Lucky or what? Whilst building Bridge the World Travel centre up from a small bucket shop in Camden Town to one of the UK’s leading independent flight specialists to Australia and New Zealand, we travelled hard! With a turn over of GBP50 million by 2000, 5 offices from Camden to Regent Street and Richmond and staff levels of almost 150 airlines went out of their way to ‘keep us happy’!
Some of the most memorable trips I went on included the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics 2000, a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur, Qantas Airways simulator at Sydney Airport, the inaugural Virgin Atlantic flight to Las Vegas with Richard Branson, the 1994 World Cup held in Los Angeles, when Brazil became the first nation to win four World Cup titles when they beat Italy 3–2 in a penalty shootout, as well as dozens of club class flights to Australia and New Zealand….those were indeed the golden days of work related travel I can tell you!
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Travel travel travel…whatever class you fly, don’t you just love it? |
Another view of Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bridge… (only the 4th time I’ve climbed it…!) |
On the way to Oz again – business class on Qantas – it’s a hard life this travel business, but I guess someone’s gotta do it! |
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Like flying on Concord, jetting off to Hamilton Island drinking champagne on this amazing plane was surreal…many thanks to the Oatley family (don’t forget I once worked there as a groundsman)! |
The annual Qantas black tie ‘do’ … always ended up with breakfast in Fulham. The best night always had… |
Up close to a QF 747 – before the ‘simulator’ experience in Sydney…awesome! |
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Inaugural flight arrival in Las Vegas on Virgin with Richard – 3 days of partying… |
An early days dinner at the Grosvenor with Air New Zealand & competitors…great times… |
With Stuart & Tony from NSW tourism – an honour to be at the opening of the Sydney 2000 Olympics…how fortunate was I? |
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Great Barrier Reef deep sea diving with some friendly competitors from ebookers to Travelbug…when abroad like this we were all mates! |
Showing off in Ozzie…just off to the barrier reef! How my life had changed…10 years previously I was backpacking and working my way round Australia having arrived from Asia with just $40 in my pocket! |
Over the years, Peter, our paths have crossed many many time…& as for you Mr Dobson…? (Claire you definitely never change!) |
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All aboard…an unusual Emirate’s day out on a steam train up north, afternoon tea and cake included…was certainly quite different…! Bless you John Hunt… |
One of several memorable pre ATE Queensland VIP golfing trips – the hospitality of the local travel industry was exceptional… |
My very first ever ‘educational’ to Greece with my good man Mr Steve Delevante (Olympic Airways) whilst at Trailfinders – memorable times… & many thanks to Olympic as they were also the first airline to give Bridge the World a ‘deal’ |
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Group photo of the infamous BA/QF party that went to watch the World Cup final in Los Angeles 1994…Italy lost out to Brazil on penalties after extra time |
