Alyson Donnovan
Administration Assistant
Alyson joined Southdowns at the end of January 2006 as an administrative assistant. A keen caravanner for many years, the idea of working for a company that imports and sells motorhomes held a strong appeal for her. At the end of her first six weeks with the company, we asked Alyson how she is settling in to her new role.Q What are your key responsibilities?
A As admin assistant within a small team, my key role is to provide support to
our office administrator Julie Topley and to Mary Stock, our financial
controller. I am the first port of call for our customers as I act as
receptionist, fielding calls and meeting and greeting people as they come into
the building. I am also the chief coffee maker!
Q Briefly describe your average working day
A Hectic!
Q What attracted you to work for Southdowns?
A My husband and I have owned a caravan for more than 10 years and in the future
we would like to trade it in for a motorhome. So when I saw an advertisement in
the local paper, the idea of working for a company that sold motorhomes was very
appealing. I am interested in the product, which makes my job much more
interesting.
Q What is the best thing about working for the company
A The work is very varied. I work with a good team of people, never have a
chance to feel bored and I meet different people every day. I also really like
the fact that Southdowns is a family business. My first job, which I loved, was
with a family firm. I hoped Southdowns would be similar - it is and I feel very
much at home already.
Q What is the appeal of motorhomes for you?
A The freedom of touring in a motorhome appeals to me - you can go where you
like, stop when you’re tired and you’ve got everything you need with you. It is
a relatively inexpensive way to travel and you see far more than you would if
you stayed in one place. Also, these days motorhomes can be very luxurious - you
don’t need to leave your home comforts behind when you go away.
Q Do you own a motorhome
A No. At the moment we own a caravan but my husband and I are planning to
buy a motorhome when we retire and escape to the sun when it’s cold in England.
Q If you could take a motorhome anywhere in the world, where would it be?
A The South of France
Q Finally, if you could fulfil one ambition, what would it be?
A I am totally fascinated by forensic work, so I would love to visit a
forensic lab and find out more about it.
Alyson lives in Halnaker with her husband and two children, Lewis and Becky.
Alyson was interviewed in March 2006.
Alyson can be contacted on :
Southdowns Switchboard Number: +44 (0)2392 674820