Page 15 - LUDLOW TOWER NOV 21 (WEBSITE)

INTRODUCING ...
Please tell us about
yourself.
My name is Octavia Shaw. I
grew up on the west coast
of Scotland, near Oban
(well, 40 minutes’ drive
away but for us that’s near).
I did a cooking course at
Leiths Cookery School in
my gap year and my school
holidays and university
vacations were spent as an à la carte
chef in restaurant kitchens so after
completing my MA in Divinity at
Aberdeen I went to Switzerland to
work as a five-star chalet manager and
chef – and to ski. Back in the UK I
worked in the property industry in
London for a few years then started
teacher training which I had to give up
because my first daughter was on her
way. Soon afterwards we moved to
Shropshire and we have lived in
Knowbury since 2013.
What brought you to Shropshire?
We were thinking about moving out of
London when we visited friends in
Great Whitley and fell in love with the
countryside. Luckily James was able to
work from his firm’s Birmingham office,
And to St Laurence's?
After eight years at home managing our
holiday let and looking after our two
girls I was ready for something else,
outside the home. Now I work in the
Shop two days a week and I love it. I
enjoy chatting to customers and I’ve
met lots of new people. I’m really
excited about the new coffee shop and I
have volunteered to train as a barista.
15
What was your first
impression of the
church?
The calm, serene
atmosphere. I have always
been interested in history,
especially the Tudors, and I
read a lot of historical
novels. Since I started at
the Shop I have enjoyed
learning more about the
Wars of the Roses.
How do you like to spend your
spare time?
Skiing, Covid and time permitting.
Walking especially in the hills with my
dog. I do miss foreign travel - I love
visiting different countries. We were
actually about to move to Switzerland
when Covid struck but I’m so grateful
now that we didn’t go.
Which is your most memorable
holiday experience?
Four months backpacking with James in
South America. We travelled the length
of the continent – from Punta Arenas,
via the Amazon and Cuzco sacred valley
to Central America.
What might we be surprised to
know about you?
My grandfather, Douglas Service, was
one of the subjects of a book about
‘Great Eccentrics of the Twentieth
Century’ while James’ great great great
grandfather, William Buckland, features in
Fergus Butler-Gallie’s Field Guide to the
English Clergy.
Editor’s note: Ian Barge has drawn inspiration for
several amusing pieces in the Ludlow Tower from
the Field Guide which is on sale in the Shop.