2nd February 2012

WEYMOUTH: ... or to help at the fort

OLYMPIC helpfuls have also been volunteering to help at Weymouth’s Nothe Fort during the Games period.

Two recruitment events attracted nearly 100 people who were given a presentation by fort director David Joy who told them that they would have duties from marshalls to guides.

He added: “The fort is within the Olympic viewing area and we can expect up to 4,600 visitors during any one day.

“Staff numbers will need boosting to cope with those sort of numbers, so we are very grateful to everyone who has turned up to volunteer.

“Each person selected will receive training in health and safety before carrying out their duties during the Olympics.

“This is a once in a lifetime event for Weymouth and Portland and a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase the Nothe Fort as the fort is very much a success story because of the conservation and activities carried out by local volunteers.

“All 4,600 ticket holders to the Nothe viewing area for sailing events will have an opportunity to visit the fort. We don’t know how many of them will take this up, but we have to make provision.”

Mr Joy said that 600 people are allowed in the fort at any one time and one possible strategy might be to issue visitors with tickets staggered to various times to avoid overcrowding.

He also point out that five or six volunteers cope with 200-300 per day during normal times, but there could be 15 times that many visitors so more staff were clearly needed and there would be in-house training for volunteer marshalls.

WEYMOUTH: ... or to help at the fort

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