Enjoy a taste of history every day of the week

Going to Borough is like taking the scenic route to work, says Susan Gray.

From William Shakespeare's Globe Theatre to the Tate Modern, everything is there

FACT and fiction meld in Borough.

Shakespeare's Globe is a few minutes along the river at Bankside, Chaucer's pilgrims set off from the Tabard near Borough High Street, and Dickens's father did time in the debtors' prison on Marshalsea Road. The George Inn, the only timber-framed, galleried inn left in London, dates from 1676 and features in Little Dorrit.

Muddying the waters further, it's hard to walk under Borough Market's wrought-iron arches, through clouds of wood smoke and pyramids of spice, without imagining the market scene from Oliver!, complete with formation dancing and singing flowergirls.

On Fridays and Saturdays, London's oldest surviving fruit and vegetable market (founded in 1754) opens to the public, and food lovers can't get enough of it.

Traders range from well-known names like Neals Yard Dairy and Brindisa, specialists in Spanish food to the catering trade, to an organic garlic grower from the Isle of Wight, surrounded by plaited bulbs, and Barry Topp from Hampshire selling New Forest Snake- Catcher Scrumpy from a timbered wagon.

Borough's longest-distance commuter must be Andrew Sharp, presiding over his stall in Lincoln-green bowler, breeches and fell walking boots. He makes a weekly journey of 596 miles to bring joints of Herdwick lamb from the Lake District, where five generations of Sharps have raised sheep on the fells.

"People think I'm daft driving all this way, but I am making a few quid out of it and people are getting the chance to taste this wonderful meat."

Borough Market's ascension to foodie heaven, is part of a wider transformation for Borough. Formerly the local economy was dominated by warehouses, printing and light manufacturing. Now it bristles with visitor attractions.

Southwark Cathedral, dating from 1106, requires cathedral shop assistants, offering a salary of 11,500. Colin Morton, diocesan personnel manager, is looking for applicants with a proven track record in sales and an enthusiasm for customer service.

While at Bankside, Shakespeare's Globe has a maternity cover post as assistant to the general director, "supporting the work of the general director in co-ordination, management and development of the International Shakespeare Globe Centre and its parent Trust".

Likely applicants hearing about the seven-month post for the first time will need the writing skills of the Bard, as today is closing date for applications to reach Janine Waters at the Globe.

Other possibilities in the visitor attraction field include the long-established London Dungeon on Tooley Street. Hard to know which is scarier - plague rats or hordes of screaming schoolchildren.

Vinopolis City of Wine, with its equal emphasis on wine education and sales, and Tate Modern will put countless students through art school by part-time work in the shops and ticket sales.

Its hard to look up in any part of Borough without seeing the twin towers of the Cathedral to the west and Guy's Hospital to the east. Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust is the area's largest employer with around 7,000 staff. Like every hospital in the capital, it needs more specialist nurses, occupational therapists and medical technicians.

But prospects for office staff are not neglected. Last year, the Trust offered the opportunity to study for a Certificate in Managing Health Services through distance learning. Guy's Hospital has 20 clerical and administrative vacancies.

Fionnuala Stowe, manager of Office Angels in Hays Galleria, is finding a moment's peace from organising a seminar for more than 150 clients at the Tower Thistle Hotel.

She says her typical clients are smaller companies moving into the area to expand, especially architects, property companies and media companies wanting to be near the slew of Conran restaurants on Shad Thames.

"For smaller companies," says Fionnuala, "the people we need are flexible, multi-skilled and prepared to do whatever is required. And that can mean meeting and greeting, dealing with a courier and sending a fax at the same time."

Fionnuala adds that Borough is a buzzing place to work with non- high street, gorgeous shops, and a scenic commute over London Bridge.

* Adecco: 020 7403 0978; Office Angels: 020 7403 2424; Reed: 020 7403 0171; Guy's Hospital Recruitment Centre: 020 7955 5000 x5795.

Copyright 2001
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