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#Groundsweek- Mark Joliffe
Tue 21 March 2023
Today for #groundsweek we will be celebrating Mark Joliffe who works within a different aspect of groundwork. Mark is currently the head groundsman at Taunton school.
Background info
I've been in the industry for 34 years, starting out as a volunteer at my local cricket club whilst working full time in a supermarket. I became a full time groundsman in 1995 at Radley College in Oxfordshire where I worked my way up to Deputy Head Groundsman in 1998. In 2002 I took up my current role as Head Groundsman at Taunton School in Somerset.
Typical Day
On a typical day I will carry out all manner of tasks as the role of Head Groundsman has become increasingly more about administration as well as physical tasks. So at the moment I am organising spring renovations on our winter sports pitches where we are mowing, raking, over seeding, top dressing and fertilising our fields. We are also currently recruiting for a Groundsperson/Gardener, so I am taking interviews with my deputy, working out budgets for the next school year and updating risk assessments. There are potentially some major changes coming with the construction of two brand new artificial sand dressed pitches which will also mean the re-orientating of some winter pitches and the construction of two new cricket squares. This is all subject to an imminent planning permission decision.
What are you biggest challenges?
My biggest challenge recently has been recruiting good staff and retaining the ones I've got. As with everywhere else, the cost of living crisis is really starting to bite and is affecting nearly everyone. Having said that I have a great team behind me at the moment.