Muncaster has played a huge part in Hannah Clapp’s life for the past 12 years. Earlier this year her hard work was recognised by Cumbria Tourism

 Hannah is the Head of Experiences at Muncaster Castle in West Cumbria. She says: "I was brought up in a small village on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors. I spent much of my childhood on a neighbouring farm immersed in cow and sheep muck and breathing in a mix of fresh air and fumes from the old David Brown. I grasped the local Yorkshire dialect and learnt plenty of bad language. I was rarely out of my overalls and my work boots were always ready to go by the back door.

At 18, I followed this passion and gained a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture from the University of London.

After graduating I undertook various roles in the agriculture industry which I loved, but in 2007, it was time for a rethink; time to put my family first. With three children under five I juggled being a mum with studying through the Open University to retrain in primary education. I figured this would give me scope to best support my two sons Fred and Bertie, and my daughter Kate.

As a family we moved to Muncaster in 2012 and from here on in my adoration for this beautiful place has grown stronger and stronger. Working at the local primary school that my children attended, was a dream come true. Our spare time was spent enjoying all things outdoors in this beautiful part of West Cumbria.

I have felt a part of the Muncaster Team for many years, helping with various projects, events and festivals as a volunteer. In my heart I always knew that one day, I would be a full-time part of the team, this was no secret. My big break happened in February 2021, my children were now all at secondary school, and I became Muncaster’s full time Education Officer. Muncaster is great for adventures and there is nothing more rewarding than hearing the laughter and excitement of children exploring the gardens. We now get around 75 school visits a year; this is no mean feat given the challenges of the geographical location.

I very soon earned my keep at Muncaster and proved my worth; my role grew quickly, in fact it practically exploded, and I now have the job title ‘Head of Experiences’. I coordinate weddings, functions, group visits, corporate days, educational trips, events and festivals. I laugh to myself when I think about all of this. I am my own department; I guess I even cover my own days off, you can definitely say I am 100% dedicated to my job! As my role has developed I have learnt many new skills and met many challenges. With a positive attitude and the Frost Pennington family behind me I have overcome many barriers. I think back to my days working with primary pupils; ‘remember kids… challenges in life are inevitable, being defeated is optional’.

This journey has now reached spring 2024 when Iona, Ewan and Peter Frost Pennington walk into my office to tell me that I had been nominated and shortlisted for the Cumbria Tourism Unsung Hero Award for 2024. It took time to reflect and process this moment and realise what an honour it is to have your hard work and dedication rewarded in such a way. I certainly wasn’t expecting to win the award so it was rather overwhelming when I did!

When you find your true passion, your perfect place and your dream job role you can achieve almost anything. I have many times told my children how proud I am of them. When your children tell you how proud they are of you; it truly means the world.