Bringing Quilts to Life

Posted on May 14, 2013 by ect_admin

We talked to Heather Audin, Curator of the Quilt Museum and Gallery in York about the exhibitions that will be on display in the UK’s first dedicated quilt museum and her role in the new Quilts Alive sessions hosted there.

By Richard Forsyth

Heather Audin, Curator of the Quilt museum in York

Heather Audin, Curator of the Quilt Museum and Gallery in York

Quilts Alive has been created directly as a result of the recent partnership forged between The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles and European Connoisseurs Travel (ECT). It is an exclusive offering and forms part of the ECT tour visit to the Quilt Museum and Gallery in York.

Museum Curator, Heather Audin, will be presenting a background talk on a selected quilt’s history and the techniques used to create it. A quilt tutor will then run a practical hand sewing session for Quilts Alive. Continue reading →

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Mingling with gardening royalty at Longstock

Posted on April 24, 2013 by ect_admin

Graham Parker attends the Longstock silent plant auction event run by our new partners, Plant Heritage. Despite the threatening weather, Graham has a memorable day involving rare plants, a tractor ride and time spent with celebrity gardener, Mr Alan Titchmarsh.

 

Even in carboard Alan has presence

Even in cardboard Alan has presence

Last Thursday, I had the very great pleasure to represent European Connoisseurs Travel for an annual event of ‘Plant Heritage’ at the vast Waitrose-owned estate of Leckford, Longstock, Hampshire, which was hosted by the most delightful, Alan Titchmarsh. Continue reading →

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An Education in Flowers

Posted on April 17, 2013 by ect_admin

ECT Tour Manager, Graham Parker, enjoys his work heading to Keukenhof in The Netherlands, with a student tour group.

DSC_0024_600Anyone who knows me will agree that I go away with groups with as much excitement now after 10 years, as I did at the very beginning of my career as a tour guide with European Connoisseurs Travel (ECT) and last week was no exception! I took a Southampton college group away to The Netherlands for what ECT call a Dutch Educational Tour. The group were principally level two and three floristry students with their tutors and what a lovely group they were too! The one thing I like about floristry college students is that they are focused on what they want out of the tour and so delivering on these needs, through the hard working team at ECT, is a pleasure. Continue reading →

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A Place to Remember

Posted on April 4, 2013 by ect_admin

World war one was a turning point in our history and one that still resonates with its message of self- sacrifice. Tours to the locations on the frontline reveal a special kind of travel experience – with more depth and historical significance than most trips away. ECT Tour Manager, Graham Parker finds out more about the kind of travel experience you can expect, after a trip of his own.

By Graham Parker

Cloth Hall, Grote Markt

 Grote Markt, Ypres

Continue reading →

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Eleanor’s Loire Valley ‘Famtrip’ with Atout France

Posted on January 11, 2013 by ect_admin

This Summer I made my first ever trip to the Loire Valley staying in Blois and visiting Cheverny on a golf exchange. Imagine my surprise on returning to the ECT Travel office to receive an invitation from Atout France to go on a ‘famtrip’ (familiarisation trip) to the Loire Valley in October!
By Eleanor Cripps

The perfect setting for a wine tour

The perfect setting for a wine tour. Copyright: R. Garratt

 

I have been to France many times and to several different regions including Burgundy, Beaujolais, Bordeaux and Medoc. You will spot a common denominator here quite quickly – yes, wine! Continue reading →

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A day the students will remember

Posted on November 14, 2012 by ect_admin

On 7 November European Connoisseurs Travel sponsored and attended The Flower Market College Day at New Covent Garden Flower Market in London. It proved to be a great day out for students and tutors alike.

500 students enjoyed this year’s College Day

The Flower Market at New Covent Garden is the biggest of its kind in the UK. The vibrant colours, huge scale and sheer magnitude of floristry resources becomes mesmerising when going to this venue. Continue reading →

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Wendy Andrade returns from Alden Biesen

Posted on October 10, 2012 by ect_admin

Internationally renowned florist, Wendy Andrade travelled with ECT to The Flower Event at the National Commandery, Alden Biesen, Belgium in September. Her career is going from strength to strength with her new book coming out next year. ECT talked to her about her floristry and what impact the recent tour had on her.

Wendy enjoying a glass of champagne (middle) at Alden Biesen

Wendy enjoying a glass of champagne (middle) at Alden Biesen

Wendy Andrade started down the road of her floral career at the tender age of 13 in a flower shop and grafted hard. Eventually she went to Hadlow college and gained her formal qualifications. At this point her potential became clear as she gained the highest marks in the country. She accepted a job teaching at Hadlow and went on to gain the certificate of Education at Greenwich University.  Continue reading →

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Learn new skills in a fascinating location

Posted on September 12, 2012 by ect_admin

If you want to expand your horizons and learn new floristry skills, look no further than our Swedish educational tour. We talk to Karin Warenius at The Munkeröd Educational Centre in Gothenburg about some of the details of this exciting new ‘travel and learn’ proposition.

Floral accessorising for weddings

Sweden has become a country synonymous with floristry excellence, producing designers such as Per Benjamin, from Stockholm, who became world champion in floristry in 2002. He describes flowers as a bridge for human emotions and a way to promote positive feelings through beautiful arrangements. Continue reading →

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‘Global’ Connoisseurs Travel

Posted on August 22, 2012 by ect_admin

The norm for ECT Travel is to take groups to destinations in Europe but sometimes we have requests to go further a field. Josef Scheerder, Tour Manager for ECT Travel, received a request to take a Barbados based cricket club around Canada. Here is an insight into the important aspects of arranging such a trip.

The Barbados cricket club in question has a social club and every second year they book an outing to explore a new part of the world. ECT Travel has become a regular host to their tours when they have needed a capable operator for Europe.

Connecting with your group

Boarding the coach in Canada

It was from the strength of this relationship and the good experiences from previous tours, that they asked ECT Travel to provide the tour arrangements in Canada.

“What is important is that I know the group well from the previous tours so I know what they want – they are never in a rush and they really like to take it easy,” said Josef. “They are very pleasant and easy-going people. Based on previous experiences with ECT Travel, the chairman of the club contacted me a year ahead to ask if I could accompany them again. From the club’s perspective, having a guide that you know and are familiar with can make the tour more enjoyable and it is easier to communicate the desired elements of the tour”. Continue reading →

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Top Tips for Visiting Monet’s Gardens

Posted on August 3, 2012 by ect_admin

Seasoned Tour Manager for ECT Travel, Graham Parker, gives his advice and tips for visiting Monet’s Gardens, in Giverny.

Choose the water garden

Monet's Gardens in Bloom

Monet’s Gardens in Bloom

On entrance to the gardens there is immediately a choice of two directions. I would always opt to head toward the water garden first. This is the location of course, of the lily-pads on the surface of the lake under the arched Japanese bridge, the scene of Monet’s most famous and iconic painting. The bridge – its gentle, shallow arch reflected in the water – is draped in wisteria, which blossoms in late May and into June. Continue reading →

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