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Eclipse man sacked for letting light in on plans by Prudence Fay

SALISBURY CATHEDRAL has summarily sacked its Head of Visitor Services, who upped the revenue from visitors by £350,000 in his first year's work, for "gross misconduct". Barry Mason, who began a three-year contract at the cathedral in January 1998, with a brief to revamp every aspect of the visitor facilities and increase the revenue, has written to the Bishop, protesting about the charge. He said on Wednesday: "Gross misconduct is stealing, or assault, or sexual impropriety. My sin was just that I was too enthusiastic." The Chapter Clerk, Brigadier Kit Owen, who fired Mr Mason, is refusing to comment. The statement put out by the Chapter Office on Monday says simply that "all proper procedures were strictly adhered to, both leading up to and during the disciplinary hearing." According to Mr Mason, the point at issue is the way he handled plans to redevelop an internal courtyard, called the Plummery, down the centre of which, in the 1960s, prefab huts had been erected to form a shop and café. He proposed pulling these down, and utilising the whole space to provide much larger facilities. "There'd be a glass roof, through which you could see the spire, and the medieval courtyard walls would be visible once again. "Everyone thought it was a wonderful idea. In December the Dean and Chapter approved the scheme, but they told me to keep it secret till March." In fact, Mr Mason went ahead with informal talks to architects, and with having plans drawn up. In retrospect, he agrees, it might have been wiser not to do so. "But I honestly thought what I was doing was in the best interests of the cathedral. I got too enthusiastic. I loved the job, and achieved in a year what they'd wanted me to do in three." Other schemes of Mr Mason's included an alcohol licence for the cathedral, and £250 tickets to see this summer's eclipse from the cathedral tower (News, 25 January). "They'd started telling me: 'Slow down, Barry: work a nine-to-five day.'" Mr Mason says. "But I'm not like that. I think they thought they'd created a bit of a monster." Julian Hewitt, the diocesan communications officer, said on Tuesday: "It's not in question that some of the things Mr Mason has done have been very positive. He was sacked for reasons to do with the way he carried out his work. He was not a team player." But "gross misconduct"? Mr Hewitt replies that this was the term the Chapter was advised by legal experts to use. Mr Mason said on Wednesday that he wants that slur removed, but that he doesn't want to be reinstated. "The marriage between me and the Cathedral is over."

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