Robbie Williams interviewed by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn

Interview with Robbie Williams recorded by Ashlynn Hudson-Welburn on 14 March 2024 at the National Railway Museum. Duration: 5 hours 17 minutes 50 seconds. [Start of interview, track 01] Childhood in North Wales, family railway links, living near the railway, school life, friendships, hobbies. [00:14:50] Studying hospitality and management, early career in entertainment, recruitment and work as a Redcoat, entertainer for Butlin’s holiday club. [00:33:20] Decision to work in cruise industry, joining Regal Princess cruise ship in 2015, travelling to America, adapting to ship life, meeting international crew, learning about diversity, officer status, crew accommodation, hierarchy, destinations and transfer to Star Princess. [01:02:40] Cruise travel, world cruises, environmental concerns and climate change, cruises he has worked on; how he met his partner; coming out to his friends and parents at 18; his partner’s coming out experience in Argentina; homophobia [01:40:40] Cruise ships as supportive spaces for LGBTQIA+ people, company support for the community, crew events, inclusive culture. [01:47:10] Being on first cruise ship to have COVID-19 pandemic outbreak (February 2020), detailing how he felt, how it was dealt with, onboard emergency procedures, quarantine, staff continuing to work, the lack of PPE [Personal Protective Equipment] at beginning, passenger and crew illness, deaths, impact on mental health, media attention, disembarkation and repatriation processes from Japan to the UK for him and his partner. [end of track 01] [Track 02] Continues discussing how covid-19 pandemic outbreak on the cruise ship was dealt with, leaving the ship with remaining crew to move to quarantine accommodation in Japan, couples being separated, life in quarantine, health and safety, covid testing, details of repatriation to the UK, comparing Japan’s COVID-19 response and the UK before lockdown. [00:20:10] Reasons for not returning to work on cruise ships; his career progression in cruise industry, entertainment and management, experience taking part in reality television series; work as Entertainment Director, managing staff. [end of track 02] [Track 03] Life with his partner after leaving cruise industry, covid-19 lockdown in Wales with his mother; moving to London, joining the railway industry, application and interview process for customer service role at LNER. [00:29:50] LNER Ambassador role at Kings Cross, starting October 2021, induction and training, LNER family, LNER values, ways passengers are supported, suicide prevention; LNER event for Kings Cross station 175th anniversary Kings Cross, Flying Scotsman locomotive. [end of track 03] [Track 04] The different staff networks at LNER, EDI [Equity/Equality, Diversity and Inclusion], his personal involvement with networks, benefits of having staff networks, example of impacts of networks; celebration of first anniversary of LGBTQIA+ network. [00:14:50] Impact of network, driving change sin company, example of discussions and issues discussed through networks. [00:26:30] Development and purpose of Kings Cross Colleague Hub, supporting staff, work on pop-up hubs at other stations. Comparison between LNER and cruise industry: both seen as caring about LGBTQIA+ people, with LNER accepting people for who they are and not legitimising queerphobia, example of action taken at LNER following homophobic comment made by a customer [00:45:00] Views on Great British Railways [GBR]: hopes for a more joined-up railway, discussing franchise system, private ownership, ticket prices, railway stock leasing companies [ROSCOs], impact of privatisation; anticipation and questions around future GBR, branding, uniforms, open access, freight, staff conditions, impact of staff and redundancies, corporate partnerships; how he feels about GBR, what he hopes for the future of UK railway industry. [end of interview]

This interview was made as part of People Pride and Progress (PPP) project. The project was initiated in 2023 to record the stories and memories of the LGBTQIA+ community in a new oral history archive over two years. It aimed to connect past, present and future through intergenerational interviews, offering opportunities for colleagues across all parts of the rail industry to connect, reflect on and learn from each other’s lived experiences while creating an archive of oral history interviews.