Back-Roads Touring Co guide companions

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OUR GUIDES

If you are interested in joining Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd as a guide, on a self-employed, seasonal basis, then send your CV/resume to us for consideration. We're always keen to hear from suitably qualified people who think they have the capacity to join our team.

Introducing a few of the highly-talented guide/companions we select to do our tours.
These are the 'guys and gals' who will ensure that you have a memorable holiday (notice how many are a little camera shy!)
Guides: A to L / M to Z

	JULIAN MARTELLI Julian is a real hybrid! Born in Italy, lived from the age of 12 in Australia and now living in the UK. Oh, and spending winter months teaching English in Spain! The multi-lingual Julian sailed from the UK to Australia on a tall ship as part of the First Fleet re-enactment, and is a professional photographer.
	TOM McIVER The much-travelled Tom has been leading tours since 1996 and his love of history, of hidden places and of stories combined with his delight in meeting new people has not yet proved to be a major hindrance. He's a story-teller, a song-writer, a fascinated child in a 50-something body. Oh, and he tells the worst jokes you will ever hear. Constantly. You have been warned!
	MARK MOLONEY Mark teaches English literature at a private boading school in Sussex. Alas, and unluckily for Back-Roaders, it limits the time he has available to lead tours! When he does though, they are a great success and maybe in the not too distant future he'll be ready to retire from teaching ands spend more time on the road.
	PHILIP MORRIS Another long-serving member of the team, second only to Axel. There can be few people who read as much as Philip does and he prides himself on the depth of his historical knowledge. A graduate of Manchester University, as a mature student, Philip began his career, as a young man, working as a coal miner in Lancashire. He also did a stint working in the opal mines while travelling through Australia. In another career change, he worked for many years as a public housing officer in both Manchester and London. Philip is originally from Lancashire and is single.
	PETER MOUNTFORD Peter currently resides in the beautiful Wye Valley but has lived in Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, London, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire. They haven’t caught up with him yet! Following a long career in the Truck and Bus industry, Peter moved on to Freight Forwarding, and the wish to be self- employed led him to become the owner of a successful pub which was frequented by many rock stars recording at the local studios, and returning later to be a partner in a specialised engineering company. Has been lucky enough to travel fairly extensively both through work and pleasure and appreciates the pros and cons of independent travel and looks forward to reciprocating the hospitality he has received when visiting other countries. He enjoys the relaxation of his motor home for weekends in West Wales and for longer trips on the open road in the UK and Europe, also taking in his interest in classic vehicles and photography. Peters current project is renovating his house, the garage of which used to be the local Fire Station. He has been involved with local charity fundraising and for many years was President of the local Athletic Club!
	CHRIS NATION
	VIVIEN RODDY London resident, Vivien first did her Back-Roads tours running London-based day tours. Now she uses her fluent French (she lived in Paris for many years) and Italian to conduct tours of La Belle France and Italy. She's spent the last two winters living with an Italian family near Rome, brushing up on her language and culture. Vivien has two grown-up sons, one who works for Tony Blair's Labour Party, the other recently returned to the UK from time as a soldier, peace-keeping in Bosnia.
	JEREMY ROSE Jeremy is a professional opera singer - and one in demand! He lives in Provence, France, with his wife and somehow finds time between his international commuting for singing and recording engagements, to lead Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd tours of France. He knows more back roads than even Peter Mayle!
	MIKE SAUNDERS
	JOHN SHEARD
	MIKE ST MAUR SHEIL Mike is a photographer with wide experience of shooting the British countryside for clients such as the Readers Digest and National Geographic. He is currently documenting the battlefields of Europe and was commissioned by the Passchendaele Memorial Museum to shoot an exhibition of landscapes to mark this year?s 90th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele. He is a member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides.
	ANDREW SMITH
	DEREK SMITH
	MICHAEL SMITH Graduate in Botany. Worked in mid-sixties for Israeli Ministry of Agriculture. Driver-Guide since 1968 and loved every minute. Based in France since 1991, and French government approved bilingual guide/interpreter since 1998. Got to know Europe by driving 44 tonne semi-trailers around the continent in the off-season. French inspector for the annual 'Daily Telegraph - Good Gardens Guide'. On Royal Horticultural Society'es lecturers' list. Michael is also one of our specialist battlefield guides.
	RICHARD SURMAN A former school principal, Richard Surman took up professional photography some thirty years ago, specialising in location work world-wide. He was also the (unpaid) artistic and technical director of Herefordshire’s Ledbury Poetry Festival for five years.Now Richard and his family divide their time between their London home and a mountain hideaway in the Asturian mountains of northern Spain, and Richard works on his own books, and magazine articles for both UK and Spanish clients. His general interests include gardens, architecture and history, cooking, mountaineering, sailing, industrial architecture and music.
	V J THOMPSON VJ' was born in Lancashire, grew up in North Wales, has lived in the United States and India and has spent time in Germany, Greece, and Japan. He now resides in Mid Devon, just north of his favourite place on the planet - Dartmoor National Park. When he's not involved with Back-Roads Touring he works as an actor and drama teacher, specialising in leading workshops investigating the link between awareness and acting, meditation and improvisation. His hobbies and interests include walking, swimming, dancing, reading, cinema, traveling, playing, cooking, chitchatting and meditation.
	MARTIN TURNER Martin took early retirement from a career as a scientist to pursue many interests including architecture, arts & crafts, and wildlife preservation. He is involved in canal restoration, and enjoys visiting all parts of the British canal system.
	TONY WADE Tony is yet another retired policeman having swapped 23 years of Merseyside action for the more sedate setting on the Lambourn downs, amidst some 1500 racehorses. Prior to his police service, he spent 10 years in the Army travelling the world and residing in both Holland and Germany. Horses now dominate his spare time though his lifelong interest is British social history. Tony’s favourite tour is his Liverpool boyhoods “backgarden”, the mountains and Lakes of North Wales.
	HUW WALTON One of our senior team members, Huw has been associated with the company for 10 years. He's a Welshman and proud of it! Like most of his countrymen, he's mad on rugby although even he'd admit it's a few years since he side-stepped a flying flanker! After a spell in the R.A.F. Huw spent 22 years in publishing and another 15 running his own bookshop, which he sold 'to take it easy'. Instead he passed his Wales 'Blue badge' qualification to 'justify his existence'. Huw is married to Olwen and when not acting as a tour guide, still travels the length and breadth of Britain in his motor caravan.
	DENIS WATERS Our Irishman! Denis is world-travelled before settling back in the UK. He spent time in both South Africa and the Middle east. Now retired from 'proper work' there's nothing more he enjoys than showing visitors arond 'the auld sod'!
	MIKE WILSON Mike fits his tour guiding around his continuing studies. In his 40's, Mike is completing a PhD in English Literature at the University of Wales. He's been guiding for over 10 years and is now in his seventh year with Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd. Mike is English but loves living in west Wales for its dramatic coastlines, pre-historic remains and ancient castles. Mike is single.
	DAVID WOOD David began his career as an officer in the Royal Air Force where he was in Military Intelligence. There followed a complete change in career when he became the Head of Modern Languages at one of Britain's premier public schools, Milfield. Over fifteen years of teaching, David taught the offspring of many famous person, one of which was the grandson of Boris Yeltsin! David's interests include drama (he has appeared at the Edinburgh festival), Egyptology, canals and, the major love of his life, Association Football (soccer).
	LES WOOLLAMS RIP We are very sad to write that our much-loved Les passed away in January 2008. He was poorly for a few months but, thankfully, died without undue pain. He will be hugely missed by all of his compatriots and colleagues at Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd and we are sure also by everyone of our clients who knew him.
	MARK ZYLINSKI A surname that seems to migrate to the end of most lists. A science teacher, though special needs music has been the direction in recent years. Has lived in Australia, India, Africa and Poland for varying periods of time, though Hereford is home at present. Varied interests including playing guitar and SCUBA diving, the latter being avoided in UK‘s chilly waters. Usually gets about on a bicycle in preference to a vehicle. Enjoyed an extremely varied first season with Backroads Touring during 2006.

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