Friday 3rd May to Monday 6th May 2019
“Following in the Footsteps of the Faithful”
This four day Battlefield Pilgrimage is being arranged by Mother Katie Thomas, and is being facilitated by Mary Freeman and Mark Banning, two experienced Battlefield Guides. Mary has been visiting the areas concerned for over forty years, both with groups and on her own, whilst Mark first visited the Ypres Salient in 1984, and has been a regular visitor since, having guided many groups over the past eleven years.
Mark has arranged for a 16 seater Mercedes Sprinter mini-coach, with a driver, to be available to the group for the duration of the trip. All travel costs to and from New Malden are included; we will use the Folkestone/ Calais Eurostar service.
We will stay at the lovely Kasteelhof t’Hooge, a family run hotel, situated outside the city of Ypres, and located on the exact front line positions that were held by both sides at various times for over two years. A full continental breakfast will be included each morning.
The pick-up and drop-off location will be at St James, and will be at a respectable hour, giving us two full days around Ypres, with an afternoon and a morning bookending the trip.
Two evening meals will be included as well as attendance at the Last Post Ceremony under the Menin Gate, a visit to the Anglican St George’s Chapel in Ypres, and a service conducted by Katie in the Upper Room at Talbot House, Poperinge.
Mary and Mark will present a series of stories reflecting the title of the trip at various key locations around the Sacred Soil of the Ypres Salient, as well as being able to explain the context of the campaigns around this important area for the British Army during the Great War.
Spaces for this Pilgrimage will be limited to thirteen, at a cost of £575.00 per person, with a £135.00 per person single supplement.
A deposit of £85.00 per person will be required by 31st January 2019, with the balance to be received by 5th April 2019.
In the first instance, please give expressions of interest to Mother Katie, who will collate names.