Meet The Team
Jill Collinge
I am the Stamford Blue Badge Tour Guide, the title being the symbol of excellence in tourist guiding with the motto “A Blue Badge Guide makes a good tour great”.
I have been the town guide for over 30 years and over that time have acquired a wealth of knowledge and expertise and have had considerable experience in the media both in local and national Radio, TV and the Press.
You will find my walks entertaining, informative and anecdotal and by taking a tour you will discover so much more about Stamford, one of the finest stone towns in England.
Most of my business is now by recommendation and word of mouth from happy, satisfied customers who have enjoyed the tours of Stamford and return time and again to discover more about our wonderful town.
Bill Cunningham
My background has been a lifetime in industry and finance dealing with individuals from all walks of life. However my constant passion has been history and my future now is presenting the past in an entertaining and enlightening way. I am a trained guide at a local Stately Home and am now also looking forward to showing off Stamford’s “ancient charms”. Stamford is a treasure trove of history, architecture, intrigue and scandal. It’s a story that needs telling and I will be honoured to be one of its narrators.
Nicola Sandall
I have lived all of my life in and around Stamford, only leaving to attend Drama School in London for a couple of years. I am very active in the town in the theatre scene and just love being part of Stamford helping out with the Town Hall events throughout the year. When the opportunity to join Jill’s “Team” came about I jumped at the chance; the thought of learning about the history, people and the buildings that we have here, then sharing that with visitors and guests to our “finest stone” town really appealed to me.
I have a new found love, pride and excitement walking around our buildings and discovering the residents old and new. I feel that my Theatrical upbringing and training will make my tours fun and interactive for our visitors and guests to the town and keep each tour fresh and exciting.
This past year during lockdown it has been a pleasure to use the time to create the Spooky Tale Tours of the town, finding all the “Darker Side” of events that happened here!… and Creating my persona of “Cassandra King”, the last person to be hanged in Stamford in 1704. Please join me and Cassandra on our very different tours of Stamford!
Simon Whatling
I have been a resident of Stamford for 28 years and I’m still in awe of this marvellous piece of England.
I have always been in the travel and customer service industry.
I am looking forward to delivering informative and enjoyable tours of this fine town to new visitors and local residents who, like me, still enjoy the pleasure that the town’s history brings.
Jim Grant
I am passionate about Stamford. I have lived in the area for 35 years and have the opportunity to put my semi-retirement to good use!
The study of history, particularly local history, has been a central hobby for me since I graduated from Newcastle University with BA (Hons) in Archaeology and History. I have worked in local secondary schools for three decades, always imparting my passion for history to young people.
I now live in a central location, giving me a real chance to get to grips with our wonderful town. Under the excellent tutelage of Jill Collinge I have a truly strong desire to ‘spread the word’ about the ‘ finest town, built all of stone, as you shall see’. It is a truism that the more you know the more you realise you ‘don’t know’ so my passion for Stamford is assured. I want to share this with so many visitors from near and far.
Kiffy Mitchell
I have been a teacher at Stamford Junior School since 1998. When the curriculum changed to introduce a study of the local area, I researched a simple history of the town from the earliest settlements up to the present day for my class of 8 year olds. This sparked an interest in my home town and I feel privileged to be part of the Town Mayor’s Guides so I can share my enthusiasm with others.