The next team member we meet in our two-minute interview is Sophie Mead
Sophie is a well-known face in the diocese she has worked in our Property Team since 2012 supporting clergy and other church officers with their day-to-day queries on the running and maintenance of buildings and homes. Sophie is a true Herefordian born and bred in the county.
I: Hello Sophie. Thanks for taking part in the 2-min interview and for letting us share your photograph. Our first question is nice and easy - What is your favourite food?
SM: That’s tricky cos I’m a real foodie, I love all foods to be honest. I have a particular passion for Italian food. Family holidays growing up were mostly spent in Italy so this is where my love comes from. I also have an addiction to Chocolate, oh and peanut butter. I’ll get through a 1kg tub of peanut butter in a week. It’s the first thing I reach for when I get through the door. I eat it by the spoonful (or three lol). Growing up we were only allowed a sweet treat at birthdays or Christmas and with my mum constantly being on a diet there was never ever anything sweet in the house. My eldest sister invented a sugary treat of Weetabix spread with a thin covering of butter and a sprinkling of sugar as a substitute :-)
I: I like the ingenuity of the homemade treats. Does your sister still make snacks like this? It seems that food is always a tricky question, we seem to have a lot of colleagues who enjoy eating and cooking delicious things. So second question, Where is the most interesting place you have visited?
SM: I’m ashamed to say I’ve not visited many places in my life as I have a huge fear of flying. I can count the number of places I’ve been on one hand. However, Breckenridge, Colorado was my most memorable. I long way to go for someone that hates flying. Had to have 6 months of hypnotherapy, acupuncture and a supply of valium with me to make the journey. This was my first time skiing and I absolutely loved it. There were some turbulent moments negotiating sky lifts and dealing with altitude sickness but it was a real achievement for me and I loved every minute. I even managed not to get knocked out on the slopes (unlike my partner at the time!). Such a pretty setting and a trip I’ll never forget.
I: That sounds pretty epic and a real achievement especially given your fear of flying. So our last and final question is very predictable and you probably know this already. It's the one we ask everyone. What do you enjoy about working at Hereford Diocese?
SM: The variety in our workload and enquiries that come through the door keeps us on our toes. There is always something different and it makes such a difference to us when we receive thanks and praise for the work we do. For me, the most important thing is working with people you get on with. If you can’t get on with those you spend most of your waking life with then you need to change your job. Luckily for me, I work with an amazing team and we really do support each other and laugh a lot. Laughter is the best medicine after all. Working in the Property Team brings a lot of variety and I love that. Also my team accept me for all my quirks and occasional blunders!
I: Yes, laughter is a great medicine and I notice you do love to laugh a lot. You and the property team certainly provided a lot of laughter recently with your amazing Hereford city treasure hunt. (That's a story for another time!) Thank you for sharing a bit about yourself Sophie, it's lovely to be able to share names and faces in this way.