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Tuesday 6 September 2011

Unique Cathedral Attraction Praised.



By Ben Aulakh

A unique historical attraction in Gloucestershire, which charts the lives of famous figures buried in the cathedral, has been given special credit by a national tourist body.

Gloucester Cathedral’s Great Lives, which uses mobile phone technology to bring the true stories of seven historic figures to life, has been singled out as  “interesting and innovative” in Visit England’s 
Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme.

It is also the ninth year in a row that the cathedral has been recognised as part of the scheme.

Anyone going to the cathedral can simply dial a number on their mobile phone and choose which of the seven stories on offer they want to hear.

Operations & Marketing Manager Bairbre Lloyd said, “The feedback from visitors has been excellent.

“We now have five mobile phones available to borrow from the shop for just a five pound deposit, so those on a Pay As You Go tariff or who don’t carry a mobile phone won’t miss out.”

Customer satisfaction research firm The Mystery Shopper also described the attraction as ‘very well produced with engaging voices and sound effects.’

The pilot scheme is run by Cheltenham-based tourism company PastPorte, and was the brainchild of founder Ben Blackler, who had the idea for mobile phone audio guides whilst visiting the Cathedral.

Co-founder, Dinah Lammiman, an ex Radio 4 producer, was responsible for creating the seven stories.     

The audio covers the lives of individuals as varied as Edward II, scientist Edward Jenner, poet Ivor Gurney, the story of battleship HMS Gloucester, and composer Herbert Howells.

Visitors to the cathedral can dial 0300 900 1327 to listen to the vivid tales of these fascinating lives, or for more information on events at the historic monument log on to www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk.


Photograph from wikimedia commons, by Saffron Blaze

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