BRITAIN AND IRELAND STUDY PROGRAMME

THE FIRST NEW BISP

Jim Lindsay ran the British Isles Study Programme for people who wanted to conduct extended tours around Britain and Ireland. Before his death a few years ago he asked me to take over the course, which I am now doing. I have kept the BISP initials but called it Britain and Ireland rather than British Isles - as many in Ireland do not like the term British Isles.

I have also redesigned the course completely to make it a short intensive training course of one week. The first course will take place in Brixton at the Effra Road Chapel 23rd-27th Feb 2009.

Slides and maps will be used to orientate students with major sites to prepare them for walking tours of places such as Chester, York, Oxford and Culloden Battlefield.

The cost is £150. This will include tea and coffee each day (not lunch) and a set of basic notes covering contact details (websites, telephone numbers, etc) as well as city maps.

An exam at the end of the course will be set. All questions will be covered on the course. Those succesful will receive a certificate which they can show to tour operators and potential employers to demonstrate that they have studied the basics of tour directing in Britain and Ireland.

The course will not educate students to blue badge level and all those who complete the course and accept the certificate will have to agree not to conduct tours normally undertaken by blue badge guides in London and Edinburgh.

Each day will be divided into four sessions: Practical, History, Geography, and Contemporary/Cultural

HOW TO APPLY
Those who wish to attend this course should use the form below and send it with a deposit cheque for £50 (payable to ‘Britain and Ireland Study Programme’)
to Edwin Lerner, 74 Saltoun Road, London SW2 1ER.

BRITISH ISLES STUDY PROGRAMME – APPLICATION

NAME ________________________________________________________________
Address________________________________________________________________
______________________________Postcode_________________________________
Telephone______________________Email___________________________________
Qualifications/Background in tourism________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Send with £50 cheque (Britain & Ireland Study Programme) to E Lerner 74 Saltoun Rd London SW2 1ER

Britain and Ireland Study Programme – Course Prospectus

Day One:
The duties of a tour manager – equipment needed – client assessment (questionnaires).
The creation of the United Kingdom – the Union Jack and other flags – royal houses
Northern England – The Lake District – York and Chester – Liverpool
Wordsworth and Coleridge – The Beatles – Soccer and other sports

Day Two
Service tours and specials – how to work with group leaders – medical issues
Wallace and Bruce – Stuart dynasty – Union of crowns – Bonnie Prince Charlie
Edinburgh and Glasgow – the Borders - Scottish Highlands – the Hebrides
Scotch whisky – the kilt explained – J K Rowling - Burns and Scott – Rosslyn Chapel

Day Three
Relationship with drivers – driving hours – seat rotation – safety issues
Religious wars in Ireland – the Penal Laws – the potato famine – 1916 uprising
Dublin and Belfast - Ring of Kerry – Giant’s Causeway – Blarney – Galway – Limerick
Irish writers – Irish music – the Irish language and Gaelic culture – Irish saints

Day Four
Liaising with hotels and local guides – itinerary observation – optional excursions
The Prince of Wales – Owen Glendower – the Industrial Revolution
Wales and Central England – Cotswolds – Cardiff – Coventry
Shakespeare – Dylan Thomas – Methodism – Mining – the Love Spoon

Day Five
Airports and airlines – useful contacts – problem solving – saying goodbyes
Figures of both legend and history – Arthur and Alfred, Robin Hood, Lady Godiva
Central and Southern England – Devon and Cornwall – Sherwood Forest
Examination and assessment of course by students – end of course party.