Chris Caroe Personal Profile

I have been interested in archaeology since my teens when on a school trip to Maiden Castle in Dorset, I kicked a mole-hill and nearly broke my toe on one of the stones fired by the roman catapults during the siege of the castle. It was given to the Dorchester museum and from then on my interest in history and archaeology has flourished over the years.

I first starting digging trenches whilst serving in the Royal Marines, my best trench system being planned and dug in the dark as we dug in around Teal Inlet during the Falklands war in 1982!! The only disadvantage in digging trenches at Poulton is that I can't use PE to loosen the soil to dig it out quicker!! I do however have a reputation with a mattock and if one breaks something whilst using one, you have Caroed it!!

I first joined Poulton in September 2001 through West Cheshire College, and have since taken on the role of Trustee when we became a registered charity in 2002. One of my back room tasks as a trustee is the raising of funds to ensure we can keep the site open throughout the year. Another major cost is the post excavation work and we have been very fortunate in having the support of the Westminster Foundation, who is sponsoring the project for the next 3 years.

Poulton is a well-established community project and it has been very satisfying seeing it develop over the last 4 years. We pride ourselves on our the open door policy, allowing anyone of any age, the opportunity of rolling up their sleeves grabbing a trowel and having a go under the watchful eye of Mike Emery. It is a truly fulfilling hobby and I would encourage anyone with the slightest interest to have a go.

My other major hobby is Round Table; which fortuitously involves amongst other things, running the Chester Charity Beer Festival every May at the Chester Rugby Club. Those involved at Poulton, surprise surprise, have thrown their weight behind drinking as much beer as possible at the beer festival!!!