THE Castle Hotel in Devizes had just appointed a new manager. Helen Durrant started work as a cleaner at the hotel on New Park Street four years ago and has worked her way to the top, to be appointed as the general manager.

Mrs Durrant said: “I started work when I 16. I worked at the local pizza factory, then got made redundant after 12 years. Then I went into cleaning at a retirement complex, then was made redundant from there after 12 years. When I knew I was being made redundant I needed to find another job, so I came to work at The Castle Hotel nearly four years ago, whilst still working at the retirement complex, so I held down two jobs for four months.

“I started as a cleaner, quickly moving to housekeeper, then to head housekeeper. Then I came downstairs to work, still as head housekeeper. I was promoted to hotel manager and within six months have been offered the job as general manger. I love working at The Castle Hotel.”

Mrs Durrant, 46, is married with three children and has lived in Potterne since she was five, after being born in Germany where her father was serving in the military.

Gary Morse, the owner of The Castle Hotel in Devizes, said: “It was obvious very quickly when we first met Helen that she shared our passion for The Castle Hotel and had the same customer care ethos. Her attitude to work and to doing the right thing by our customers is outstanding.

“Since taking over as GM the whole feel and ambiance of The Castle has lifted to a new level. She is building a strong team and installing a positive customer focussed ethos once again. We’re absolutely thrilled with the progress she has made and she has taken to management like a duck to water.”