Trip to Great Britain Sept 1999 As recorded in the Bruce Mines Sentinel Garry and Iona Bishop of the Village recently returned from a three-week holiday in Great Britain. Accompanying them were Garry’s brother and his wife (Merlyn and Betty) and Garry’s sister Donna Farrell. They landed at Gatwick Airport. On the way over Garry visited the cockpit, met the pilot, Joe Barnes, who knew Dan Campbell of the Island. They stayed at a Hostel in London for a few days, visited Picadilly Circus and to a “hop-on, hop-off” bus tour to tour the National Gallery, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and Westmininster Abbey. Leaving London in a rented car the Bishops drove to Cardiff in Wales, visited the castle, and then went north to Conwy and Brecon. In Wales they also stopped at a beautiful little village- Betwsycoed and spent the night in a hostel at Conwy and toured the castle there. Returning to Betwsycoed they had arranged to meet Garry’s sister Joan’s brother-in-law, Colin Davis with whom they had supper. Then it was off to Hollyhead to catch the boat to Ireland. They went by train to Dublin, had another “hop-on, hop-off” bus tour to Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral (built in 1192), Jameson Distillery. They also went to Ballinsloe and Galway and Donquarie Castle and the Cliffs of Moher. At Kilfinanne, an important stop for the Bishops since their great-great-grandfather came from there. No Bishops live there any more but there were some in the 1880 census. NOTE by Garry- our gg-grandfather had came to Canada in 1826. Likely the remaining Bishops were some of his brothers kids??? Before returning to Wales by boa the Bishops enjoyed a Ceilidh Dance, a stop at Tipperary, a visit to the Waterford Crystal Factory and visited Avoka the site of the Ballykissangle show. Leaving Wales they toured Scotland going to Edinburgh to see the castle then on to Galashields and Lohcarron Woollen Mills to see how tartans are made. They visited Sir Walter Scott’s house, stayed in a hotel at Cheale. (owners maiden name was Morton) Back in England they went to Stratford-on-Avon, a china factory and a museum, Warwich Castle, Stow-on-Wold, Bourton on the Water, Moreton on the Marsh , and Upper and Lower Slaughter. The last night of their holiday was spent in a 500 year old Coach House Bed and Breakfast at Gatwick. The Bishops were really impressed at how old all the buildings were also the workmanship that went into the construction of the castles, cathedrals and churches. They really enjoyed the beauty of the countryside especially in Wales.