Caught on Camera - a boat trip on the River Severn with probably the best Showman in the business

By:  Blue Badge Tour Guide - Anne Bartlett

I love my job as a Blue Badge Tourist Guide but sometimes, on a tour, one comes across the unexpected, as happened to me in a nice way, the other day.

I was taking a group of holidaymakers on a coach trip around the riverside towns of Worcestershire.  We stopped at Stourport-on-Severn to look at its fascinating history and heritage.

Stourport was a pioneer town of the canal age and very important during the Industrial Revolution. We took a look at the canal basins at the end of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, which links the River Severn with the Trent and Mersey Canal. I explained how and why Stourport became one of the busiest inland port in the Midlands.

The town grew rapidly and by the 1780's there were brass and iron foundries, a vinegar works, tan yards, worsted spinning mills, carpet mills, barge and boat building yards, warehouses, shops, houses and inns. It was incredibly busy. Today, the industry has all but disappeared and Stourport has reinvented itself, catering very well for the leisure industry and holidaymakers.

We strolled alongside the River Severn to see the locks and then into the town. During our walk we met up with Henry Danter who owns Treasure Island, a funfair that is probably one of the oldest funfairs still operating in this country.

After introducing Henry to my group, Henry was keen to welcome everyone and to show us the River Severn by boat. 

Being a glorious morning we thought a boat trip would be fun, so we all boarded his pleasure cruiser moored just under Stourport bridge and Henry took us on a cruise up the river to the end of the navigation before turning around and taking us down river as far as Lincombe Lock then back to his berth at Stourport.  You can see a photo of some of my holidaymakers sitting at the stern of his boat called 'The Skylark,' with a 'Jolly Roger' - a pirates' flag, fluttering in the wind behind them!

Here is Henry giving us a commentary. What we hadn't realised was our arrival coincided with him being filmed for a television programme about English Showmen and their families. So the camera crew joined us on board for the river cruise and we got ourselves in the picture! 

The programme was recorded for television - channel 5 and is due out in November.

The Royal Wedding - a preparation for enjoying the pageantry.

By Blue Badge Tour Guide - Anne Bartlett


The west end of Westminster Abbey

 I had a very enjoyable visit to London just before the Royal Wedding.  Friends and I went to explore Westminster Abbey and other places that would be seen on the television on the morning of the 29th April.
Once inside the Abbey, we broke away from the congested north transept and made our way to the west door (normally the exit) and started our audio tour of the Abbey from the back of the nave.  This would be the view that the TV cameras would have of the bridal procession as they made their way towards the high altar.  So, in effect we worked backwards through the official tour of the Abbey and in so doing found it to be a more logical route.


The Royal Mews

The nave was almost empty because the visitors were so engrossed in finding out about the magnificent chapels behind the high altar. I suspect they were confused by the detail, they had forgotten the geography of a church, so by the time they came through the cloisters into the nave, they were ready for the exit.

After spending hours enjoying the architecture and the treasures of the Abbey, we went on to the Royal Mews to see the carriages and the cars that are used for state occasions such as state visits, royal weddings, state openings of parliament and official engagements.



A state landau

I was allowed to take photographs so can show you the carriages that were used in the procession: This one on the left is one of 7 state landaus in the Royal mews, and there are a further 5 semi-state ones in the collection.  The one that Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, travelled back from Westminster Abbey after their wedding was a 1902 landau, the newest one in the mews and was especially built for Edward VII's coronation, however not used. For Prince William's wedding it was pulled by 4 Windsor Grey horses with a Captains escort of 12 troopers of the Lifeguard and 12 troopers of the Blues and Royals.


The Scottish State Coach

This is the Scottish State Coach that the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh used, to travel back from the Abbey.  It was drawn by four Windsor Grey horses.  The coach was specially commissioned by the Duke of Cambridge in 1830 and first used for King William IV's coronation.  It is a light bright coach with large glass windows and a transparent roof so the crowds have a good view of the occupants. It has a Scottish crown on top with a gilded frieze of thistles round the edge of the roof. For the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh there was a sovereign's escort of the Household Cavalry.  The 1st and 2nd divisions were provided by the Lifeguards consisting of twenty five men. The 3rd and 4th divisions, again consisting of twenty five men followed, provided by the Blues and Royals.

The Australian State Coach

This is the Australian state coach, the coach that Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and Mr and Mrs Middleton used to travel to Buckingham Palace from the Abbey.  It was drawn by two Cleveland Bay horses.  This coach was presented to the Queen in 1988 when she was in Canberra for Australia's bicentennial celebrations.  On the door is the coat of arms of Australia; a shield representing the six states - New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. Above, is a seven point star over a blue and gold wreath.  The shield is supported by a red kangaroo and an emu and they are surrounded by a wreath of wattle the official Australian national floral emblem.

Gloucestershire's Royal Connections - King Edward VII

by:  Blue Badge Tour Guide - Anne Bartlett

This is a statue of King Edward VII in Montpellier in Cheltenham.  He reigned from 1901 -1910 and is the great, great, great, grandfather of Prince William, who was brought up at Highgrove House, Prince Charles' country house near Tetbury in Gloucestershire. 

When Albert, Edward (known affectionately as Bertie by his family) was Prince of Wales, his wait to become King was a long one.  Towards the end of his life, he famously said, "Everyone has an eternal Father but I'm blest with an eternal Mother."   Queen Victoria died on 22nd January 1901 after 40 years of mourning for her beloved husband Albert.  Bertie chose to be called King Edward rather than Albert, because he said he didn't want to "undervalue the name of Albert" and "diminish the status of his father with whom, among royalty, the name Albert should stand alone."

Here King Edward VII is informally dressed and holding the hand of a ragged child. - The huge disparity between rich and poor at that time, was one of the social evils of the period. 

King Edward was related to the Royal families across Europe and was uncle to Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.  He could see that his nephew might well push Europe into war.  King Edward was a diplomat and used his family contacts to maintain peace.  Through state visits to France he helped pave the way for the signing of the Anglo-French entente Cordiale of 1904.

Sadly in 1914, four years after King Edward's death, war with Germany was declared and so ended the Edwardian era in Britain.

and there's more....

If you would like a guided tour of the Cotswolds contact:   anne@tourandexplore.com

Gloucestershire's Royal Connections: Gloucester Cathedral and Westminster Abbey

By:  Blue Badge Tour Guide - Anne Bartlett

Gloucester Cathedral

Gloucester Cathedral is very proud to have the reputation of having held the one and only coronation for a king of England outside London since William the Conqueror was crowned in Westminster Abbey, the traditional place for all coronations.



The Coronation of Henry III

 When the very unpopular King John died in 1216, London was under the control of Prince Louis of France who was trying to invade England.  In order to thwart the ambitions of the French prince, King John's heir, his nine year old son Prince Henry was hurried to Gloucester to be crowned, and the famous event is commemorated by a stained glass window in the south aisle of the nave.

The young King Henry III had a passionate interest in religion and his great hero was Edward the Confessor, a King of England from 1003 -1066,  who had had been canonized in 1161 by Pope Alexander III. King Henry decided that this rare English saint, whose tomb near the high altar in Westminster Abbey attracted huge numbers of pilgrims, should have an even more sumptious tomb in a magnificent chapel.  Over the course of 24 years from (1245 - 1269) Henry transformed the east end of the Abbey into a church which rivalled the magnificent Gothic cathedrals of France and a fitting place for future coronations.



Westminster Abbey - London

 The large area between the high altar and the beginning of the quire will provide the stage where the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton will take place on Friday 29th April.  Millions of people across the world will be tuned in to watch this royal event. So, as the television cameras record the great day, do admire the magnificent Gothic architecture and the rich decorations and remember that these are a monument to a young prince who became king in Gloucester.

and there's more...


To book a guided coach tour of the Cotswolds contact:
Anne Bartlett - Blue Badge Tour Guide

Sightseeing Tours of Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds

A Guided Coach Tour of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley

Arranged by Blue Badge Guide - Anne Bartlett  

During the morning our tour revealed some of the mysteries and beauty of the Forest of Dean, which lies between the River Severn and the River Wye and then in the afternoon we explored the picturesque and dramatic limestone gorge of the lower Wye Valley.

We took the scenic route into the Forest to enjoy the broadleaved woodlands and conifer plantations carpeted with dense green bracken and grazed by deer, wild boar and sheep. This wooded red sandstone plateau was once very heavily mined and quarried for its rich sources of coal, iron ore and building stone. Today we got interesting glimpses of The Forest of Dean’s past industrial activities. From the comfort of our luxury coach, we enjoyed the tranquil and natural beauty of the landscape and heard stories about Free Miners, Admiral Lord Nelson and even the fictional Harry Potter.

For lunch we stopped in the historic town of Monmouth, which lies alongside the River Monnow.  In the town centre are interesting statues to two of its most famous sons, King Henry V who was born in Monmouth Castle (now a ruin) and Charles Rolls who created the Rolls Royce Car Company with Henry Royce.  There's also a museum with a gallery containing memorabilia of the famous Admiral Lord Nelson which people enjoyed looking around.

After lunch we set off to travel alongside the dramatic and picturesque River Wye.  In the early 19th century this area attracted the first English tourists, including famous writers, poets and artists. We continued this tradition and admired the river valley.  We stopped to view the romantic ruins of Tintern Abbey, which had been much painted and written about by previous visitors.

We drove into Chepstow, known as the gateway town to Wales.  We saw the towering Norman castle, probably the first stone castle to be built in the country perched right on the cliff edge above the mouth of the tidal river Wye.  We stopped for some refreshment and took the time to look around this interesting border town before making our way home.

A Guided Coach Tour of the North Cotswolds      

Arranged by Blue Badge Guide - Anne Bartlett

Our full day tour started from Gloucester and we drove into the Regency town of Cheltenham, famous for its 19th century spas. We  explored the historic town centre with its impressive buildings, beautiful gardens and attractive ironwork. There were stories about its famous sons, composer Gustav Holst and explorer Edward Wilson before travelling north passing Cheltenham Race Course, home of the National Hunt Festival and the Gold Cup. We drove along the western edge of the Cotswold escarpment to enjoy stunning views across to the Malvern Hills. We travelled through the ancient Saxon town of Winchcombe, through some charmingly pretty honey coloured Cotswold stone villages as we made our way to Broadway for coffee. This famous village, was much enjoyed by our visitors, it had lots of stylish cafes and historic coaching inns to enjoy, as well as many individual quality shops to discover. After coffee we travelled further into the Cotswolds to enjoy the beautiful landscape and discover more medieval towns and villages.

We drove through some of the best know places like Chipping Campden and Moreton-in-Marsh.

Our lunch stop was Stow-on-the-Wold, famous for its market square and many antique shops. We enjoyed the town's hospitality, explored the narrow lanes and courtyards, browsed around the interesting shops and even sat on the village green to study the medieval buildings.

After lunch we continued on through some lesser known villages, a little off the beaten track, towards the town of Burford. Here we stopped for afternoon tea before taking a look at Bibury, nestling alongside the River Coln which William Morris described as ‘the most beautiful in England.’
Finally we dragged ourselves away, got on the coach and returned home.

A Guided Coach Tour of the South Cotswolds and the Severn Vale
Arranged by Blue Badge Tour Guide - Anne Bartlett

From Cheltenham our full day tour took us via Gloucester to the edge of Coopers Hill where the weirdest of sports takes place. Coopers Hill is the venue for the internationally famous Cheese Rolling Competition. We drove on to Painswick village, known as ‘The Queen of the Cotswolds’ which is famous for its church and 99 yew trees. We took  a coffee stop in Stroud, a friendly town famous for its quality art and craft work and its local produce, before travelling on to explore the variety of Cotswold stone villages that nestle spectacularly in river valleys.

After lunch we drove toward the town of Berkeley where a dramatic sandstone castle, still lived in by the Berkeley family, overlooks the east bank of the River Severn. It was here in the town that Dr Edward Jenner famously inoculated a young boy with cowpox to prevent him from getting the deadly and virulent disease smallpox. We explored some riverside villages and see how people have lived, worked and enjoyed the longest river in Britain which, in the past, has brought trade and prosperity to the area. We made our way to Gloucester which, because of the river, became an important inland port.

A Guided Coach Tour of the East Cotswolds
Arranged by Blue Badge Tour Guide - Anne Bartlett

The Cotswolds cover 790 square miles and is the largest area of outstanding natural beauty in Britain, so this week we travelled east from Gloucestershire into the county of Oxfordshire to discover more of this historic and beautiful area and admire more Cotswold towns and villages that have been frozen in time. Stone and wool have shaped this landscape. We saw fine merchants houses built by the wealthy medieval clothiers. There are many interesting scenic routes to take and today we drove past stone relics left by prehistoric man, as we made our way towards the glorious village of Woodstock for a stop.  We visited the museum, also spent time browsing around the shops and lunched in one of the selection of fine coaching inns and quaint little tea shops. Here we found out about Blenheim Palace built as a reward for the Duke of Marlborough for winning a great battle.

We made our way back through The Cotswold Water Park, said to have more lakes than the Norfolk Broads to Lechlade a riverside town on the banks of the River Thames. St Laurence church with its tall spire was where Percy Bysshe Shelley composed his poem ‘Stanzas in a Summer Evening Churchyard.’ We enjoyed an interesting stroll over Halfpenny Bridge and watched the boats on the upper reaches of the navigable river.

We enjoyed our riverside walk and feeling refreshed we made our way back to the coach for our journey home.

To book a Blue Badge Tour Guide contact Anne Bartlett:
 www.tourandexplore.com

Leave your car behind and take a Guided Coach Tour of Gloucestershire's Royal Connections

With:  Blue Badge Tour Guide - Anne Bartlett

As this is the year of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton this full day tour will explore some of Gloucestershire’s royal connections past and present.

We will depart from Cheltenham Race Course, famous for its Gold Cup Festival, beloved by the Queen Mother and visited by Her Majesty, the Queen in 2009. Prince William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton attended the race meetings in 2006, 2007 and 2008 as well as many other royals and famous celebrities, who come to enjoy the excitement and the atmosphere of Gold Cup Week in March. We will travel through Cheltenham, where Zara Phillips and Mike Tyndall have their home. We will admire the fine Regency architecture and hear about the visit of King George III, which really put this Spa town on the map. We will make our way through some interesting Cotswold towns and villages, with royal connections, towards Cirencester, where Princess Anne and Princess Diana and their families have enjoyed shopping from time to time. After a coffee stop in Cirencester, we will travel to the attractive market town of Tetbury, famous for its Woolsack Races. A lunch stop in Tetbury will allow you to visit the Highgrove shop opened by Prince Charles in 2008. Tetbury shops have served the Royal Household for many years and some have gained the prestigious Royal Warrant. After lunch we will travel past Highgrove, the Cotswold home of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. We will explore some of the lesser known south Cotswold villages, hearing more royal stories, as we weave our way through interesting narrow country roads towards the western edge of the Cotswolds and its spectacular viewpoints. We will then gradually make our way north, passing Berkeley Castle where a king was said to be murdered, and on to Gloucester where he was taken for burial.

We will stop in the city of Gloucester and make our way towards the Cathedral visited by The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in 2003 for the Royal Maundy Service.
They visited Gloucester again in 2009 on a Royal Naval patrol boat to see the newly transformed Docks and then went to enjoy a lunch cooked by students at the nearby college. You will hear many more royal stories and be shown places they visited. There will be an opportunity to find somewhere to enjoy an afternoon cup of tea before returning to Cheltenham.

The Tour will take place on Thursday 21st April.  Cost £20 per person

Leave your car behind and take a Guided Coach Tour of the 'Three Choirs' Country

With:  Blue Badge Tour Guide - Anne Bartlett

The Three Choirs Music Festival has been held every year since 18th century and rotates around the Cathedrals of Hereford, Gloucester and Worcester. This year the festival will be held in Worcester.

Our guided coach tour will start from the cathedral city of Gloucester, the venue for last year’s Music Festival. We will pass the market town of Newent and drive on to the picturesque village of Dymock, made famous by a group of poets who met here just before the First World War. They walked and talked and wrote poetry about the countryside between the Malverns and May Hill. Hopefully we will see lots of flowering wild daffodils for which this area is particularly well known.

We will drive across the county border into the cider growing countryside of Herefordshire around the fascinating village of Much Marcle, with its ancient 13th century church and family tombs of the Mortimer family.

The coach will stop to give you time to explore the historic black and white Herefordshire town of Ledbury where the attractive 17th century timber framed market hall dominates the main street. Here you will be able to do some sightseeing, a spot of shopping or enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee in the town that was the birthplace of Poet Laureate John Masefield and childhood home of Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

After your coffee break we will head for the Malvern Hills crossing the border into Worcestershire to discover some of the places that one of our greatest composers, Edward Elgar, knew and loved. We will take the Wyche Cutting to the top, and cross the border into Herefordshire to travel along the western edge of the Malvern Hills, a scenic drive created to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. We will be able to enjoy the Herefordshire countryside and on a clear day will see Hay Bluff and the Black Mountains in Wales.

We will cross the borders again into Worcestershire to see more views across the Severn plains to the distant Cotswold escarpment. We will make our way into the town of Great Malvern where we will stop at The Winter Gardens so you can explore the Priory church, admire the abbey gateway shop or find some lunch.

In the afternoon we will make our way towards the city of Worcester, the venue for the 2011 Music Festival. Here we will make a short stop for sightseeing, where you can take the opportunity to look around the Cathedral or do some shopping before we travel back to Gloucester at the end of the day.

1st Tour will take place on 23rd March 2011.  Cost £20 per person.

Pick up points in Cheltenham town centre and Gloucester city centre