to mention but high spots have been: singing in the Long Hall at Ingastone Hall; the Band of The Prince Of Wales playing for us in Brecon after a recital by talented pupils at Christ College; magical tours at Salisbury Cathedral up high looking down into the Cathedral; an amazing choral concert at Hexham Abbey with such enthusiastic singers; choristers at Evensong at Durham Cathedral; candlelit pilgrimage at Canterbury Cathedral, and so many, many more.
Volunteering is a huge part of my life in retirement, it keeps the grey cells working. I would recommend volunteering to any one (and Cathedral Music Trust are lovely to volunteer for!) – but would suggest perhaps not taking on five voluntary roles which I currently carry. It is so worthwhile, makes you feel valued and part of the community both local and national. You will never be bored!
Jean Duerden (Events Working Group, National Gatherings)
If you are interested in volunteering with Cathedral Music Trust , we’d love to hear from you! Please email [email protected], or, take a look at our volunteering page!
