Travel agents have been paying tribute and sharing memories of TV travel presenter Judith Chalmers, who has died at the age of 90.
Judith presented the long-running ITV travel show Wish You Were Here…? for more than 30 years, from 1974. Many in the trade say she inspired them to get into the industry.
Essex-based Exemplar Travel owner Tracie Ruffell described Judith as ‘such a beautiful woman’.
She added: “I met her at a Silversea training lunch event and chatted with her. She was such a kind, lovely lady.”
Norfolk-based Broadland Travel Worldchoice owner Nicholas Lee said: “I met her several times at conferences. She was the best ambassador for our industry.”
Cardiff-based InteleTravel agent Alison Hawkesworth said: “I loved Wish You Were Here…? I am sure it was partly responsible for me wanting to be a travel agent and do my degree in travel and tourism.”
Attache Voyage founder and Managing Director Julianne Copeland said: “I think a lot of us remember Judith Chalmers as we used to watch her programmes on TV over the years. She will have been an inspiration to many people who joined the industry.”
Sue Coupland, Agency Sales Manager at Le Petit Monde sales and marketing consultancy, who has been in travel for 46 years, said: “I loved Wish You Were Here…? when I was starting out in the industry. She was a huge inspiration.”
Sarah Daley from Small World Travel in Tickhill, South Yorkshire met Judith at a charity event in Harrogate 10 years ago. She said: “I went up and had a chat with her and told her I watched her on TV when I was young, and she influenced me going into travel. We had a long chat about the industry and she had a photo with me and my best friend [pictured, top left]. She was so friendly and nice. She asked all about my career and who I worked for.”
Gaynor Golding met Judith when the TV star came to open her agency in about 1997.
Gaynor said: “I was an area manager for Co-op Travel at the time, and she opened our Wise Travel Branch on Deansgate Manchester. She was lovely and a few years later, when I met her again at a P&O Cruises launch, she remembered me. I’ve been in travel for 50 years and she has always been my inspiration.”
Others posted on the Travel Gossip Facebook group described her as a ‘travel legend’ and ‘true travel icon’, while one said Judith ‘gave me the travel bug’.
Judith’s family said in a statement: “After living an extraordinary life that involved over 60 years in broadcasting and countless adventures all over the globe, Judy sadly passed away last night, surrounded by the family she loved so much after suffering with Alzheimer’s for some years.
“We will miss her greatly but she leaves behind a giant suitcase of the happiest of memories.”
Photo credits: bottom left and main image, ITV; top left: Judith with Sarah Daley (pictured on the right) and friend at a charity event
