WENDY Kirkbride is a young mother looking for full-time employment.

Until that happen, though, she has become a volunteer at the Beacon for 10 hours a week.

On top of that, though, she spends about 10 more hours at home researching some of the history of Whitehaven and keeping up with the every-changing exhibitions on show.

"I like to be prepared. It is good to keep one step ahead and to be able to answer questions," the 27-year-old said.

Wendy had done a Customer Service course to ensure she was able to do her job properly.

She said she was really enjoying the job.

"Some of my friends have come into the Beacon since I started - and for some of them it was their first time. They didn't know what was here."

She said she felt a lot of people in Whitehaven did not realise the gem they had on their front dooror even a lot of the history in which the town is steeped.

"I am becoming an expert on John Paul Jones!"

John Paul Jones was the Kirkcudbright-born sailor who became a commander in the American navy. He is notorious for the fact that he led a raid on Whitehaven during the Revolutionary War.

Wendy's next course of study will be to find out what the first President of the United States, George Washington's links with Whitehaven are.

Washington's grandmother is buried at StNicholas Church.

Wendy said she is really enjoying talking to people both locals and the tourists who visit.

She said she enjoys learning about everything herself but admits that she is kept on her toes trying to keep up with everything.

Wendy has a seven-year-old son, Liam, so needs to fit her study and work around him.

Luckily she has a mother too willing to babysit.

Wendy said she is waiting for a full-ime job to come along but in the meantime she is doing something worthwhile.