President Mike Turner greet Tommy Collins MBE with special guest Chris Evans (far L) Club Vice President Des Moore (L) and Member James Nesbitt (R)

Coleraine Probus meets Tommy Collins, the Blue Badge Guide

Coleraine Probus had a fascinating look at the work and training of the 'Blue badge' accredited tourist guides, when Kilrea's own, Tommy Collins MBE came to a recent club meeting. Upon taking an early retirement deal from NI Electricity, and having done some voluntary work in Uganda, Tommy felt that he really wanted to be able to tell people about the country he loved - Northern Ireland.

By chance he came across an advertisement in 2006, for a training course in becoming a Blue Badge guide. Tommy was one of 120 that applied, and one of only 20 that where selected. It was a demanding course with lots to read and remember, lectures to attend and many miles of walking the streets, alleyways and towpaths of Belfast, but in the end, Tommy was one of the ten to pass their final test. Tommy gave some examples of the questions asked as part of his final examination and tour presentation - he got all the members thinking with questions like: 'Who invented Milk of Magnesia?'; 'In which County in Ireland is the Arigna Coal Mine?' and 'Name all Nine of the Glens of Antrim!' [surely and easy one for residents of our area! And just in case you wanted to check, the answers are way down the page].

The Blue Badge accreditation is regulated by the British Guild of Tourist Guides and is very precise on the quality and accuracy of the guides. Tommy is becoming increasing concerned with the numbers, and quality, of tourist guides now in Belfast that are not trained or accredited, especially those that gather at Belfast docks when the cruise ships arrive. Last year there were 88 cruise ships that came into Belfast, several with over 2000 passengers on board. Tourism is a big and growing business for the province. The most popular destination is 'The Giant's Causeway', needless to say! With ship passengers being charged up to £150 for a day trip via the coast road and highlights along the way, it is important that they return to the ship feeling they have had an interesting, enjoyable and educational day out with lots a photos and stories to remember for their money.

To meet the various interest of visitors to our beautiful part of the world, Tommy has developed a number of specialist tours. These include: Walking in rural Ireland; Folklore; Irish and Scottish Traditional Music; Pre-Christian Sites; and Ulster Scots History. All have involved a lot of research in order to be up the Blue Badge standards, but for Tommy, it is a labour of love, and that certainly came across in his much-appreciated talk.

As a 'bonus' for the club, members had a special guest attending the meeting. This was Chris Evans, a farmer from Hereford, England, who was visiting one of the club members. Chris briefly told members how he is involved with a national information-gathering project called 'The Listening Roadshow'. This is gathering ordinary peoples responses to the Brexit Referendum, their hope and fears, their relations with other people and the possible changes they have seen in their daily lives. The findings will be presented to the government later next year, and is being collated by the organisation called 'Initiatives of Change'. Club members were very interested in this short presentation, and hoped that Chris could return at some time to tell them how the project was developing.

- - - Some extra information - - -

What Tommy aims for as a Blue Badge Guide:

A wide and varied experience of our beautiful country.
I was born on a farm in N Ireland and have a deep love for rural life. Upon early retirement as a construction engineer I obtained a Blue Badge Diploma in Tourist Guiding.
I deliver a varied range of tours in Ireland and the UK. I find it a privilege to show the visitor the sights of our beautiful island. My services include:
Familiarisation Trips
Tour Management
Guided Tours of N Ireland
Tour Organising
Industry
Corporate Tours
Rural Life
Agricultural Tours
Environment
Genealogy
Walking Tours

For more information about Tommy Collins, visit his website (which will open in a new window) at:

Answers to Tommy's questions:
'Who invented Milk of Magnesia?' [Sir James Murray (1788–1871) from Co Londonderry, while he was a medical officer in the Belfast Hospital in 1809];

'In which County is Ireland is the Arigna Coal Mine?' [Roscommon] and

'Name all nine of the Glens of Antrim!' [from south to north, they are: Glenarm, Glencloy, Glenariff, Glenballyeamon, Glenaan, Glencorp, Glendun, Glenshesk and Glentaisie.]

Easy, wan't it?

For an entertaining read, take a look at the website for 'Blue Badge Ireland', just 'Click' the typical food below? (this will open in a new window):

For more information on the 'British Guild of Tourist Guides', just 'Click' on the logo below (this will open in a new window):

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To find out more about 'Initiatives of Change', just 'Click' on the logo below (this will open in a new window):

And let's hope we can get Chris Evens to call in again!