Groundsman at Lilleshall House & Gardens celebrates 50-year landmark!

Lilleshall House & Gardens groundskeeper Julian Hardy is celebrating 50 years in the job!

Julian started working at Lilleshall House & Gardens as an 18-year-old - and has been a constant on-site for over half a century! Born in Stafford but brought up in nearby Newport, Lilleshall has always been a site that Julian has been aware of – and he decided to make it his place of work in 1972 after switching from the Aqualate Estate where he was working as an assistant to the Woodsman.

Peter Bolland, Grounds Manager at Lilleshall is someone who’s worked with Julian for nine years, he said: “Having someone of Julian’s experience on the team is so valuable. His knowledge, his work ethic and his willingness to share his expertise with the younger members of the team is so beneficial to us all at Lilleshall. Him leaving would be a huge loss to everyone at the centre, so I’m hoping it’s a few years off.

“Julian’s one of those people who you give a job to and that’s it, you know it’ll get done, you don’t have to worry. We’ve got a great team here though. There’s six of us, including me, but we’ll all help each other out if the task needs it. We’re very lucky to work at such a beautiful location.”

Julian added: “When I was at school, many years ago, I was always someone looking out of the window, wanting to get outdoors, so this job has been ideal for me.

“This is a lovely place to work, and if I’m honest doing this kind of thing for a living for me has been like being a pig in muck. Give me a chainsaw and I’m happy. I often say to people, this isn’t really a job, it’s a way of life.”