GB Sports Tours are delighted to announce that Henry Walpole has joined the team as a Tour Consultant.
Henry, 34, whose expertise lie in Cricket and Rugby, has spent nine years working in the sports tours industry and thus, brings a wealth of experience to the role. CEO of GB Sports, Mark Gibbon, said “We’re really excited to have Henry on board, he brings with him a vast amount of experience and it’s great have a cricket specialist in the team. We’re really looking forward to working with him in the future”.
Favourite sports: Cricket & Rugby specialist. I still play cricket most weekends during the summer – but my rugby days are over as I got older, slower and rounder!
Favourite tour destination – It has to be South Africa; it offers everything for everyone. Cape Town is probably my favourite city in the world, after London! The sporting experience in South Africa is mind blowing and a brilliant tour for all ages and abilities.
Favourite travel destination – I was lucky enough to head to Nepal last year and to the Himalayas. Over a 3-week period I trekked up to the Everest Base Camp and back. It was the toughest yet most rewarding trip of my life. It was topped off by watching the sunset over Everest, a moment I will never forget! The people of Nepal are awesome, and Kathmandu is the most buzzing city in the world – it never stops! A bucket list trip that I would recommend to anyone.
Why I went into the industry – I was lucky enough to go on a number of sports tours when I was at school at Latymer Upper School. Notably, my senior cricket tour to Barbados and also senior rugby tour to New Zealand. I remember the person coming in and presenting the tour and I thought, that is the coolest job in the world! I am quite simple really – I love travel and I love sport – bingo!
Favourite sporting memory – I was playing a charity cricket match vs Lashings CC and was facing Jason Gillespie, the great Australian quick bowler. He was marking his run up with a half-drunk bottle of Magners after tea had spilled over onto the field! He ran in to bowl and sent down a thunderbolt – I didn’t see it – it hit my helmet and flew to the boundary for a one bounce 4! He didn’t apologise (shock), but instead grumbled at me – “don’t ever try and drive me through the covers again!”. I was terrified – but all my teammates found it hilarious!
Overall, I can’t wait to get stuck in with GB Sports – It’s a new year with many new challenges, but I believe we will come out stronger at the end of it.