Michael Bottomley Renshaw retires after 62 years in travel

Lecturer Michael Bottomley Renshaw has celebrated his retirement after 62 years in travel, marking the occasion with friends, students past and present, and colleagues at Sunderland College.

His career began at Thomas Cook in 1962 and he has been a travel and tourism lecturer in the northeast since 1973.

He also helped the late John Hays to set up his first Hays Travel shop in 1980 – and thanked the agency group’s owner, Dame Irene Hays, for her friendship and support.

Dame Irene, owner of Sunderland-headquartered Hays Travel, was among the industry figures who congratulated him on his achievements.

She said in a video message: “You have helped and supported young people to gain qualifications and achieve their ambitions to pursue a career in travel and tourism for decades.

“Before that you mentored and encouraged John to start his first travel agency.

“Firstly with John and subsequently with me, we have been an annual fixture in your college diary.

“Your passion for helping to access current business knowledge and give the opportunity to your students to quiz has never wavered.

“Your career has been nothing short of remarkable…the impact that you have had on young people has been immense. It has been a pleasure to know and to work with you.”

He started his career as a trainee travel clerk aged 16 at Thomas Cook in Huddersfield, in July 1962.

In September 1973, he started at Durham Technical College – which later became New College Durham – as a lecturer in travel and tourism, the first in the UK to offer a full-time Diploma in Travel and Tourism.

Colleagues and students, from the past and present, joined him for a retirement presentation recently as he stepped down from his role as a lecturer at Sunderland College, where he has taught for the past 24 years.

They included Christine Parry (pictured with Michael) who was a student on his first travel and tourism course in 1973, and former Tui commercial manager Nicola Defty.

More: Your Stories: Travel and tourism lecturer Michael Bottomley Renshaw reflects on 60 years in travel

Other former pupils include Jane Atkins, formerly of Shearings Holidays; Sue Kavanagh, formerly of Carlson; group travel specialist Liz Hill; British Airways’ Angus Wheeler; “dozens” of managers for Thomas Cook and agencies in the northeast; and many other tourism lecturers.

Michael will be keeping busy in his retirement, taking on volunteer roles with Sunderland Maritime Heritage, Beamish Open Air Museum, Tanfield Railway and Sunderland Aircraft Museum – plus a bucket list of travel experiences to fulfil.

He said highlights of his career included acquiring a master’s degree in tourism marketing, writing a textbook called The Travel Agent, and a Lifetime Achievement award.

Michael also paid tribute to his daughter Heidi, who works for Hays Travel, his son, who works with Durham police, his four grandchildren and his partner Jen, who is a “travel fanatic”.

Heidi has been in travel all her life, starting on a YTS scheme at Lunn Poly in 1987, and joining Hays Travel in 1999. She left in 2004 to re-locate but returned to Hays in 2016.

Michael urged students considering the travel and tourism sector to think about the wide range of opportunities, adding: “You will have the opportunity to travel the world, see fantastic destinations and experience wonderful cultures. The best part is to serve your customers and give them the best experience.

“Set your sights high and go for it – whether it’s cabin crew, customer services on cruise ships, managing a holiday resort for a tour operator, promoting new exciting destinations, managing a travel agency or starting one yourself, marketing a hotel, guiding around visitor centres or teaching travel and tourism. The choice is yours.”

Defty, former general manager at Late Escapes/Going Places, said: “I first met Mike as a 16-year-old student and he inspired me with his stories and knowledge.

“Over many years we kept in touch – going back to college to gain qualifications, dropping off guides for students or talking about when I worked with his daughter Heidi.

“Aged 58, I have retired before Mike, which just shows his commitment to his students and the Industry. I wish him a long and happy retirement.”

More: Your Stories: Travel and tourism lecturer Michael Bottomley Renshaw reflects on 60 years in travel