This month’s Employee Spotlight features Barry Hutchison, the WS Society’s Operation Manager. If you have participated in a WS event, visited our library, or attended an education conference, Barry will have likely been the first face you see, and the last when you leave.
Barry is an integral part of our team, and our Director of Membership, Sarah Leask, spoke with him about his career with the WS Society and how he has seen the organization grow over the past 12 years.
1. Most members who have visited the Signet Library for an event or conference will have met you but for those who haven’t, please tell them what you are responsible for at the WS Society?
I suppose you would say my main responsibility is to ensure the building is operational and fit for receiving all the Members and guests on a daily basis, for the varying types of events we hold in the building. Working between the different groups and organisations coming to the Signet Library from the Members, Government, Royal Household to Film productions to name but a few.
2. You joined the WS Society in 2012, how has it changed over the years?
The Society has changed over the years since my first day here on 9 January 2012. The changes have been subtle but also significant in that time. Firstly, we have gained charitable status. Also, we have hosted exhibitions with well-known artists (Josef Koudelka, Chirs Levine and David Eustice), having thousands of members of the public being able to access the building and spend time in the wonderful Upper Library. We started a successful traineeship programme. Seeing members joining as a Student and following their progress to Affiliate and then becoming Writers to the Signet (that one makes me feel old).
3. So far, what have been your highlights and special moments whilst working for the WS Society?
For me there have been quite a few special moments here.
My first year working here we had a surprise visit from Prince William, at around 08:00. We heard a knock on the front door and opened it to see the Prince standing there, was interesting to say the least. He was being inducted as a Knight of the Thistle that morning and he wanted to visit the Library and walk the route, prior to the ceremony in the church.
On a more personal note, working with the different film production companies to see behind the scenes of how the whole process works (from initial site visits from the locations department to meetings with the Producers, Director of Photography, set design and props). I find the whole process fascinating and how many people are involved for something that will be on screen for 10 minutes.
4. Tell us something about the Signet Library that we might not know about?
Something that people may not know about the Signet Library is we have a small team here who produce all the content from the Signet Magazine to the Signet 200 events that took place in 2022 for the 200th anniversary of opening by King George IV, it is a privilege being involved in my own small part at the successful running of this magnificent building.