Westoe Travel celebrates 35 years in business

Shields Gazette

The owners of Westoe Travel, Graeme and Joan Brett, have reflected on being in business for 35 years.

Transcript

00:00 35 years in business, obviously it's a long, long time.

00:03 Did you think 35 years ago that you'd be standing here today

00:05 still doing what you're doing?

00:07 - Absolutely not.

00:09 Time's just flown, it's been fantastic.

00:12 Obviously working together 24 hours a day

00:15 and then having the customers,

00:20 same customers, we've had customers

00:22 who we used to deliver newspaper to

00:24 when we had the old shop,

00:26 who are still booking holidays with us.

00:28 We had people that used to come in with their parents

00:30 to book a day trip,

00:32 and they're coming in booking their holidays

00:34 with their children.

00:35 And it's been fantastic to see everybody grow up

00:38 and develop and it's been wonderful.

00:40 - And be part of the community.

00:42 - Yeah.

00:43 - Is it sort of that, as you just mentioned there,

00:45 being part of the community,

00:46 and as you mentioned, you've seen so many journeys

00:48 over the years with other people.

00:49 Is it that sort of driving factor

00:51 that's kept us going there for so long?

00:52 - It is, I think social is special,

00:54 the way that everybody always looks after each other

00:58 and we've always made sure that

01:00 when we're buying any products for the shop or anything,

01:02 whether it's been a computer services,

01:04 electrician, anything for the shop,

01:07 that we've always used somebody from South Shields.

01:09 And I think that's something that's unique to South Shields

01:12 that there's so many people do that.

01:14 And it's what makes South Shields special.

01:17 - Any favourite moments over 35 years?

01:18 I know it's a long time, but any favourite standout moments?

01:21 - Well, the two that really stand out for me

01:24 was obviously South Shields going to Wembley

01:26 and winning the FA4s when we had so many supporters

01:31 booked through us in response of the team bus.

01:33 That was amazing.

01:35 And the other one was Little Mix

01:37 when we had Jaden Perry's mom came in

01:43 for us to arrange the travel arrangements

01:45 for them to get to the shows.

01:47 And we're involved in that every weekend

01:48 and it was great to follow their trail to the final.

01:53 And obviously the fact that they won,

01:55 and again, that was something that you needed South Shields

01:59 because you had half the town supporting Newcastle

02:01 and half the town supporting Sunderland.

02:03 And for that, everybody was backing Little Mix.

02:06 And that was wonderful to see as well.

02:08 - Obviously 35 years down, another 35 to go.

02:12 (laughing)

02:13 - Well, no, in family business,

02:15 I mean, when we had the old shop,

02:18 we had my mom and dad used to work there as well.

02:21 Now we've got Gillian taking over as manager here.

02:25 So yes, maybe Gillian will be here in 35 years time,

02:29 but I don't think we will.

02:30 - Anything else you'd like to add?

02:32 - No, just to thank all the people in South Shields

02:35 for all the support we've had.

02:37 Obviously it's a small family business.

02:39 It's really special for us and it's very humbling to us

02:43 to have had all that support,

02:46 for people to keep coming back over the years.

02:49 And we really appreciate every single person

02:51 that's booked with us over that time and supported us.

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