2002
Report

Introduction
Events Listed by Tourist Board Area
Cumbria East of England Heart of England London		Southern England West Country Northern Ireland Scotland

Introduction
By Brian Hicks

Guild ITGD Co-ordinatorInternational Tourist Guide Day is a wonderful opportunity to raise the profile of our profession. It came into existence in 1989 at the third International Conference of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations. The purpose of the day was multifarious. It included the illustration of our professionalism and the general enhancement of our image. It was decided that celebration of the day should be through such things as free tours, fund raising activities, awarding certificates and general marketing strategies. The universal nature of the day mustn't be overlooked it is amazing to think when we are guiding groups around St. James's, Canterbury or the Giant's Causeway there are guides taking groups searching for pink dolphins in Hong Kong or on free sleigh rides in Finland.

The day has also become a way of saying thank you to those people who work with us throughout the year the marshals, wardens and volunteers who we all see on a regular basis. It is also a way of showcasing our skills with those groups who deserve some sort of thanks for their hard work in the community. It is therefore a perfect way to illustrate our professionalism and to improve public relations.

There are some who say what is the point of ITGD? Well to date ITGD is the only big marketing opportunity that Blue Badge Guides have! After food and mouth and September 11th we need to do our very best to promote ourselves and to show the British public how much there is to this remarkable series of islands. Many took on the day with a spirit worthy of Agincourt! The day resulted in the involvement of various MPs, numerous Mayors and Lord Mayors, Sheriff's and Aldermen. We had coverage on ITV's London Today, LBC (thank you Diane!), Radio Kent, Children's BBC, Radio Oxford, Time Out, What's On, the Evening Standard "Hot Tickets", various newspapers including The Ham and High, Westender, The Dorking Advertiser, The Chichester and Rye Observers and a two page spread in the Westminster and Pimlico News. Press releases were sent out to well over 200 national and London regional news services thanks to the LTB who assisted us in this task. Special thanks to Alex Brannen, Elaine Spooner and Katherine Grice of the LTB who also promoted the event on the LTB's website. I hope in some shall way this report is a tribute to the sterling, and sometimes, exceptional efforts and imagination of everyone who participated. If I forget anyone please forgive me but understand that your efforts to promote your profession and specifically the Blue Badge are worthwhile and positive.

There are certainly people who deserve a special mention from the outset. Maggie & Mem from the Guild office, Jackie from the APTG office and Peter Jamieson for his contributions to the Guild Website. Also a massive thank you to Liz Cooper APTG's ITGD Co-ordinator. Liz has no idea how much her help meant to me but without her I may have gone a little mad!

Brian Hicks, Guild ITGD Co-ordinator.
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Events
by Tourist Board Area

Cumbria
The Cumbria guides had to brave torrential rain for their walks but boldly they continued onwards.

Jackie Perry dressed as "Beatrix Potter" and Jo Dadley dressed as "Peter Rabbit" recounted stories detailing Beatrix's life, her love of farming and the area around Sawrey. They were celebrating the centenary of the first edition of Peter Rabbit. The local MP Tim Collins, who is conscious of the importance of tourism to the area, was there to send them on their way.

Malcolm Saunders gave a talk on Beatrix Potter to the residents of "Holehird". Holehird was once the home to the Potter family but is now a Leonard Cheshire Home.

Ian Jones took a group of visually impaired visitors and their sighted helpers on a coach tour of the area on a coach provided by Princess Coaches.

Richard Hyde took a group from Rheged visitor centre on a walk to the 13th Century Brougham castle and regaled them with tales of King Arthur and his brave knights.

Gina Francombe led a walk from Howtown along the shore of Ullswater. She was raising money for Mountain rescue.

Diana Stewart took a group around charming Keswick in aid of Cumbria hopsices and Janet Niepokojczycka dressed as one of the "black canons" led a walk entitled "Canons and Carters of Cartmel".

As you can see Cumbria put a vast amount of effort into the day and was very well covered!
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East of England
Guides in Cambridge took groups around the City. The tours included groups from the Ely guides, the Bottisham WI. The Group Travel Organisers association, Orwell village and the Wesley Methodist church. Guides, Sheila Allen and Sue Francis, Ian Melvin, Liesel Boughton-Fox, Tim Brown and Muriel Brewster led these groups.

David Mummery of the Colchester Tourist guides Association was one of about 12 guides who took groups on tours around the town. The events were covered in the Colchester Evening Gazette. The Mayor and Mayoress and Deputy Mayor and Mayoress joined the tour.

In Norwich Carol Robinson and fellow guides organised a series of walks with such titles as "Georgian Norwich" and "Around the Mound".
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Heart of England
Guides took part in tours of central Birmingham describing the city, its history and transformation into a cultural Mecca.

Guides in Worcester braved the elements and organised a tour around the city.
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London
In London there were a series of events. All of us can learn from the efforts of Freda Bates and Sonia Haines Von Scanzoni.

Famous names and a good photo opportunity were the order of the day. Sonia and her husband Geoffrey, a Blue Badge couple, took a group of about 14 Chelsea Pensioners on a tour of London. They visited the London Eye, the Wellington Arch and even found time for a stop off in the Albert Pub. They were interviewed at the beginning of the day by the ITV News programme "London Today" and there was a journalist and photographer from the local Kensington paper present. A two page spread hailed the event in the Westminster and Pimlico News, the local Marylebone paper and there has been promised coverage in The Westender.

Freda Bates organised a tour entitled the "Warrior Women of Westminster", she was sent on her way by Glenda Jackson MP. Again this attracted a journalist and reporter from the Westminster and Pimlico news. What an awesome sight Freda, Glenda and Boudicea! The tour set off with about 50 people.

Liz Cooper began her tour of the Albert Memorial with an oration by the Lord Mayor of the City of Westminster, Mr Harvey Marshall. He praised the qualities of professional guides and derided "imitators". It turned out that his previous wife had trained as a Blue Badge guide so he was well aware of the qualifications. Joan Hoad acted as Liz's assistant for the event. Liz only got a small group for her second tour at 10 o'clock.

The Chairmen of the Guild of Registered Tourist Guides and the APTG, Richard Palmer and Alan Cross gave tours of the City of London. One entitled the "City of Churches" and the other the "City of Commerce". The Chief Commoner of the City of London, Mr Jonathan Charkham gave them a stirring send off. He explained to the group that his responsibilities ranged from organising charity events, including a game of table football with life size player in the Millennium Dome to preserving the fabric of the Guild hall itself. He looked wonderful in his fir trimmed blue gown.

Marielies Jackson waited patiently at Camden Town underground station. Marielies set off with 20 people, accompanied by the student she is mentoring, Hannah, to explore the knooks and crannies of old Camden and to bring its sometimes strange history to life. A large colour photograph of Mairelies appeared in the Ham and High applauding her great tour.

In Hampstead Robert Fromow greeted a group of about 15 people. He told them about our qualification and then showed them around that part of London that still retains its village charm - despite the fact that St. Paul's Cathedral and the City of London are easily visible from its high spots.

Alison Haslam found that she was the crowd puller of the day she had a group of 120 people for her tour of Covent Garden. Alison's tour included tales of murder and drama. Alison told stories that entranced even those who had been brought up in the area and who thought they know it all well! A photographer and journalist accompanied from the Independent newspaper accompanied her on the tour and promised some coverage in the next couple of days.

Sue Jackson's walk visited what was in the eighteenth century the premier Square in London. St. James's Square and the St. James's area in general formed a perfect backdrop for her tales of gambling and debauchery. As if on cue a carriage procession passed by as Sue Crossed Stable yard - some things take a lot of planning!! Sue was diligent in ensuring all of her group know what a Blue Badge guide was - she remembered that this was after all a marketing operation.

Joy Levene chose a very different part of London for her walk. She toured Hampstead cemetery. Not as well known as the nearby Highgate, Hampstead cemetery is also brimming with famous manes. Joseph Lister of antiseptic fame and Marie Lloyd are both buried here. Joy is a stalwart of ITGD and always comes up with imaginative walks.

Maki Suzuki and the Japanese Blue Badge guides association organised a whole range of tours for the London based Japanese community including Royal London, the National Gallery, the City and the Natural History Museum.

Veena Chawla took a group of senior citizens from the Milap Day Centre on a coach tour of the capital including a visit to the London Eye. The coach was kindly provided by Epsom coaches.

Barbara Pukwana took a group from the Swiss Embassy on a tour of the city travelling from the Barbican and Guild hall towards the Mansion House where her group had a tour of the Lord Mayor's palatial residence.

Barbara Crosse and Richard Hampton entertained 42 volunteers from Windsor Castle. They travelled in coach provided by Cavalier coaches. They went to St. Paul's Cathedral where they were given a tour and then were transported to Westminster Abbey where they were greeted by the chief Marshall and give tours by Richard and Barbara. The event was covered in the local Windsor and Eton paper.

Ros Hutchinson took the Yeoman Warders of The Tower of London on a coach tour of other Royal Palaces including Hampton Court and Kensington Palace. Her coach was kindly provided by Tellings Golden Miller.

Ian Godfrey took the staff and volunteers of Westminster Abbey on a coach tour to Portsmouth on a coach provided by Armchair.

Gabriele Nadin took staff from the German Embassy on a tour of London.

Suzanne Whiting took a group of students from the local language schools on a tour of Royal London.

Hilda Matthews organised a cycling tour of London, supported by the London Cycling Club. Around 25 people set off from the Albert Memorial on a very enjoyable cycle along the south bank ending at the Tower of London. Andrew Dick and a sprinkling of other guiding luminaries supported Hilda.

Rosemary Honey took a group from the St. Oswalds Women's Fellowship on a walking tour of Richmond.

Wendy Myers took a group from Pinner parish church on a tour of the Islam galleries at the British Museum as a way to foster better relations and understanding after September 11th.

Jackie Taylor took a group of Friend's of Shakespeare's Globe on a tour entitled "Shakespeare North of the River". Jackie received appreciative letters for this stimulating walk.
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Southern England
Joan Robertson took a group from the Salisbury local History group on a coach tour to Lewes and the Sussex area.
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West Country
Anne Mitchell and Florence Clarke who are French speakers took local French speakers on tours of Bristol entitled "Bristol Insolite".
In Wessex Hugh Thomas, Ann Martin, Jill Bryant and Tim Loadsby organised a Dorset coach tour including a walk of Lyme Regis.
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Northern Ireland.
In Belfast the guides organised a double-decker bus to take hotel employees on a tour of the city so they would become familiar with the sights and also with the services of the Blue Badge guides!

Ken Robinson Blue Badge Guide and member of the National Trust took people on a guided tour of the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim.

Michael Johnston gave tours of Belfast for local pensioners.
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Scotland
In Scotland three coach tours were organised for the day. One coach provided by Stanley Mackay took people form sheltered accommodation in Dalkeith and Newtongrange on a guided tour. Another coach provide by Hunters took pensioners from Gilmerton over 60's club on a tour and finally a coach provided by JP Travel took a group of blind and partially sighted people on a tour which included a canal trip at Rotho. This last tour organised by Anne Lister despite her own serious illness. Thank you to Mauela Fraenkel for this information.

ITGD Introduction