A lucky Dorset couple celebrated their golden wedding with a Channel Island golfing holiday thanks to a competition highlighting a new air route from Bournemouth Airport.
Alan and Kath Smith from West Moors near Bournemouth took to the skies on the inaugural Loganair flight to Guernsey after their daughter Carly Thompson won the contest on social media and gifted them the prize.
To win, entrants had to comment on a Facebook post describing what they would do on the holiday and how much it would mean to them.
The trip featured return flights and seven nights’ accommodation and breakfast at the island’s La Grande Mare Hotel, Golf and Country Club, with use of its 18-hole golf course and health club, plus dinner on one evening.
Four-star La Grande Mare is just a short drive from Guernsey Airport and the island’s capital Saint Peter Port. The hotel overlooks west-facing Vazon Bay, which has Guernsey’s biggest sandy beach, and is surrounded by 100 acres of scenic private grounds.
As they arrived with their golf clubs at Bournemouth Airport to start the holiday, an excited Alan and Kath said: “We would like to thank Jodie Saunders, the Marketing Manager at Bournemouth Airport, Magda and her team at Le Grand Mare Hotel, Guernsey and the team at Loganair for this wonderful trip.
“Also a special thank you has to go to our daughter Carly Thompson who won the competition on Facebook but gifted it to us in honour of our 50th wedding anniversary celebrations this month. We thank you all for this wonderful prize and amazing opportunity to celebrate in Guernsey. We are very much looking forward to visiting the island and seeing what it has to offer as we have heard such wonderful things. Thank you!”
Spanning nine miles long by five miles wide, Guernsey has a sunny microclimate and is located some 31 miles west of the Normandy coast.
Loganair has begun flights from Bournemouth Airport to Guernsey and Jersey three times a week under a new summer schedule this year.
For a short film of the launch event, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1MZuz1YYQ4.
Flight tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased online at www.loganair.co.uk or by calling 0344 800 2855.
