AS Bernadette Oliver stands on the Staffordshire tiles of York's Bar Convent Museum and gazes around her at the glass atrium of its courtyard, the prospect of her new job fills her with not only excitement but also humility.

From May, Bernadette will be the new business manager of the Bar Convent, succeeding ex-RAF pilot Richard Masefield who is finally retiring as guide and keeper of this historic corner of the city.

She knows it will be a hard act to follow. Richard's arrival in September, 1995, marked a dramatic turnaround in what had been the sad fortunes of that mostly Georgian building in Blossom Street.

Only a year before he officially entered its illustrious portico, the Bar Convent's trustees, faced by Government cuts, had closed what had been a school, museum and youth centre, leaving only its community of sisters in residence.

He has since converted the premises into a thriving guest house, 42-cover caf-restaurant, conference centre and shop, moving into profit and staying there, steering a careful path between commercial needs and the religious demands of Sister Agatha, the Mother Superior

For Bernadette, these illustrious 17th century surroundings may appear to be a far cry from the Clifton Moor office where she is claims controller for the National Housebuilders Council, but there are touchstones of similarity with Mr Masefield's approach.

She also has a military background. Her husband, Bailey Oliver, was in the military police for 20 years until 1988. His final posting was at Fulford Barracks, but by then they had had many far-flung postings.

Among them was a posting in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1986, which well prepared her for the understanding of religious compassion required by the Bar Convent nuns.

She recalls: "My husband was posted there with a British military training team and I felt I had to get away from all the trappings of colonial life and spent my time helping Dominican nuns at an orphanage for mixed-race children, some of whom had been abandoned."

After her arrival in May, Richard will continue to work alongside her for a month, then, after a holiday, spend - as he puts it "a final week in July to clear up any problems before heading for the golf course."

But soon Bernadette intends to put her stamp on the job. As a member of York Arts Society and Stamford Bridge Art Group - her medium is watercolour and pastel - she is likely to introduce more local arts and crafts exhibitions at the Bar Convent.

"And in the museum area it would be good to create an interactive or imaginative area for children so they can touch and feel history," she said.

Updated: 12:00 Tuesday, January 21, 2003