Gary Jephcote is a team leader for Canterbury Museums and Galleries, managing the Canterbury Roman Museum and the Beaney Museum
I’ve been living in Canterbury since 2009. I’m from Leicestershire and came here to study at Canterbury Christ Church University. After my degree I got a job for the museum service.
Canterbury is a picturesque city. The mix of medieval buildings with the cathedral makes for a fantastic view. We’re also lucky to have a beautiful river. During the summer it’s the ideal place to meet with friends for a picnic. There's always something going on in the city, but, if you want some peace, it's a ten minute walk into nature.
Living here you get a real sense of community. I’ve been here for almost 14 years and there is always someone I know when walking to work. There is also a lot of local pride in Canterbury. Recently the entrance to Canterbury Cathedral was refurbished and you could see how happy the residents were.
Canterbury Roman Museum takes you through the history of the Roman occupation in Canterbury and Kent. Our museum is set alongside the remains of an in situ Roman Town House. The remains are impressive, boasting three floral mosaics and a hypocaust. It was rediscovered and unearthed in 1942, when Canterbury was bombed.
Knowing the backstory of this unique period of history makes it humbling to work here. Illuminating the past is something I'm passionate about and it’s great chatting to visitors about the history of the museum and the Roman Empire.
This story is from the June 2023 edition of Reader's Digest UK.
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This story is from the June 2023 edition of Reader's Digest UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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