Golden Key Academy graduate Polly Bass discusses her experience learning to become a London built environment tour guide

Why did you apply for the Golden Key Academy and what were you hoping to achieve in terms of personal and professional development?

I applied to join the Golden Key Academy because I wanted a structured way of learning about something new, while also developing my confidence in touring and storytelling as a means of communication. Having studied the history of London, the social agendas and people that have shaped its built environment – as well as working in local government – the way that the city is governed felt like a missing piece of the puzzle. During the 60th anniversary year of the London boroughs I wanted an excuse to research and engage in critical debates. Having led walking tours for colleagues in the past and been on a number of Open City ones prior to applying, it felt a happy medium to explore this in.

Part of the course is developing your own unique tour, exploring a neighbourhood or theme of your choice, to feature in the Open House Festival. What inspired the focus of your special Golden Key Academy tour?

I loved the way that everyone on the course contributed their own part of London. For me, I was aware of the ‘All’s Well’ motto and coat of arms on the sign of the Camberwell Arms but hadn’t quite pieced together why this also appeared on housing estates as far afield as Honour Oak. Happily for me, there was a comfortable link between one of my favourite pubs and the history of London’s government. For 65 years, the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell covered much of today’s Southwark and proved a fitting case study to tell the evolution of the governance of London: from the vestry form of government with origins in the Middle Ages, through to the current day. I was fortunate that Camberwell was the perfect place to tell this story chronologically, in a neat and visual way through buildings that are still present today.

Can you describe a memorable moment or personal highlight over the duration of the course? 

Touring is so much about people: the stories you tell, the people who join you, and meeting other tour guides along the way. It was lovely to meet people from across London and further afield in the cohort, and learn about their part of the city. Closer to home, the course was a great way to connect with people and events happening locally. I was grateful to St Giles’ Church for opening up as part of my tour.

We also had a lovely group under the sage mentorship of Roz Peebles and I was glad to be matched with Alison Rae as my assessor: another local, with unrivalled knowledge of south London. The ability to go on some Open City tours for free as part of the course is another highlight – make the most of it and don’t miss out on Benedict O’Looney’s Thames boat tours!

Finally, enjoy the research! This looked different for everyone, but I enjoyed my visits to archives across London. Ultimately, despite reams of interesting stuff I didn’t end up using much in the final tour. Make sure you allow yourself time to rewrite, refine, reduce and practice. A personal highlight was one of my tour attendees asking for a summary of the tour so he could share it with his daughter!

In what area do you think tour guiding could be the most transformational in the coming years?

I think there is potential to explore how touring can be used to engage with complex policy challenges. Often headlines, reports and debates exist in the abstract; although campaigning helps to bring a much needed human element. For example, rooting debates around homelessness and temporary accommodation within a neighbourhood, with representation from different players has potential to be really powerful.

Similarly, the topic of my tour touches on a growing debate in London about whether its governance is fit for purpose. During the passage of the London Government Bill in 1962 an MP remarked: ‘I have been impressed by the lack of interest shown … I have received more letters about iniquities in the taxation on greyhound racing than on this topic.’ However the current debate may progress, it is important to find ways of communicating what and why changes may be needed. Perhaps tours can play a small role!