Caroline (Downing, 1997) has always been a lover of history. It was the wonderful paper in her final year taught by Professor Christopher Andrew on the secret history of the twentieth century that shaped her first career choices, and her undying love of spy history and the works of John Le Carre. Post university she got a “proper” job for 10 years or so in law enforcement, working in intelligence and money laundering, before finally finding a way to use her passion for history on a daily basis, by becoming a tour guide!
What motivated you to get involved with the Cambridge Society of London, and how has your experience with the Society impacted your life?
I started providing regular tours for the Society in 2018, and joined the committee later that same year. After 15 years of wanting to forge a new path, and having very little to do with Cambridge, it was like coming home to start socialising with such an interesting and varied group of people. Chatting to members on my tours (and usually over a large glass of wine in the pub afterwards) has been a wonderful way to meet new people and break out of the narrow social bubble of everyday work and family life. It is heartening that the Cambridge community is always there, however distant you may have been, and warm and welcoming to all those who want to return.
How has your participation with the Society been meaningful to you?
Being on the committee has given me the chance to shape what the Society does, and friendships with David Peace (Chairman 2010-2019) and Tim Murphy (the Society’s Renaissance-man Secretary) have been blessings.
Can you describe a unique or challenging experience you had while working with the Committee that has stayed with you?
I will never forget my first experience of pretending to be a TV historian, when Tim (as cameraman) and I walked the deserted streets of the City, just days before the first covid-19 lockdown, attempting to film a walking tour for the very first time. The results were very amateur, but well-intentioned, and the ever-loyal and supportive Society members who watched the resulting video gave me huge confidence that life would go on, however strange things seemed at the time!
What aspects of your career do you enjoy, especially compared to your time at university?
Nowadays I enjoy continually learning and exploring new places as a tour guide, but must admit that doing so without the pressure of a never-ending reading list and weekly essays is much more fun!