William Ash - Odd Job Man
(He thinks it's 1871!  You will usually find him in the Servants' Quarters)

I’m William Ash, an odd job man around the estate. Because of my failing health and the length of service I have given to the Anson family, 44 years, Lord Lichfield has found me a job where I spend some time indoors. I was a gardener for many years, but the damp, cold and heavy working conditions has affected my health. I am Lord Lichfield’s longest serving member of staff.

I report to Mr. Crisp, the Head Butler to receive my duties for the day. These usually start with washing down the portico at the front of the house to ensure all of his Lordship’s visitors are met with a pristine, gleaming entrance. I like to make a good job of this because his guests will comment on this to Lord Lichfield personally. Other duties I undertake range from stoking fires, turning the box mangle in the Laundry (which is too heavy for the Laundrymaids to do themselves), taking post to the village and assisting Mr. Crisp in the wine cellar.

I have worked at Shugborough since I was a boy of 12 and consider myself lucky as both the present Lord Lichfield and his father have been good employers who take great pains to look after their servants. I like to go fishing and his Lordship allows me to fish the River Trent and Sow that runs through his estate.

I sometimes feel the other servants think I am dim, but my hearing and eyesight are not what they used to be. Also I suffer from a painful back which can make me irritable at times.