Meet the Team

Adrian

Head Housekeeper

Adrian is the head of Housekeeping at Gladstone's Library. He has been in housekeeping for seven years and joined Gladstone's Library in 2022. He enjoys getting to know our regular guests and takes pride in keeping our bedrooms to a high standard. His ambition is to buy a 4x4 and explore beauty spots around the country. 

Alexandra

Archivist
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Alexandra Foulds is the Archivist at Gladstone's Library. As well as her ARA-accredited Masters in archives she has a PhD in nineteenth-century literature and culture, both from the University of Glasgow, and she is fascinated by all things Victorian. 

Alice

Engagement and Learning Officer

Alice is one of two Engagement and Learning Officers at Gladstone’s Library. Alice has a BA Hons in History and Politics and conducted her MA Politics dissertation on Citizenship Education in England and Wales and its impact on young people. She is an advocate for political education. 

Alison

Restaurant Team Member

Alison is well known for her infectious laugh and her ability to get on with customers and with her team members. You might spot her in Food for Thought during bustling breakfasts and if you pop in for a mid-morning cup of tea and snack.

Andrea

Warden
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Andrea Russell is Warden of Gladstone's Library, taking up the role in October 2022. For the past 10 years she has been involved in theological education and comes to Hawarden from Oxford Diocese where she was Director of Formation for Ministry.

Caroline

Reception Supervisor
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Caroline is on the Reception team at the library. She has worked here for five years, returning after the library re-opened following the 2020-2021 lockdowns. She says she loves the variety of working on reception: 'No day is the same. I feel incredibly proud to work in this gorgeous building."

Charlie

Restaurant Supervisor

Charlie is one of our hard-working restaurant team members. She has worked in hospitality previously and applied to Gladstone's Library because: 'It is a nice environment with nice people'. She likes bumping into writers in Food for Thought. Charlie is working towards her NVQ Level 3 in Hospitality Supervision. 

Charly

Demi Chef de Partie

Charly lives in Nercwys and has worked in the food industry for roughly 15 years, most recently as a kitchen manager in a bistro. She prepares the cold breakfast items at Gladstone's Library and cooks and serves up hot, freshly cooked breakfast foods.

Evan

Facilities Officer

Evan came to Gladstone’s Library after a career in building work. He is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of this Grade I listed building, and he can turn his hand to plumbing, joinery, decorating and general work.

Gareth

Sous Chef

Gareth is a chef with more than a decade of experience in the food industry. He jumped at the chance to work at Gladstone’s Library because as a career chef he gets to experiment, design menus and come up with new recipes alongside his fellow kitchen staff. He is currently working towards his NVQ Level 3 in Hospitality Supervision. 

Helene

Reception
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Helene lives in Ewloe and previously worked at John Lewis as a customer specialist, where she provided training and customer support. She also has a background in working in hospitality. Her interests include learning therapeutic reflexology. 

Isobel

Librarian
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Isobel Goodman is the Librarian at Gladstone’s Library. She has a CILIP-accredited library Masters degree in Book History and Material Culture from the University of Edinburgh, and has previously worked in university and rare book libraries in Cambridge, Edinburgh and Oxford. 

Jade

Engagement and Learning Officer

Jade is an Engagement and Learning Officer at Gladstone’s Library. Having previously taught languages in schools, sixth-forms and university level, Jade is now writing her PhD on Franco-British culinary evolutions. Her role at the Library is to encourage more young people to engage with a greater understanding of culture and society.

James

Reading Room Assistant
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James' role involves customer service, assisting the Archivist and Librarians, processing books, reshelving them, updating the catalogue, coming up with ideas for social media, taking new Readers around for an induction and more.

Jim

Fundraising and Development Officer
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Jim Creed is the Fundraising and Development Officer at Gladstone’s Library and is always looking for creative ways to help support our donors, sponsors, and funders. He has previously worked in fundraising roles in both the charity and education sector and has managed a range of creative arts-based projects including gallery spaces, outreach projects, and a fine art printmaking studio. 

Louisa

Director of Collections and Research
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Louisa Yates is Director of Collections and Research at Gladstone’s Library, a post she has held since its inception in 2012.  Alongside Peter Francis, Louisa is Festival Director of the Library’s major and micro festivals, Gladfest and Hearth, and is on the longlisting panel for the Library’s successful Writer in Residence programme.

Louise

Reading Room Assistant
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Louise Roberts is an assistant in the Reading Rooms. Her first working role was as a production secretary at BBC Radio. She studied for Literature degree while bringing up a family. This led to her securing a position as a library manager in a high school on the North Norfolk coast. 

Matt

Head Chef

Matt is a familiar face to guests at our Food for Thought restaurant as Head Chef. In association with his colleagues in the kitchen and Operations Manager Sam, he is responsible for planning menus and fulfilling guest orders. He is often to be seen lending a hand elsewhere in the building too - you might catch him hanging banners ahead of literary festivals! His scones are a firm favourite with visitors. 

Nicola

Reception Team Member
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Nicola’s role involves greeting people when they arrive, making sure guests know where they are going in the building and much more. She says Reception is the hub of the building.

She has worked on hotel reception and in reservations at a large hotel prior to joining Gladstone’s Library and also has experience working in libraries as an assistant.

Her hobbies include playing the saxophone and reading – a lot. She says she likes the atmosphere at Gladstones because: “It’s really personal. You get to know people, and a lot of interesting people come in here. I really enjoy it and am very happy here.”

Oussama

Operations Manager

Oussama (Sam) oversees Food for Thought, housekeeping and Reception from an operational point of view. He previously held a  management role at a major hotel, and joined Gladstone's Library in 2021. 

Rosie

Housekeeping

Rosie's main job is changing the rooms over during stays, making sure the bedrooms are clean, the beds are freshly made and that when someone checks out, everything is made ready for the next guest. That involves communicating with reception and the kitchen staff.

Sarah

Finance Manager

Sarah Robertson is Finance Manager at Gladstone's Library and has worked at the Library since 2010. She is responsible for all financial aspects including monthly and annual accounts as well as the day to day finances of the business. 

Victoria

Reception Team Member
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Victoria previously worked as Reception Manager at Ruthin Castle and held Store Manager roles at several high street stores. She holds a degree from Liverpool John Moores University in History and American Studies.