Leyland Employees Visit Flanders
Page 69
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ONE of the most striking and original works outingswhich has ever been organized was that which took place between Friday and Sunday, the 21st and 23rd of June, when some 3,000 members of Leyland Motors, Ltd., and a few guests, including the Editor of this paper, visited Ostend
and tha battlefields in Flanders. We believe that this was actually the largest party ever sent abroad by a single industrial concern, and it says much for those-who were responsible for it that not a single hitch occurred in the.
arrangements. It was certainly wise of the responsible committee to place the organization of the trip into the bands of Frames Tours, Ltd:, 118, Southampton Row, London, W.C.1.
What made the arrangements somewhat difficult was the fact that whilst the majority of the men had to be brought from Preston, several hundreds required to be transported from King
stop, Surrey. This involved the employment of five special trains from Preston and one from Kingston. For the Channel crossing from Dover to Ostend, three cross-Channel steamers were commissioned. The trains from Preston left there between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on the Friday, and that from Kingston at 9.45 p.m. the same day, and it was a creditable performance to find them all arriving to time at Dover.
The first boat reached Ostend at about 6 a.m. on Saturday. Each man had been provided with printed instructions, tickets, coupons for meals and a buttonhole badge. Naturally, it was impossible to accommodate such a large contingent at one restaurant, consequentlY the instructions included the name a a particular hotel where each man was to take his meals, and at the Harbour the party was met by Frame's guides carrying banners giving the names of the 20 establishments. Individual members of the party could remain the day at Ostend or take one of two tours, that to Ypres or the other to Bruges. About 75 coaches were employed in' making these tours, id addition to several private cars which Were provided for certain members of the staff and the guests.
A great many members of the party decided on the Ypres tour, and at 2 p.m. there was a most impressive ceremonial at the Menin Gate Memorial, where Mr. Liardit, the general manager of the company, supported by Mr. Arthur Spurner and a long contingent of men, placed a magnificent wreath, the "Last Post" being sounded by buglers.
Shortly after 6 p.m. the party was given a civic welcome by the deputy mayor, and the town band played in the square. A very enjoyable evening ensued, and after a comfortable return journey we were actually in our hotel in Loudon by 9.30 on Sunday morning.