International Tourist Guide Day 2003

Guided sightseeing tours with a blue badge tour guide in London and the the UK

Blue Badge
Tourist Guides throughout the
United Kingdom

The national professional association for Blue Badge Tourist Guides
with members in every part of Britain

2003
Report

By Roger Bailey
(Events)

The launch took place on Sunday 16th February at the base of the Albert Memorial, followed by guided tours on bicycles around London. The ribbon tied between two bikes, was cut by a charming Steven Norris. Special thanks to Hilda Mathews and her team

The main day was Friday 21st February, probably the sunniest we have had in weeks so a great encouragement to all those guides who had given up their time to offer their services free.

With help from Simon Good the press officer for APTG, we drove the streets of London handing out the balloons generously paid for by the London Tourist Board, for their "Totally London" campaign and secured by Simon. Photographs are available for viewing in the Guild Office.

Tours in London saw 22 people take part in the "Fires & Plagues" walk, while others included "Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square" with two tours. The "Stocks, Steeples, Statues - City of Stunning Contrast" walk saw 20 comprising of mostly Japanese and American tourists viewing seven of Christopher Wren's churches, Roman Temple and hearing about the tragic spectre of the Bank of England.

Others included "Knickers to the Entente Cordiale" including appropriate props or "How a little lingerie helped Franco-British relations"! A total of 25 people were interested in a walk which included the Inner and Middle Temple and church, Fleet Street and a finish at Holborn.

The walk around Hampstead proved popular for a group consisting of people from America, Germany and Grenoble.

"Whores, Rakes & Greasepaint - Neil Gwynne's Covent Garden", saw visitors from America, Finland, Spain and of course England, all armed with ballooons, participate in this revealing tour of the capital. An interesting walk took in the homes of Charlie Chaplin and Vincent Van Gogh as well as connections to Vauxhall.

Members of the Abbey Club (Seniors from Westminster), were taken to Dover Castle with the help of Telling Golden Miller. A group of 14 went for a walk around Clerkenwell, which included viewing the Karl Mark Memorial, being one of two such walks of the day, the other including St James Church and watchmaking.

Thirty residents and carers from several hostels run by the Salvation Army, were treated to a day out, which included a free themed cruise with Bateaux London/Catamaran Cruises and free entrance to Westminster Abbey. The guides involved, covered some of the additional expences and felt it was one of the most fulfilling jobs they had ever done.

Thirty members of the German Embassy were taken on an outing to Greenwich by a vehicle provided by Cavalier Coaches. A report was sent to all German correspondents and honorary consuls, thus promoting the Blue Badge Worldwide.

The Japanese Registered Guide Association, affiliated to the Guild, marketed four tours around the National Gallery, British Museum, Dulwich Picture Gallery and a panoramic city tour, using a Bicknell coach. The tours were marketed at resident Japanese rather than incoming tourists. A total of 104 took part on the day, including a number of children.

Forest of Dean Guides, looked after 40 people, who took a varied tour which included a rope course, Clearwell Caves, Hopewewell Colliery, and then met by the leader of the local council at Beechenhurst Lodge where they had a delicious lunch. They then inspected the 4-poster bedrooms and the dungeon! Don't ask!

Tours in Salisbury were provided through the day, including one for members of Salisbury Shopmobility. Another took place with the help of the local Mayor, raising money for his charity, ending with tea at the Arts centre. They also conducted a childrens visit around the cathedral. Wells Cathedral was also featured, the tour being conducted in french! It was spilt in two parts, with what was described as a delicious lunch in between.

Others involved included Bury St Edmunds with their armchair tour for B&B properties, Colchester with tours of Britain's oldest High Street, Oxford with their "Following in the footsteps of famous people", walking tours of Winchester, York with tours of the city and Bronte area, with one guide obtaining a free coach and offering a tour plus a heavily subsidised lunch.

Eastbourne was the destination for volunteers from hospices in Sussex, Kent and Surrey, with coaches provided by Heritage Travel, Warren's Coaches and Countryline Coaches. The whole event was Co-ordinated by Eastbourne Tourism Development and supported by the Mayor of Eastbourne, South East England Tourist Board, plus the many attractions involved.

The guides in Norwich conducted tours round the City Hall, Guildhall and St Andrews & Blackfriars Hall. They conducted four of each building, all fully booked with publicity in the local press, radio and on BBC "Look East". They also offered a tour for children with frequent rewards of sweets for audience participation!

Our friends in Jersey offered a "Pick and Mix" tour of St Helier, with guides based at many of the interesting places, giving 10 minute talks at regular intervals. Approximately 100 people took part over a two hour period.

Customers have responded, including Margaret and Peter from Hitchin, who travelled to London for the day to take part in tours conducted by Tim Hudson and Eileen Cox. They throughly enjoyed themselves and look forward to next year. One guide was even sent chocolates from Austria for giving such an enjoyable tour!

Special thanks to all those who filed a report, an extract of which is in this report where practical. Also thanks to the team of London guides who put the show together, led by Ali Bennett and Eileen Cox. The others were Tim Hudson, Peter Bloor, Alan Lindley and Trevor Philips. The day would not have happened without the help we all had from Mehmet and the Guild office, who gave their unfailing support.

Roger Bailey
Marketing & PR Officer
The Guild of Registered Tourist Guides

Programme of Events

Organisers were Ali Bennett and Eileen Cox

Listed by Area

London Walking Tours
London (Tours in Japanese)
London (Private Tours)
South East England

Southern England
West Country (Wells)
East of England
Cumbria
Jersey

London
Tours available to the General Public

Sunday 16th February
Launch by Steven Norris
Cycling tour of London from the Albert Memorial
Guide: Hilda Matthews

Friday 21 February

Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Square - from Piccadilly Circus
Guide: Joy Levene

Clerkenwell Secret Village - from Farringdon Tube Station
Guide: Sue Jackson

Roman London - from Tower Hill Tube Station
Time: 10.00 am and 2.00 pm.
Guide: Caroline Macdonald-Haig

Londons Heroes (Statues) Trafalgar Sq. to Westminster Statue from Leicester Sq.
Guide: Alison Haslam

A Visit To The National Portrait Gallery
From The Tudors To The Windsors, Portraits Of Monarchs and Individuals Who Shaped The History Of Britain. (In French).
Guide: Christine Feldman.

Bloomsbury Walk - from Tottenham Court Road Tube.
Guide: Tony Mcdonnell

Japanese Guided Tours
National Gallery in the morning,
Panorama of London,
Guided Tour of Dulwich Picture Gallery
Organised by Japanese Registered Guides Association for Japanese residents with Japanese Travel Agents.

Fires & Plagues walk - from Tower Hill Tube.
Guide: Eileen Cox.

Index of Areas

Knickers To The Entente Cordiale
(How a little lingerie has helped Franco-British relations)
A care-free stroll with kings, queens and royal mistresses who reveal the secret role of the bodice, the balconnet and the bustier in Londons links with the French.
Guide: Peter Bloor.

Stocks, Steeples, Statues - City of Stunning Contrast - from the Steps of St Paul's Cathedral.
Guide: Tim Hudson.

Whores, Rakes & Greasepaint - Nell Gwynnes Covent Garden - from Covent Garden Tube.
Guide: Simon Rodway.

Around Historic Clerkenwell - from Farringdon Tube.
Guide: Rosemary Honey.

Old Hampstead - from Hampstead Tube.
Guide: Robert Fromow.

Charles Dickens Walk from - Blackfriars Tube.
Guide: Marielies Jackson.

Spanish Speakers Walk - from Admiralty Arch
Guide: Hazel Docherty.
Index of Areas

City of London in Italian - from Steps of St Paul's Cathedral.
Guide: Roberto di Gioacchino
T
Vauxhall-Kennington Associations - the Oval - from Albert Embankment
Guide: Liz du Parcq
Index of Areas

London
Private Tours
These tours were organised for private groups

Westminster Abbey volunteers to St Albans
Freda Bates & Ian Godfrey

Tower of London - Yeoman Warders Coach Tour.
Ros Hutchinson

Edge Of The City ; Edge Of The World
Walk through the edge of the East End and Docklands. Staff from the City Hall.
Guide: Trevor Jeanes.
Index of Areas

Salvation Army
Coach and river cruise for Salvation Army Homeless Services.
Guide: Sonja Haines

Panoramic Coach Tour of German associations in London
For the staff of German Embassy.
Guide: Gabrielle Nadin

Panoramic Coach Tour of London for Disabled People
BHHI (British Home and Hospital for the Incurables)
Redwing Coaches kindly offered a coach.
Guide: Ali Bennett and Suzanne Whitting

The Great St Paul's from a distance - Working friends of St Paul's and trainee guides.
a coach trip from St Paul's to St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Then to Leighton House and finishing at Apsley House.
Guide: Helen Clapp

City of London - Business and Social History for the staff of the Stock Exchange
Guide: Reg Denny.

Index of Areas

South East

Monday 24th February
Volunteers who work in hospices in our 3 counties were taken on a day out to Eastbourne.
Volunteers from the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Farnham and from CHASE Childrens Hospice in Guildford travelled in a coach supplied by Countryliner with Blue Badge Guide Bronwen Mills
Volunteers from St Barnabas Hospice in Worthing travelled in a coach supplied by Heritage Travel with Blue Badge Guide Frances Farrer-Brown
Volunteers from The Hospice in the Weald in Tunbridge Wells travelled in a coach supplied by Warrens with Blue Badgge Guide Wilf Jackson

When we arrived in Eastbourne, we were joined by Blue Badge Guides Rebecca Howard, Jane Fraser Hay, Margaret Chiverton, and Francoise Haslam Dodo.
Group Tourism Executive Jennifer Horridge of Eastbourne Borough Council organised an itinerary for each coach. We were kindly hosted by the Towner Art Gallery, the Beachy Head Country Visitor Centre, the Sovereign Centre, the Congress Theatre and the 'How We Lived Then' Museum of Shops.
They were supported by the South East England Tourist Board.

Index of Areas

Southern England

Salisbury
Events organised by Salisbury Guides. Margaret Smith did a Free City Walk; guided walk with Mayor of Salisbury; Children's Tour of Salisbury Cathedral.

Elizabeth Keatinge took 24 friends and neighbour by mini-coach on a 6 hour exploring trip to raise money for local charities.

Winchester
Winchester Blue Badge Guides took 2 walks in the morning and 2 walks in the afternoon.
Index of Areas

West Country

Wells
Guided tour of Wells Cathedral in French. Explore the immediate neighbourhood, the Liberty, etc...
Lunch in local pub or cathedral restaurant with opportunity to speak French with French natives !
Guide: Florence Clarke.

East of England

Colchester
Sunday 16 February
Colchester Tourist Guides Association took tours down Colchester High Street, laid out by the Romans.

Norwich
Norwich Tours of buildings
Index of Areas

Cumbria
Coach tour on the 19 February within the Lake District National Park.

Index of Areas

Jersey
The Jersey Tour Guides Association celebrated its International Day by offering a "Pick and Mix" walking tour of St Helier completely free of charge. Individual Blue Badge Tour Guides gave 10 minutes' talks at many of the interesting buildings, streets and venues in Town.

So join with members of the professional tourist guides on their special day and discover fascinating facts and information about the capital of Jersey.

Index of Areas

ITGD Introduction

Guild Home Page

Use a Blue Badge Tourist Guide to make the best of your visit

The Guild of Registered Tourist Guides
The Guild House, 52d Borough High Street, London, SE1 1XN
Tel: 020-7403 1115 . Fax: 020-7378 1705
E-mail: guild@blue-badge.org.uk