Ivor Gurney Society Visit to Ypres - 7th - 10th October 2010
The Ivor Gurney Society is organising a visit to Flanders, taking in some of the places Gurney knew during the First World War served in the Great War and where he wrote some of his finest poetry.
The Society advises that Roderic Dunnett has devised an exciting and imaginative programme of tours and events for this four-day trip, which will be an excellent opportunity to explore the battlefield area with expert guides who know the area well. Participants will see at first hand the locations where Gurney's poetry originated and the landscape where he fought. The trip will culminate in a visit to the recently raised memorial to Ivor Gurney in the Ypres Salient. This memorial has been placed near to the actual spot where he was in the line when he was asphyxiated by mustard gas in September 1917. Based upon a group of 30, the visit will cost approximately £305 per person, excluding supplements, but inclusive of travel, hotel board at the Hotel Novotel Leper Centrum, Leper, Belgium, and selected meals. Hotel accommodation will include a twin-bedded room and half board, i.e. an evening meal at the hotel on the 7th, breakfast and an evening meal on the 8th and 9th and breakfast on the 10th. Additional charges for extras include a single room supplement of £45 per paying person per night and travel insurance at £6.50 per person. The Hotel Novotel Leper Centrum is situated in the historical centre of Leper, close to the Market Square, 'In Flanders Fields' Museum and the Menin Gate. As places on the tour will have to be limited to a maximum of 30 it has been decided to allocate them on a strictly 'first come first served' basis.
To reserve place(s) for this special visit please contact the Ivor Gurney Society's Events Manager, John Phillips, as soon as possible, telephone: 01432 363103, or email: johnl.hay@googlemail.com. Deposits of £40 per person should reach John (e-mail or telephone him for a postal adrress) by 1st June 2010. Cheques should be made payable to 'The Ivor Gurney Society'. Once the Society has a firm idea of overall numbers, it will be in a position to send participants the relevant information and booking details together with confirmation of the final cost of £305 for the trip. Deposits are non-refundable. The balance of the full payment will be required 6 weeks prior to departure.
The provisional four-day programme is currently as follows:
Thursday 7th (Day 1)
Depart from Gloucester at 10.00am
Arrive in Ypres (late afternoon)
Walk to the Menin Gate to hear the last post.
Friday 8th (Day 2)
Visit to Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebecke Museum and Hill 62
Saturday 9th (Day 3)
Visit to the Cloth Hall Museum and a trip to selected Gurney Places, including Riez Ballieul and Aubers
An Evening Song Recital
Sunday 10th (Day 4)
Visit to the Gurney Memorial at St Julien
Depart for England
The full programme is also published on the Ivor Gurney Society website. For more information contact Ian Venables, Chairman, tel: 01905 611570, e-mail: ianvenables@talktalk.net
Don't forget that the Siegfried Sassoon Fellowship is also organising a trip to Ypres between 28 and 31 October 2010. Click here for more information.
