The Watercress Line is a living museum. Its visitors gain many opportunities to experience and learn about the role played by railways and steam power in the development of the communities, industry and commerce in the Alresford to Alton area of the Hampshire countryside while also enjoying a range of heritage, family and enthusiast events throughout the year … while also enjoying the ultimate family day out! The Watercress Line’s volunteers are its backbone.
They work alongside a small number of specialist employed staff to:
1. manage and operate the railway, and to develop these professional skills
2. deliver all the commercial activities and visitor events including education and museum
3. restore and preserve the heritage rolling stock, structures, equipment, archives and artefacts.
| Role Title: | Steward in the Mid-Week Catering Team |
|---|---|
| Location: | Normally starting at Alresford |
| Time Agreed: | Days: mid-week, vary, typically Wednesday or Thursday or Friday according to the operating timetable and pre-bookings. Sign-on start times can vary: 11.00 or 13.00 for Ploughman’s Lunches, and 13.00 or 15.00 for Cream Teas. Sign-off end times also vary, from 15.00 to 16.45. |
| Purpose and Business Objective: | To give good on-train service that enhances The Watercress Line’s reputation by preparing and serving either a Ploughman’s Lunch or a Cream Tea to pre-booked passengers in a ”Restaurant Car”-like setting. |
| Tasks to include: | Tasks to include: Everyone in a service team mixes in and helps where they wish with the below: • Laying up the tables and plating the lunches. • (Lunch only) Serving drinks brought from the bar in the Griddle Carriage. • Serving the lunch incl dessert, or cream tea. • Clearing tables, serving tea/coffee, and collecting monies for any drinks. • Washing up all the crockery and cutlery. Training: new volunteers must complete the on-the-job training (on-train). Uniform: must be worn (white shirt/blouse and black/dark trousers). |
| Reporting to: | The on-train service leader: David Pegg or Mike Yates (per the roster) David Pegg is also the roster clerk. |
| A volunteer in this role cannot: | • Be untidy • Be rude or unpleasant to passengers or team members • Work as an individual; this service is a team performance. |
| A volunteer in this role should avoid: | • Confrontation with other volunteers or customers. |
| A volunteer in this role ideally: (is/has/can …) |
• Friendly/Approachable • A team player • Calm • Good communicator • Practical |
Please note:
- All volunteers must sign in at the start of and sign-out at the end of their role’s rostered periods.
- Volunteers must read and abide by the conduct guidance set out in the WCL Volunteer Handbook.
- Where specific departmental health and safety rules apply it is the volunteer’s responsibility to maintain awareness and to operate by those rules at all times when on site.
- Certifications and Qualifications required in specific roles must be current and complete.
