Defeat in the West Tour 25 - 27 February 2011 - Completed!!

Tim Stoneman on the earthworks by the Mole at Dunkirk explaining DYNAMO

Dinner in Ypres on Saturday night!

Tim Stoneman delivering Binyon's Exhortation to the assembled at the Menin Gate on behalf of the Guild Membership

Terry Webb pointing out the counter attack route of the 2nd Cameronians on the Ypres-Comines canal on a very wet Belgian morning!

A moment to reflect at CWGC Communal Cemetery at Hondeghem

Over weekend of 25-27 February 15 Members travelled to France and Belgium and visited a number of stands connected with the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) 1940. By all accounts the tour was regarded as a great success on number of counts. Members practiced their guiding skills under the potentially critical eye of their contemporaries. They learnt a new itinerary for their guiding portfolios and..........they had a great time in the company of their peers!!

On the Friday a base was established in Ypres at the Poppies Hotel known to many of our guiding fraternity. At 2000hrs we attended the Last Post ceremony and some of us had the privilege of laying a wreath on behalf of the Guild membership whilst Tim Stoneman recited Binyon's Exhortation to the assembled

Our route followed the withdrawal of the BEF from the Escaut Line at Pecq back to the Dunkirk perimeter. On the way we attended stands at Cassel Le Paradis and Esquelbec. On Sunday morning we drove almost the entire Dunkirk perimeter taking in action by 2 Coldstreams on the Bergues-Furnes canal and 7th Guards Brigade at Furnes or more correctly Veurne.

Special thanks must go to Terry Webb for all his hard work in writing the itinerary and organising the stands. He gave willingly of his time and knowledge to assist travelling Members. Another big thanks to Nora De Bievre from Back Roads Touring who organised our transport through her company and to Jeff Cormack for driving the party.

The individual cost of the trip has yet to be calculated but by commercial standards it was comparatively cheap.

The next CPD trip will be 'Watch on the Rhine' 20 -24 July 2011