The owners of Westoe Travel, Graeme and Joan Brett, have reflected on being in business for 35 years.
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00:00 35 years in business, obviously it's a long, long time.
00:03 Did you think 35 years ago that you'd be standing here today
00:05 still doing what you're doing?
00:07 - Absolutely not.
00:09 Time's just flown, it's been fantastic.
00:12 Obviously working together 24 hours a day
00:15 and then having the customers,
00:20 same customers, we've had customers
00:22 who we used to deliver newspaper to
00:24 when we had the old shop,
00:26 who are still booking holidays with us.
00:28 We had people that used to come in with their parents
00:30 to book a day trip,
00:32 and they're coming in booking their holidays
00:34 with their children.
00:35 And it's been fantastic to see everybody grow up
00:38 and develop and it's been wonderful.
00:40 - And be part of the community.
00:42 - Yeah.
00:43 - Is it sort of that, as you just mentioned there,
00:45 being part of the community,
00:46 and as you mentioned, you've seen so many journeys
00:48 over the years with other people.
00:49 Is it that sort of driving factor
00:51 that's kept us going there for so long?
00:52 - It is, I think social is special,
00:54 the way that everybody always looks after each other
00:58 and we've always made sure that
01:00 when we're buying any products for the shop or anything,
01:02 whether it's been a computer services,
01:04 electrician, anything for the shop,
01:07 that we've always used somebody from South Shields.
01:09 And I think that's something that's unique to South Shields
01:12 that there's so many people do that.
01:14 And it's what makes South Shields special.
01:17 - Any favourite moments over 35 years?
01:18 I know it's a long time, but any favourite standout moments?
01:21 - Well, the two that really stand out for me
01:24 was obviously South Shields going to Wembley
01:26 and winning the FA4s when we had so many supporters
01:31 booked through us in response of the team bus.
01:33 That was amazing.
01:35 And the other one was Little Mix
01:37 when we had Jaden Perry's mom came in
01:43 for us to arrange the travel arrangements
01:45 for them to get to the shows.
01:47 And we're involved in that every weekend
01:48 and it was great to follow their trail to the final.
01:53 And obviously the fact that they won,
01:55 and again, that was something that you needed South Shields
01:59 because you had half the town supporting Newcastle
02:01 and half the town supporting Sunderland.
02:03 And for that, everybody was backing Little Mix.
02:06 And that was wonderful to see as well.
02:08 - Obviously 35 years down, another 35 to go.
02:12 (laughing)
02:13 - Well, no, in family business,
02:15 I mean, when we had the old shop,
02:18 we had my mom and dad used to work there as well.
02:21 Now we've got Gillian taking over as manager here.
02:25 So yes, maybe Gillian will be here in 35 years time,
02:29 but I don't think we will.
02:30 - Anything else you'd like to add?
02:32 - No, just to thank all the people in South Shields
02:35 for all the support we've had.
02:37 Obviously it's a small family business.
02:39 It's really special for us and it's very humbling to us
02:43 to have had all that support,
02:46 for people to keep coming back over the years.
02:49 And we really appreciate every single person
02:51 that's booked with us over that time and supported us.