A diamond couple from Arnold who have taken over 200 coach trips during their married life are planning to spend their 60th wedding anniversary doing just that!
Albert (82) and Kathleen (81) North from Arnold, Nottingham have long been avid fans of a coach holiday, taking approximately 200 trips throughout their 60 years of wedded bliss.
The duo are now ready to board their celebration trip away to the Rhine Valley with the staff at Skills, many who they consider friends. After already celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary on board a special coach trip, this was the obvious choice to mark another 20 years.
The five-day trip in June to the family ran Hotel Wagner, where the couple are already well known, includes excursions to Rudesheim, Cochem and Boppard and even wine tasting. The couple have been on this trip several times and can’t wait to have a celebratory drink with Andreas Wagner, who now runs the hotel but was only a young man starting his career when the couple first took a Skills coach trip to the Rhine Valley almost 40 years ago.
“We love travelling with Skills and not just because of the value of the trips.” explained Albert, “We love the places they go, the staff are all so welcoming and helpful, in fact I’m now good friends with many of the drivers and even some of the locals, it’s like one big family.”
“This was obvious when we were on an overnight trip to see the ‘Sound of Music’ in Austria to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary, on the morning before we left, Bill Richard, the coach driver, and now friend of mine said he had a presentation to make.
“He told everyone we were celebrating 40 years of marriage and presented us with a box and card, signed by the management and staff at Skills. Everyone on the coach clapped, it was really lovely for them to acknowledge it.”
“I remember, before we set off Bill asked what was in the box.” added Albert, “I showed him the two beautiful large cut glass brandy glasses and he joked ‘well that’s my bonus gone’!”
“We still don’t know how they found out it was our anniversary.” said Kathleen, “but we were very touched by the gift.”
Albert and Kathleen have become regular passengers on Skills trips, in the UK and abroad. Albert recalls their first ever holiday with them was to Holland in the early 80’s but they have travelled all over, from the Chelsea Garden Show to Christmas markets.
“We do like to get abroad” said Kathleen, “Croatia is excellent, probably one of our favourite trips, we’ve been twice now and it is one of the best holidays we have ever had with Skills.”
Natalie Legge, senior sales and marketing manager at Skills said, “It’s fantastic to hear these kinds of stories from our passengers who travel with us over and over again – although I think these two could be record holders for the most trips!
“We are honoured that Albert and Kathleen have decided to take yet another trip with us, this time to celebrate such a special occasion. They really are a diamond a couple and it’s clear to see why they’ve had such a long marriage. We can’t wait to help them make the day that extra bit special.”
For more information please visit: http://www.skills.co.uk/
