COLCHESTER Travel booked a party of 41 severely handicapped children and parents from children’s hospices in East Anglia to visit Father Christmas ‘Just for a Day’ in Lapland.
Their happiness was short lived when technical problems led to the cancellation of the charter flight from Stansted. At the time there was nothing Transun, the tour operator, could do other than to offer a refund and promise a replacement trip next year.
Two days later, however, after a press report on Sunday and with support from BBCLook East, Colchester Travel took up the cause on behalf of the sponsors and the parents. We believed that these children could not be allowed to remain heartbroken when we knew that with determination we could make their dream come true.
Intensive negotiations then took place with Transun. The phones started ringing and with support from the media plus sheer determination this became a Christmas story with a happy ending.
Tears of sadness were replaced with tears of joy when against all the odds the children were back on aircraft again at just 12 hours’ notice.
It would take more than a letter to explain the emotions felt and seen by everyone involved. The day was a great success.
The parents and hospices would like to thank Transun, the captain and crew of the Air 2000 flight, and the team from BBCLook East, and especially Father Christmas for making these very special children so happy.
John Bennett, Director, Colchester Travel, Colchester