Testimonials |
Somme Trip - July 2010
Just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the trip to the Somme on Sunday.
You both put so much into the tour with all the research you did, more than we would have expected. Thank you so much.
We willl definitely recommend you.
Maybe we will see you again for another trip next year.
Jill & Peggy Hume
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Thank you so much Mick and Bina for an amazing day yesterday at The Somme and for being so helpful in finding our Grandfather's memorial. Your knowledge and explanation of events during that fateful war brought it all to life for us and was so meaningful. But it wasn't all sad and we loved the lighter moments too, particularly at Le Tommy where lunch was great and we got a chance to try on a couple of tin hats! What a day, one we want to repeat.
Thank you so much,
Rita and Carol
Amiens Tour - June 2010
So a big thank you for all you did to make it meaningful for us - everyone agrees that it certainly was, especially of course Barry, Jill and Betty. Your expertise and knowledge, and style of handling things, made all the difference And there is nothing like going to the place where things have happened to make sense of them, if we ever can. Reflecting on it today, I was surprised to find that the bit I had enjoyed most was the café in Pozières, the photographs and the really imaginative re-creations in the garden - it brought in an element of earthiness, even humour - a contrast to the immaculately maintained cemeteries, that really helped.
Before I went to sleep last night (rather this morning) I read a few pages of The White War, Mark Thompson's book. I'd be keen to do something on the Italian Front next year, as you suggest.
Dennis Baylis. Bedworth Society
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Just a note to say how much Tom and I enjoyed our visit to the Somme. I would also like to thank you for helping me understand the notes in my Grandmother's diary on her journey to Alley-sur-Noye to visit her husband's grave. The visit to the French Cemetery where my Grandfather was first buried and then on to Moreuil Cemetery, his final resting place......... Thank you for bring history alive......
Jill Morrow, Nuneaton
Just a short note to say thank you for your input into the recent Bedworth society trip to the Somme at the weekend. With no connection to either Bedworth or Tom Harrison, I wasn't sure what I was going to get out of the trip.
Your input as guides really bought the whole thing to life for me, giving me a much greater understanding of the war and the solders who fought it.
Thanks again.
Regards
Jim Connolly
Thank you so much for a great couple of days in France. We both found it very moving and poignant. We will look back on it as a reason we have been able to see all the places we have seen in the past and will be able to see in the future. Those men's bravery gave us the freedom we enjoy now. The knowledge you both share gave us a greater insight into the whole thing. See you next year!!!
Lyn and Roy Wiltshire. Portsmouth
Somme & Ypres Tour - May 2010
Ypres Weekend - May 2010
This two day trip to Ypres was one of the best birthday presents I have ever been given. Mick and Bina were superb; their passion and knowledge of the subject and area really enhanced a very full couple of days that flew by and ended much too quickly.
Their organisation and planning cannot be faulted and we were made to feel part of a very special group of people very quickly.
Believe me, if a 56 year old smashed up ex rugby player can be brought to tears by the power of the place, anyone can. An experience I will remember for a very long time.
Thanks again from Linda and me. You are a “Top Team”.
Cheers
Paul Smith FCA,
Bedford
3 day Normandy Tour - April 2010
Thank you so much for our trip to France. We all enjoyed it very much. We were very impressed with the hotels which were excellent, the mini bus which was very comfortable and the professional way which both of you conducted the whole trip. We all felt that we had learned so much and you were very kind to Harold who must have found the whole trip a little difficult.
Yours Marian & Roger Scantlebury
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Harold and I would like to thank you both for all you did to make Harold's visit to his Dad's Memorial possible. He did enjoy it, will never forget it and is very pleased he has now done it. If it wasn't for your mode of travel, I don't think he would have made it. We think you give a wonderful service, relaxed, well informed, wonderful driving and good company. Good luck and good health to you both.
Harold & Sylvia Sampson
Somme and Ypres 3 Day Tour - April 2010
Bina & Mick..... 
Thank you so much for a wonderfulweekend visiting the WW1 battlefields of Ypres and the Somme (23 -25th April 2010). You very kindly re-arranged your itinerary to enable me to visit my great uncle's grave and lay a wreath from the family here and in Australia. My 90 year old Mum was so thrilled and sends her grateful thanks. The group were great travelling companions and your knowledge was outstanding!! The personal stories you told us really brought the horror of the war to life. We learned so much and now the "spirit of history" burns within us!!!!
David & Ruth Bowler
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Many thanks for a great weekend. We enjoyed it more than we anticipated which is always nice.
I'm sure your relaxed and friendly attitude helped the group gel and your passionate interest in WW1 has inspired us to do more investigating.
love Catherine and Brian
PS I didn't know how to put a testimonial on to your website so have sent it to you. See below:
'We had a really great time with this company. They were most helpful both before and during the tour in helping us find out more about ‘lost’ relatives. A lot of thought had obviously gone into planning the trip. The group was small which meant we could be more flexible and Mick and Bina went out of their way to meet the group’s needs. Their obvious interest and knowledge of WW1 and the stories they told us about individual soldiers made the trip more meaningful and took us back to those horrendous times.
Until we went on the tour our understanding of WW1 was very basic but we came away knowing much more and were inspired to do further research.
It was also very good value.'
Somme and Ypres Weekend - October 2009
My weekend spent in France and Belgium was wonderful. Thanks to Bina and Mick. Your combined knowledge of the First World War battlefields is extensive. You both presented it in informative, easy to understand talks.
Thank you for taking me to the 'Aussie' sites.
See you again soon, Kris
Ypres Day Trip -September 2009
Thanks for a wonderful trip, it was a great birthday present and one of the best days of my life!
It was great that you were able to tailor the trip to include a visit to John James Keeling’s grave. I have since found out that his parents visited Belgium and therefore I am sure his grave almost every year until they died in the 40’s. I have visited the National Archives as you suggested and read the war diaries for his regiment. No mention of any Other Ranks dying that day – typical!
Stephanie Keeling
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The Normandy Weekend - July 2009 
The trip was pleasantly relaxed but focussed enough to give anyone an informed understanding of D Day. The information given emphasised the human element of history, which I really appreciated and was supported by visits to key sites and great local museums, all of which just let me wanting to know more. Stand on Omaha beach and you cannot fail to feel the history made under your feet.
Peter Provins (Berkshire)
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The Somme Weekend -June 2009 
Just a short note note to say a big thank you for the wonderful weekend to
the Somme. The other people on the trip were most friendly and excellent
travelling companions.
My Dad and I had a truly rewarding experience. It was both informative and
eye-opening but also friendly and considerate. The passion you feel towards
the soldiers and civilians who were caught up in the conflict shone through
the whole weekend.
I would like to thank you particularly for being so kind to my Dad who isnt
always the easiest person to deal with. He keeps telling me and the family
what a marvellous time he had and thinks everyone should do it, for the
experience.
Thank you again and I will certainly use your company again when I make
another visit, hopefully, in the near future.
Yours most sincerely, Ann Shepherd (Croydon)
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Ypres and Somme - April 2009
As promised I enclose a copy of the Spring 2009 Probus Club Magazine, which I am sure you will find useful for advertising to attract other Probus Clubs.
My brother Mike and I found the trip to the Somme and ypres Battlefields to be a most marvellous experience and we forward our thanks to you and your colleagues.
We look forward to an other trip with Spirit of History next year.
Tony Ashby (Lindfield, W Sussex)
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Dunkirk Trip - January 2009
You took our group to Dunkirk and La Panne to trace Auntie Silvie's father on the Waverley. You asked me to email you for the list of books you had on the subject and the ones you had on the day.
Thank you for a wonderful day, we are still talking about it at this moment.
Thanks again, Roger Baker (Basildon)
Ypres Trip - August 2008
Many thanks for giving us a wonderful day that we will never forget, and we will recommend you to anyone else who wants a battlefield tour.
Best Wishes,M and R McPhail (Oldham)
Ypres Trip - May 2007
This is just a note to say 'thank you' for organising the trip to Ypres. My husband, Bob and I really enjoyed the day and found the visits to the cemeteries, interesting and very moving........
Thank you again, Best wishes, Marion and Bob Crust (Croydon)
Somme Battlefields Trip - June 2007
Thank you so much for organising another trip to the battlefields this year. It was every bit as enlightening as the first. Indeed, having witnessed the horrors of the Ypres area, it felt even more harrowing, if that is possible, seeing all the names and graves in this region.
Seeing my grandfather's name on the Thiepval Memorial was a really overpowering experience. I have always had an interest in the First World War, having studied it at school and read extensively on the subject. No amount of reading, however, prepared me for how I felt when I was there at the Memorial. It was also lovely to have the rest of the group there, as I laid the wreath near his name. It still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it.
Meeting all the other parents has also been a wonderful experience. I certainly felt that I have made some lovely new friends. I hope you are planning a trip next year, as they have become something to look forward to!
Warmest Regards, P. White. (Wallington, Surrey)
Visit to Russia - October 2006
We thought we would write to tell you how much we enjoyed the recent history trip to Moscow and St Petersburg. Having been to Russia during the Communist era in 1991, we were pleasantly surprised to see how much the place had developed, at least in the town centres. St Petersburg has all been done up beautifully and you can really see the amazing architecture of the buildings. There is so much that is interesting to see and it was made more so by all of your and the other guide’s explanations about what happened there in the past. The Hermitage Museum felt even more wonderful than it seemed previously. It must be the most sumptuous place on Earth!
Please do the China trip you talked about!
See you soon, Ada and Peter Cave (Surrey)
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