Ex Servicemen ‘Buckle Up’ to transport 5000 young people to Games of Remembrance

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 8 November 2018

UPDATED: 8 November 2018

A leading coach travel company from Nottingham, which is passionate about keeping the Remembrance Day message alive, is sending its very own ex servicemen to transport over 5000 young people to this year’s ‘Games of Remembrance’.

Skills Holidays based in Bulwell, Nottingham, is preparing to celebrate its hundredth year in business at the same time as the Centenary of Armistice, and was approached by The British Army to transport 5000 young people from all over the UK to the very special event, which will see troops from the British Army Football Association take on the German Bundeswehr (armed forces) to commemorate the occasion.

In total, 13 ex servicemen drive for the family run company who will be transporting the young people on the day. They will be part of the 63 driving team and 22 support staff the Skills group will provide on the day all headed up by proud ex serviceman, Mark Holton (47) from Arnold, Nottingham

After serving in the Royal Engineers for over 17 years, and going to Afghanistan in 20111, Mark joined Skills Holidays eight years ago. He said:

“I served in the Royal Engineers for 17 years, and I am still serving a reservist.  During my time in the military, I worked in military transport, and wanted to leave and pursue a new career path before I got too old!  I applied to Skills Holidays as a coach driver and haven’t looked back since.

“When they told me that I would be driving young people to this year’s Games of Remembrance, I was extremely proud. The younger generation need to know why we are having these events, and why we wear our poppies with pride.  I am delighted to be driving these people to the games.”

The ladies match at the Games of Remembrance will take place on Thursday November 8th at Meadow Lane, with kick off starting at 12pm- and the men's match will be hosted at The City Ground at 7pm. 

Damien Gregory, Senior Skills Operations Manager, said:

"We are very proud of our ex servicemen here at Skills.  We thought it would be a fantastic opportunity for  our drivers to discuss with the passengers and teachers what remembrance  means to them."

“We have also created a very special commemorative coach for the occasion, and of course we will all be wearing our poppies with pride.”

Skills Holidays is currently making plans to speed into its hundredth year in business after experiencing unprecedented growth over the last three years, with turnover increasing from £8Million to £20Million. 

For more information, please visit Skills Holidays at www.skills.co.uk

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