Association of Professional Tourist Guides

Chairman's Report For The Year 2001/2

What a year! Who could have foretold twelve months ago just how dire the situation would become. We were on the crest of a wave after a very successful season and we were not expecting two major blows to hit our industry so badly during the course of the year. For many the words "Foot and Mouth" and "September 11th" sum it all up. I would prefer, however, to concentrate today on positive aspects of the year rather than dwell longer than need be on the negative.

The year opened in January with a very successful Travel Trade Reception at the Gilbert Collection in Somerset House organised by Isobel Durrant. The then Minister for Tourism, Janet Anderson, attended and spoke a few complimentary words, referring in particular to the successful opening of Parliament to visitors during the previous summer recess and the wonderful way in which the tours had been conducted by Blue Badge Guides. In April the Tourist guiding Foundation nominated Sally Empson to be the training provider for the London Blue Badge course after the resignation of Katrine Prince. In June, MSF Conference passed our emergency motion on Foot and Mouth, ably proposed and defended by Anna McKeown and Maureen Jones, making it official union policy for the National Executive Council to initiate and co-ordinate a national tourism strategy. It has to be said that the implementation of this policy has still not been achieved and it must be one of the priorities for the coming year. During the summer recess of Parliament Blue Badge Guides conducted over 80,000 visitors through the Palace of Westminster during the second year of opening Parliament to the general public. What a tremendous boost for us all as Blue Badge Guides. In November Brian Harlock and Sue Mason organised a very successful stand at the World Travel Market at Earl's Court where we once more promoted the Blue Badge to other members of the tourist industry. Also in November Brian Harlock organised a follow up familiarisation day for 36 tour operators and two journalists where volunteers provided them with guided tours. In December Robina Brown was successful in gaining exemption for the vehicles of driver guides from the proposed congestion charges to be levied on private vehicles in central London. This followed a long process over the year of setting up the PHV Operator licence using APTG Ltd as the holder. Also this month we had a very enjoyable residential three-day programme of lectures at Whitehall College and a visit to the Fitzwilliam Museum organised by Gail Jones.

Fiona Grant will be updating us later on the progress that has been made towards the establishment of the Institute of Tourist Guiding. Our thanks are owed to Fiona and Tom Hooper who have worked so very hard to get us to where we are today.

During this year two members have taken over important posts which they have fulfilled magnificently. Ed Lerner took over as editor of "Guidelines" from Mary Sewell and Ingrid Wallenborg took over the organisation of the Winter Educational Programme from Jo Hoad. Andy Charlton also took over the new job of Press Relations Officer and carried out a successful campaign of letter writing to newspapers and monitoring press reports containing material relating to our profession. We are very lucky in APTG to have volunteers of such high calibre to carry on these challenging and time consuming jobs.

Others of course go on behind the scenes making things happen and providing us all with what have come to expect. Yura Brengauz worked almost single-handed to produce our Register of Members and the London Guide's Handbook last year. Liz du Parq and her team continue with preparing and updating the monthly information and Steph Tickner continues to organise our monthly mailing. She has drawn out of the hat the new list of "volunteers" for the monthly mailing for 2002 and this is available for inspection at the back of the room. Jeanie Carmichael continued as Membership Secretary during the year and we welcomed several of the new guides as well as some previously qualified ones.

Jackie Harris in the office has provided us with another year of exemplary service as our office administrator dealing calmly with all our odd guide requests and idiosyncratic ways. I would like to thank all members of Branch Council who have provided me with such excellent support and advice during the year and also Sarah Cook who took over the job as our MSF Regional Officer early in the year. She has been very helpful in finding the best way for us to use MSF resources. I would especially like to thank Robina Brown who has been a very active secretary and very able second in command. There are many other people whom I have not mentioned but who have given their time during the year to work in teams and committees. To them apologies for not naming them individually but our thanks go out to them just the same. Next year would be an opportunity for some new volunteers to come forward as we reckon we will need about twenty-five extra members to complete our programme for 2002. For instance Yura needs right away six volunteers to help with the 2002 publications including proof reading the new Register of Members. We are also going to need a large group to help with our marketing and promotion next year. Let's see if we can have names by the end of the meeting today.

One initiative that is only just beginning to get underway is the building of our database of members on the Web site. We would like to add functionality to provide a platform for guides to market themselves. One way this will be achieved is by providing guides with the capability to update their own page on personal interests and guiding preferences as well as providing availability for assignments. This will take considerable investment and as I have said before we are seeking external funds for this project as part of our compensation for the loss of work. Until this is in place I am proposing that we proceed before too much time is lost by investing £6,500 of our own funds in the project. Under any other business I have tabled a motion to open for discussion this idea and your feed back will be much appreciated.

One other initiative that is just beginning is a joint effort with the Guild of Registered Tourist Guides for a new marketing and promotion of the Blue Badge to be launched sometime in 2003. Diana Kelsey has kindly accepted to facilitate this new initiative and a joint committee has been set up.

When the treasurer presents his report you will realise why we depend so much on volunteers. We have run a deficit this year mainly because we had to pay part of the printing of our handbook and directory. This makes it imperative that we search for other means of funding and hopefully by diligent budgeting and financial discipline we can make up the shortfall this year.

I have enjoyed being your chairman this year despite the terrible circumstances and I hope you will have the confidence to elect me for a further term of office for next year.

Alan Cross - 12.01.02

Annual report 2000
Annual report 1998