Spotlight on GTO Gwen Wright, The Arts Soc. Cranleigh

My Advice for GTO’s: This may sound arrogant which I am sure I am not! But in terms of advice and over a huge number of years of organising.. I have rather learned “on the hoof”! Above all.. as with all things in life I think that it’s about forward planning.. like well in advance and working with industry partners you can trust

Always travel with.. smartphone and charger with all contacts re group on phone!!! I always set up a WhatsApp group for each holiday too so messages are shared to all

What I have learned: Well…planning for group tips is a must.. for guides/hotels etc. Nobody has enough change handy any more so planning this beforehand helps everyone

The best thing about being a GTO: The reward is about sharing the joys of places we visit and experiences we would probably not been able to easily do unless in a group. My Mantra is “I love a GUIDED TOUR”.. it makes SUCH A DIFFERENCE TO A VISIT! Love listening to the experts!!!

AGTO fam visits are a huge help in deciding what would/not work for one’s own group. The exchange of ideas is also very helpful especially at a regional level.

Changes I have seen: I suppose Facebook and internet usage.  Our Arts Soc has a website where we post everything and now don’t print out e.g. a “ticket”.. an A4 document with details of visit e.g. time line etc., We sell tickets for day visits as ever at our monthly meetings by cash/cheque/ Sum up.. increasingly the latter… or by BACS on line… so this requires a lot of co ordinating with treasurer and “ticket desk” lists ensuring they all add up!

I do follow the Arts Soc Facebook page and fellow AS members do post some interesting experiences. I also post details of our next lecture meeting on Cranleigh local community site.. from which we welcome non members/guests.

My favourite movie: Not sure I have a favourite? But we are about to set off on Leicester and the Midlands for 5d/4 nights.. following a morning of Special Interest held last February on Ming Richard 111. I have bought the DVD of the most recent movie which our group will watch on the coach journey!!!!