Meet Debbie Wallace: Volunteers’ Week 2026

When one of our volunteers, Debbie Wallace retired, the world had ground to a halt. Lockdown had closed doors across the country, and with it, the usual routes into a fulfilling post-work life. But for Debbie, it turned out that the door she needed had been open her whole life — she just hadn’t walked through it yet.

“I always knew at the back of my mind that I had a love of history,” she says. And so, in May 2021, Debbie became a volunteer at the Weald & Downland Living Museum.

 

A Place She’d Always Loved

Debbie’s connection to the museum stretches back decades. She first visited as a child, then returned as a teacher, and again as a parent. The museum had accompanied her through the chapters of her life — which made it the natural place to begin the next one.

It’s not a small commitment. Debbie lives in Brighton, and the journey to Singleton in West Sussex is no quick hop. But she’s unequivocal about whether it’s worth it. “It’s such a special place,” she says. “I definitely made the right decision.”

That quiet certainty — the kind that only comes from genuinely loving what you do — runs through everything Debbie says about her time here.

 

The People Make It

Ask Debbie what she loves most about volunteering and she pauses. It’s a hard question, she admits, because there’s so much. “It’s really down to you how much you get out of it — how much you put in.”

What she comes back to, though, is the people. The volunteer community at Weald & Downland Living Museum is, in her words, “fantastic, so welcoming.” It’s the kind of warmth that turns an interest into a commitment and a commitment into a community. Debbie has made good friends here — friendships built not just around shared tasks, but around a shared love of history, of learning, of doing something that matters.

 

Conquering the Fire

One of Debbie’s proudest achievements since joining? Mastering the open hearth fire.

Anyone who has spent time in the museum’s historic buildings knows this is no small thing. These are not the fires of a camping trip — they’re the real, demanding, smoke-filled hearts of working historical kitchens. Getting them going, keeping them going, and cooking over them requires patience, practice, and persistence.

“I’ve conquered this fire, which is no mean feat,” she says, with clear satisfaction.

It’s a small detail that says something large. Volunteering at Weald & Downland Living Museum isn’t passive. It’s hands-on, sometimes challenging, and always rewarding.

 

Why It Matters After Retirement

For Debbie, the deeper thread running through all of this is learning. “I’m always learning, always learning — which I absolutely love.” She’s thoughtful about why that matters so much now: “I think that’s really important, especially when you’ve retired.”

She’s right. And at Weald & Downland Living Museum, there’s always more to discover.

 

Could You Be Our Next Volunteer?

Debbie’s story is one we hear again and again: a lifelong interest in history, a love of the Museum, and a desire to be part of something meaningful. Whether your passion is agricultural heritage, building conservation, crafts, education, or simply welcoming visitors — there’s a place for you here.

If you’d like to find out more about volunteering at Weald & Downland Living Museum, check out our Volunteering Page or speak to a member of the team on your next visit. We’d love to hear from you.