Guild AGM Weekend 16th - 18th November 2012

Many thanks to you and the Council for a superb Guild weekend.  I know it takes a huge commitment on everyone's part to put on such a high quality residential event but the effort was appreciated by the members and I didn't hear a negative comment at any point during the weekend.  The expertise of the speakers and the range of topics covered was brilliant and it showed the quality of the membership we have at our disposal.  I think so many of them wanted to make a contribution because they feel the Guild has been reinvigorated and they want very much to be a part of its continuing development.  As a very junior and recently joined Guild member, it was humbling to talk and socialise with some of my fellow guides and it made me realise how high the bar is set to become a badged member of the Guild, however, this will not stop me trying to qualify at some point in the future.

Rob Webb

Just a note to say thank you for an excellent weekend!   It was a superbly organised, a great success and much enjoyed by everybody

Peter Hewlett-Smith

Just a quick note to thank you and the council for an excellent weekend.

The one thing above all else that struck me (and I know the other newbies commented on it) was the culture of the Guild. It seemed like people were making a concerted effort to make sure we were included in what was going on. As someone who has fallen foul of cliquey groups in the past I can't tell you what a refreshing change it was to find such a welcome from every level. I think that's down to leadership.

Tim Lynch

Thanks for a superb weekend, great venue really well looked after by the staff, super food, great facilities and a great speaker programme. Was truly inspired by the AGM, felt there has been some drift in the Guild the past couple of years ,obvious things retirement and changes in council, loss of the patron etc but now feel you and Mike are getting a good grip with a supportive council and a wonderful new president.

Great weekend much enjoyed and work put into organising appreciated.

Chris John

What a great weekend. Unfortunately I had to leave early due to my lift and did not complete the feedback sheet. ALL the answers would have been in the highest category.

The venue was superb; service, accommodation and food were great, and it was easily accessible. I strongly urge the council to book it again for next year. I know the beer prices were somewhat higher than Officers Messes, but at least it had Real Ale!! – and it stayed open.

The standard and content of the presentations would have been difficult to better. I gained much from those I attended.

Terry Webb

For those who did not manage to attend the AGM at Bromsgrove, they missed a superb, inspirational and thought provoking week-end. The quality of the speakers was outstanding in such a small time capsule, with the Holts in their inimitable way, introducing a new term to battlefield guiding. Dark Tourism! Martin Middlebrook and Martin Marix-Evans as usual gave a clear and interesting insight into two very different periods of warfare and Clive Harris's talk on Gallipoli introduced a few extra problems on tour to consider. Hostile dogs and snakes??  Alain Chissel's talk from the perspective of the Tour Operator gave an insight to the real world of guiding, and touched on operators and customers conceptions of guides and what they expect from us, which can be quite different from what potential and current guides can think. To quote in precis form "It's not just about knowledge, you have to have 'passion', and can you talk to children?". What can I say about Mike Sheil's photographs from his series, 'Fields of Battle 1914-18'? Go and see them when you have the chance.  Only Mike can turn fields of past horror into todays landscapes of incredible beauty. Inspirational! Now where did I leave my camera?

Thanks to the GBG Team and in particular Tony Smith, Mike Peters, Vern Littley, and the rest, and we should all thank the staff of the Holiday Inn for their professionalism, and the care they took to make our weekend memorable.

Gordon Hill

Please pass on my thanks to everyone involved in putting together such an enjoyable weekend (one of the best yet in my opinion).  The speakers were excellent and I thought that the new venue worked very well.

Andrew Riddoch

Thank you and the other organisers very much for your hard work in ensuring the AGM was such a success, excellent venue, excellent speakers, excellent company! Thank you!

Scottie