Regarding COVID-19, we are following it daily and taking advice direct from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, our Normandy trip is too far ahead to consider it being an issue at this stage. The article Ben shared is directly from my company so hopefully clarify's things as they stand.
Tour operators have been advised to focus on 'imminent departures', this legally means up to 4 June. During that time we are leading a dozen tours and none are significantly affected.
France, Belgium, Holland, Germany & Turkey remain low risk. Our Italy tours are slightly impacted if heading to the north but other than spending hours each day listening to briefings and writing contingency its very much 'business as usual'.
Some interesting national/cultural differences emerging this week however, clients from the US have been dropping like flies over concerns of 'contaminated Europe' whilst our Turkish suppliers are more concerned about catching the virus via incoming people from the US. We have had a growing number of Brits wanting to book tours 'to prove its a load of old nonsense' whilst trying to discuss it with our French suppliers elicits the email equivalent of a 'Gallic shrug' and the Italians have gone to ground and are not responding at all.
Its fair to say we are really trying to make informed/measured decisions, should anything change we will share it with those travelling in July.
If anyone has ever got on the coach at Charlton where do you park your car?
It’s really tough Large. No real places to park unless you go up to the village which of course is a schlep back up. I did wonder if a pickup point by Charlton lido might be better ?
If anyone has ever got on the coach at Charlton where do you park your car?
It’s really tough Large. No real places to park unless you go up to the village which of course is a schlep back up. I did wonder if a pickup point by Charlton lido might be better ?
Think you have done the wisest thing, we have decided to postpone our family trip also to take some family members to visit Ypres, and Y Farm cemetery at the same time. The Hotel is closed and earliest date was 8th June, and that looks pretty optimistic . Hopefully Eurotunnel will roll over the booking. In any case looks like 2 weeks quarantine back home, TBA this afternoon.......no prob's. They only discovered his body, along with 16 others, and was reburied a few years back, fantastic and moving ceremony at the time. My younger brother and Cousin are the eldest, so feel we have to pay our respects......anyone interested its here..... http://ww1.canada.com/after-the-war/images-15-british-soldiers-from-the-first-world-war-are-reburied-in-france
Sorry for you blokes and lasses that this is postponed. I know just how good trips these are. I was gutted that I was not able to attend this time. I know you keep a reserve list Neal so please put me on it just in case places crop up for next year.
People on this thread may be interested to hear of my Uncle Den.
In January 1943 at age 18 he was called up to fight in the war and joined the Royal Marines. After a few months of training he was attached to the 7th battalion of the Royal Marines and shipped off to Sicily as a casualty replacement. He was there for several weeks. His battalion was then sent to Taranto to act as security for the port and the large railway junction and to guard prisoners of war. They were called back to Scotland to be selected for a new commando unit - 48 Royal Marine Commando - under the command of Lieutenant-colonel Moulton.
On June 5th 1944 they went to the port of Southampton to board a small wooden landing craft and sailed for France during the night. It was only there that they received orders of what they were to do upon arrival at Juno beach. On June 6th, Dennis aged 20 landed at 08:30 a.m. at Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer with 48 commando alongside the Canadian North Shore (New Brunswick) regiment. 48 commando battled their way through Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer and on to Langrune-sur-Mer. On June 7th a fierce battle took place and they lost many men including Captain James Perry, commanding officer for B troop to which Dennis belonged. 48 commando then fought their way to Sallenelles via Douvres-la-Delivrande and the bridge in Benouville. They continued through Belgium and Holland.
Dennis was demobilised in June 46. He returned to Normandy for the first time after the war in 2015 for the D Day remembrance ceremonies. In 2018 he received the Legion d’Honneur.
Den has in the last few years left his home in Bellingham and emigrated to France to live with his daughter in a small town close to the Spanish border. I have since seen him twice. At a meal in Chislehurst he brought along his Legion d’Honneur, a beautiful double sided medal, and last Summer for a couple of all too brief hours in my brother’s garden.
I shared a car with Den in the cortege at my father’s funeral in 2000. The procession stopped briefly outside the Downham Tavern and Den was reminded of the time he and my Dad (also a Royal Marine) were stationed in Portsmouth - although unbeknown to each other at the time. Den found out that my dad was in town when he recognised the sound of him playing the piano as he and his mates walked past a pub.
Comments
thanks for highlighting that Ben. Something that I was obviously aware of but I know Clive will advise if or when it becomes a problem to us.
there's always next year …. possibly, maybe?
Yeah, me neither.
I expect a lot of things will have changed by July - let's hope it's a best-case-scenario by then.
the League One fixtures will be out by then :-((
Tour operators have been advised to focus on 'imminent departures', this legally means up to 4 June. During that time we are leading a dozen tours and none are significantly affected.
France, Belgium, Holland, Germany & Turkey remain low risk. Our Italy tours are slightly impacted if heading to the north but other than spending hours each day listening to briefings and writing contingency its very much 'business as usual'.
Some interesting national/cultural differences emerging this week however, clients from the US have been dropping like flies over concerns of 'contaminated Europe' whilst our Turkish suppliers are more concerned about catching the virus via incoming people from the US. We have had a growing number of Brits wanting to book tours 'to prove its a load of old nonsense' whilst trying to discuss it with our French suppliers elicits the email equivalent of a 'Gallic shrug' and the Italians have gone to ground and are not responding at all.
Its fair to say we are really trying to make informed/measured decisions, should anything change we will share it with those travelling in July.
Real shame but best to call it off now rather than nearer the time.
@LargeAddick please can you let me know if any spare places come up for next year?
http://ww1.canada.com/after-the-war/images-15-british-soldiers-from-the-first-world-war-are-reburied-in-france
In January 1943 at age 18 he was called up to fight in the war and joined the Royal Marines. After a few months of training he was attached to the 7th battalion of the Royal Marines and shipped off to Sicily as a casualty replacement. He was there for several weeks. His battalion was then sent to Taranto to act as security for the port and the large railway junction and to guard prisoners of war. They were called back to Scotland to be selected for a new commando unit - 48 Royal Marine Commando - under the command of Lieutenant-colonel Moulton.
On June 5th 1944 they went to the port of Southampton to board a small wooden landing craft and sailed for France during the night. It was only there that they received orders of what they were to do upon arrival at Juno beach. On June 6th, Dennis aged 20 landed at 08:30 a.m. at Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer with 48 commando alongside the Canadian North Shore (New Brunswick) regiment. 48 commando battled their way through Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer and on to Langrune-sur-Mer. On June 7th a fierce battle took place and they lost many men including Captain James Perry, commanding officer for B troop to which Dennis belonged. 48 commando then fought their way to Sallenelles via Douvres-la-Delivrande and the bridge in Benouville. They continued through Belgium and Holland.
Dennis was demobilised in June 46. He returned to Normandy for the first time after the war in 2015 for the D Day remembrance ceremonies. In 2018 he received the Legion d’Honneur.
Den has in the last few years left his home in Bellingham and emigrated to France to live with his daughter in a small town close to the Spanish border. I have since seen him twice. At a meal in Chislehurst he brought along his Legion d’Honneur, a beautiful double sided medal, and last Summer for a couple of all too brief hours in my brother’s garden.
I shared a car with Den in the cortege at my father’s funeral in 2000. The procession stopped briefly outside the Downham Tavern and Den was reminded of the time he and my Dad (also a Royal Marine) were stationed in Portsmouth - although unbeknown to each other at the time. Den found out that my dad was in town when he recognised the sound of him playing the piano as he and his mates walked past a pub.
Uncle Den 96th birthday - 3 days ago.