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Wednesday, 17th March 2010

Meet the wedding planner

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Published Date: 27 January 2010
REBECCA Clark has been appointed to the post of wedding and event planner for the Tithe Barn at Browsholme Hall – a brand new venue set to open for business in October.
During her ten years' experience of helping brides-to -be plan their weddings, Rebecca was the head of a 15-strong team at the Inn at Whitewell, where she co-ordinated all such occasions plus other events at the popular country hotel.
Prior to this, she worked in front of house at the Thorneyholme Hotel in Dunsop Bridge.
She says of her new job: "I'm really thrilled to be joining the team at Browsholme and also to be heading up such a fantastic new project.
"The Ribble Valley is a very popular location for weddings and events, and I'm sure that the Tithe Barn will prove to be a great hit.
"We'll be providing a service that is completely independent and offering the bride, groom and their families, or those arranging civil ceremonies, the widest possible choice in the way that their special day is planned.
"So anyone who got engaged over Christmas and New Year should give me a ring!"
She explains that the setting for this new complex is in beautiful parkland overlooking the Hodder Valley, with the barn itself nestling in wonderful countryside with stunning views.
"It's in great surroundings with a fabulous history. The gardens are part of the oldest surviving family home in Lancashire, Browsholme Hall, which is owned by the Parker family and has been described as 'the jewel in the crown of the Forest of Bowland'."
The former working structure has been a part of the Hall's estate since the 17th century and is currently undergoing a sensitive conversion from a little-used, but beautifully constructed pair of stone barns into a distinctive new venue full of traditional charm and contemporary style .
Rebecca says that, as well as planning for weddings there, she will also be organising receptions and events for up to 120 people.
"To add to the special setting for them, traditional features such as exposed stone, oak beams and flagstone floors are being retained and will provide two magnificent spaces which can either be used together or on their own."
Lancashire born and bred, Rebecca who is 40, grew up in Hambleton and attended St Aiden's CE high school in Preesall where she gained seven GCSEs.
With a keen interest in horses, she went to work for the international show-jumper David Bowen and stayed for two years. As well as equestrian matters, her hobbies also include shooting and fishing.
It was after meeting her husband that she moved to work front of house at Thorneyholme Hall and two years afterwards that she took the job at the Inn at Whitewell.
"I learnt all aspects of hospitality there," she recalls. "I worked my way up the ladder, variously carrying out front of house duties, and a bar and duty manager, and even being a pastry chef, before being appointed full time events manager ten years ago."
As events manager, she co-ordinated numerous weddings and events at Whitewell on a weekly basis, developing strong links with top external suppliers and agencies to fulfil even the most challenging of briefs.
In 1992, Rebecca set up and ran Bowland Events, organising events for up to 80 guests dealing with all aspects of the necessary management including arrangement of marquees, catering, pyrotechnics, specialist lighting, staffing and on-site security.
In 2008, using the skills and experience she gained from the hospitality industry, she started Root Farm Bed and Breakfast in a renovated barn in the Forest of Bowland.
And she adds: "I'm hoping to develop the rest of the barn site into self-catering holiday cottages, the first of which is on the way to completion."
Rebecca and her family – husband John and two sons Joshua aged 17 and 15 year old Joseph – now live in Dunsop Bridge.
John is an ex-gamekeeper on the Dunsop shoot and a talented artist specialising in sporting subjects.He had a career change from gamekeeping after he painted a picture of a pair of pheasants for the Queen for her birthday.
"His work is very popular now," says Rebecca, "and he is also my inspiration. He has always pushed me and made me believe in myself!"

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  • Last Updated: 27 January 2010 1:02 PM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Longridge
 
 
 


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