ASHDOWN TRAVEL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Canadian Specialist
Travelling to new places has always been a fascination for me, and ever since I can remember, whenever time and budget permits, I go! Perhaps it was the summers spent exploring France as a child, or maybe the hours spent daydreaming as I watched the planes out of the window at home - either way, it was perhaps inevitable that I landed up working in travel.
I have worked for over 35 years in the industry - everything from Campsite Courier to Passenger Service Agent at Gatwick to Reservations Manager for a villa specialist. But the attraction of being able to tailor bespoke holidays worldwide for clients, led me in 1998 to the world of independent retail, and I've never looked back. I joined the team here at Ashdown in 2005 and happily, I still get great pleasure in creating the ideal itinerary for a client.
Anne is a qualified Canadian Specialist and almost all the team have visited. So if you fancy a city break in Toronto or Vancouver or taking the iconic Rocky Mountaineer train through the stunning Rocky Mountains we can help you put together a most wonderful experience.
Having started my career at British Airways Holidays working in telephone sales for a couple of years, I then joined Ashdown Travel in 1995, so I'm gradually working towards my 30th anniversary at Ashdown!
I have been lucky enough to have travelled to some wonderful places during my time in the travel industry.
Over the years I have travelled to some amazing places including Australia, Bangkok to Singapore on the Eastern Orient Express, St Lucia, the Grenadines, Barbados, Oman, Mauritius, Italy, Crete, Cyprus and more recently South Africa in 2018, then Menorca and Majorca in 2022 and 2023.
My career in the travel industry began 20 years ago where I have mostly worked for a large well-known high-street agent. Over the years, I have enjoyed planning weddings, honeymoons, family holidays and sending young adults away on their first independent holiday.
I joined Ashdown Travel in August 2023 after taking a 5-year break to bring up my daughter and I have been made to feel very welcome and a valued member of the team.
I have travelled to some fantastic destinations over the years including Barbados, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius, Goa, Orlando and Sorrento, to name a few.
My career started in the public sector during which time I carried out my accountancy training.
Over a period of thirteen years, I worked in accounts roles for three large government departments; my last role in the Civil Service was preparing accounts for the National Lottery Distribution Fund.
When my son was born I wanted to work closer to home and to work within the private sector, so I said goodbye to my London commute and left the Civil Service. Since then I've enjoyed seeing how independent businesses run and have worked for a range of local successful businesses in the areas of cleaning, manufacturing (including steel construction, and toy manufacturing), and now I'm happy to be working in the best industry of all, the travel industry.
I love hearing of fabulous holidays and new places to go; I just wished I loved flying as much!
I've worked for Ashdown Travel for over 5 years now, I love my job and couldn't work with a nicer group of people.
My career in Travel has spanned over 50 years and has included working for a Midland based European Tour Operator and after a few years at home following the birth of my two children, I spent the next 20 years managing branches of a large Retail Travel Agent.
During this time I visited many European and worldwide countries, my favourite being Italy where I have enjoyed the Lakes, the countryside and the cities. Driving down from the UK proved to be a truly wonderful experience; the scenery is fabulous passing through small villages and enjoying the local cuisine on the way.
A short spell at a cruising specialist gave me a real opportunity to learn about both ocean cruising and river cruising which has been of great value to me recently and given me the position of cruising specialist within the shop. Prior to working for Ashdown Travel I was the Weddings Manager for a Tour Operator and organised weddings for both group wedding parties and " just the bride and groom" in faraway destinations.
I have been with Ashdown Travel since 2010 where I have had the opportunity to use my experience and have organised a group beach wedding in Thailand, a hilltop family wedding in Umbria, Italy and an intimate (just the two of us) marriage on the Greek Island of Mykonos.
I have travelled many Caribbean islands, Cuba, Mauritius, Seychelles, Egypt, India and Dubai; I have also taken holidays to Florida, California, Canada and most of Europe.