The planned trip to the WW1 battlefields in France and Belgium is back on again.
Specialist group travel company, Yorkshire based Airedale Tours, have come back with prices far better than a number of Lancashire based coach companies quoted.
They also have enabled me to add value to the trip by way of free cabin upgrade on the overnight ferry and, importantly, offer free travel insurance.
Details can be found by downloading the information here:
I have pulled my battlefield trip in May 2104 due to the coach / travel company Alfa Travel Ltd of Chorley raising their prices by £110 per person in a double / twin and a staggering £200 for single occupancy.
They are “blaming” the price increase on P&O (North Sea Ferries). Needless to say I am not very happy.
Those 16 people that have booked with me will have their cheques returned – I was just about to hand everything over to Alfa at their offices late on Friday afternoon when they advised me of the increase, totally out of the blue.
However, I have been busy over the weekend researching a suitable / alternative coach company that will meet my standards; I have identified four and forwarded my itinerary / requirements.
As soon as I have quotes back, I will post details here.
I have revamped my talks, finally coming up with a definitive list of 26.
I am adding a new talk “Italian reflections”, once I come back from my holiday to the Italian Lakes and the Dolomites in late September.
Download my brochure here.
I sympathise with those trying to find and book speakers, as there does not seem to be a list around – until now.
The Lancashire Local History Federation have produced one and I offer it here as a download (with acknowledgement to Bob Dobson at the LLHF – www.lancashirehistory.org).
I am busy working on a new, permanent exhibition down at Astley Hall in Chorley.
Called the Chorley Remembers ‘Experience’, the Lottery funded exhibition is set to open at Easter.
Covering 1,250 square feet, it will feature the town’s involvement in conflicts over the years and will include a First World War trench and dug-out.
My 2013 brochure is now available and includes new talks – “Malta GC” about the history of the mediterranean island, “The road to the Menin Gate” about the iconic First World War memorial at Ypres in Belgium, and “The Somme” covering the 1916 battle.
Please note that I will not available in September 2013, due to spending a few weeks away travelling around Europe – hopefully getting some inspiration for future talks i.e. “The Italian Lakes”, as well as adding images to my “Travels in France” talk.
Whilst on my travels, I will also be doing some research / reconnaissance for battlefield trips in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Due to my involvement with the Chorley Remembers heritage project, I will not be doing a battlefield trip in 2013.
However, I am planning a First World War ‘Western Front’ tour for late May 2014, taking in the Trench of Death at Dixsmuide, the Ypres Salient, Arras, Vimy Ridge, Loos, Cambrai and the Somme battlefields.
In 2015, I am planning a World War Two trip to take in Dunkirk, Dieppe and Normandy – again in late May. If there is sufficient interest, I may repeat my successful ‘Ypres on Remembrance Day’ trip to be at the Menin Gate in Ypres on the 11th November.
2016 sees the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme on the 1st July. On the 90th anniversary, back in 2006, I ran a coach trip to be in the Accrington / Burnley / Chorley Pals trenches at Serre at 7.30 a.m. I am planning a similar trip, but due to the restrictions on travel and security (VIP) issues, as well as the cost and the fact that the Euro 2016 football championships are being held in France at the same time, the trip may be over the a late May Bank holiday.
Please email me to register your interest. A brochure and booking form for the 2014 trip will be available in February 2013.
Back in October, I stepped into the full-time role of Project Manager with the Chorley Remembers heritage project, after the previous incumbent resigned without notice.
I was already working part-time on the marketing & administration, as well as managing the delivery of the war memorial element of the project.
I was proud to see the new memorial unveiled in Astley Park in Chorley on Remembrance Day – it not now holds the names of 738 men from the town who died in the First World War, the Second World War, Korea, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, the Falklands conflict and more recently, Afghanistan.
After the Christmas break, I will be overseeing a new and permanent ‘Remembrance Experience’ to go in the Coach House at Astley Hall, courtesy of some £78,000 worth of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The exhibition is scheduled to open at Easter, whilst the project overall is due to be completed by the end of August.
You can follow progress on www.chorleyremembers.org.uk.
I recently joined The Western Front Association (WFA).
It was formed in 1980 with the aim of furthering interest in The Great War and to perpetuate the memory, courage and comradeship of all those who served their countries during the war.
The Association does not seek to justify or glorify war, nor is it a re-enactment society.
They are not commercially motivated and are entirely non-political, focucssing on educating the public in the history of The Great War, with particular reference to the Western Front (from the Belgium coast down to the Swiss border).
The WFA has grown over the years to some 6,000 members worldwide, with three branches covering Lancashire. Further details can be found at www.westernfrontassociation.com.
I am also a member of the British Association for Local History (BALH) and the national Community Archives and Heritage Group.
I will be presenting a series of talks between July and December at libraries in the Chorley and Leyland area for Chorley Remembers, in partnership with the Lancashire County Council Library Service (Community History Section) .
The talks are free, courtesy of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, but entry is by ticket only, obtainable in advance from the respective library or by using the contact form on the Chorley Remembers website.
Each illustrated talk is about an hour long and will cover topics of a local interest, ranging from the history of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Euxton from 1937 to 2007 to local men who fought and died in the First and Second World Wars – the battlefields they fought on (from the Somme to Normandy) and, in the case of the Christmas talk, their experiences in the trenches during the ‘festive’ period of The Great War.
All of the talks will be presented myself, in my capacity as Secretary of the Chorley Pals Memorial and Admin & Marketing Officer of the Chorley Remembers project.
The full list is as follows…
A talk at Coppull Library is also planned for November (more details once the new Branch Manager is appointed).
To get your free tickets, visit the Chorley Remembers website.
