Iris Walker worked as a council secretary in the Crescent from 1986 until its sudden closure in 1992. At that time, council offices were based in the building. We took Iris back inside the now luxury 5-star hotel to track down her old office and to see its transformation for herself. Iris now works for The Trust as a volunteer.
I started working in the Crescent building way back in 1986. At that time, I was working as a dinner lady in Buxton College (now Buxton Community School). I was approached by one of the school admin staff about doing some extra work for the council at the Buxton Area Education Office. They knew I’d previously worked for the Council in the Tourism department in the 70s. So off I went to the Crescent where the council offices were based, had an interview and more or less started straightaway! My job was to type up letters, reports, documents etc. All the typical admin work associated with education.
What was it like working there?
The Crescent was fabulous to work in, such a beautiful building right in the centre of town and such lovely colleagues. It felt like a family. It was really busy, the team was fab and I thoroughly enjoyed working there. The same secretarial staff had worked there for years, so we had a ritual that when it was someone’s birthday we wore a feathery hat to celebrate!
There were no lifts in those days, so we had to trek up and down four flights of stairs carrying all manner of things! Then, when I finished work, I had to run fast to pick up my kids from school at the other side of town! Ah well, it all kept me fit.
I was at my mum’s when I heard the news about the closure. I couldn’t believe it, We were all totally flabbergasted to find out the building was unsafe. I was told not to come in but to report to the relocated offices the next day. Sadly, because I wasn’t allowed to return, I wasn’t able to help my colleagues move everything down all those stairs. (Iris winks)
Is this the room you worked in?
I recognised the view straightaway. It’s a specific angle to St Anne’s Well – not that we had much time for looking out of windows, of course but I do remember carnival time, and the Blessing of the Well. We could see the Mayor, Clergy, locals and tourists all gathering round and the band was playing. It was lovely to watch it from this angle, especially if it was raining!
What does it feel like being in the room after all these years?
It feels absolutely amazing. It brings back a lovely warm feeling to me and makes me think back to when I was much younger and how privileged I was to work in such a beautiful building. I can’t help but think about myself and my colleagues busy typing away trying to keep up with the workload. We always had such high piles on our desks.
The room is beautiful now with a huge en-suite which we could have done with in those days! Back then, there were 3-4 desks, filing cabinets and a duplicator. No computers of course. I couldn’t have imagined it would ever be like this!
I’ve lived in Buxton all my life and of course everyone was delighted when the restoration was complete. We never thought it would happen after all these years of walking past the hoardings and peering through.
You’ve brought a lovely black and white photo of yourself, what’s the story behind that?
One morning, when I was working for the Tourism department, my boss told me not to take my coat off and go straight to St Anne’s Well where there would be a photographer waiting for me. It all happened so quickly. I had no idea I was about to appear in a national newspaper!
You’re retired now but still contributing lots to Buxton?
I feel very privileged to live and work in Buxton. I’ve worked in a lovely office in the Town Hall and then in The Crescent. I also volunteer at Buxton Opera House and just last month we won the Gold Award for ‘Team of the Year’ at the Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby Tourism Awards. What could be better than that?
