Travel agent Steve Finch is retiring at the end of December, after 45 years in the industry.
The Travel Counsellor from Crawley, West Sussex started his travel career in 1980 working as a crew rostering assistant for Laker Airways.
Steve said: “I worked at NatWest and I really wanted to get into travel as a friend who worked for Dan-Air loved it. I wrote letters to all the airlines, even if they didn’t have vacancies. When I went for my interview the person who let me in the door at reception was [founder] Freddie Laker himself – he just happened to be there at the time.”
Steve worked for the airline until it went bust in 1982 and during his time he went on nine holidays to the US using his concessions, which cost from just £5 for a flight to Los Angeles.
He continued to work for airlines, including Dan-Air, Air Europe and Air 2000 before joining Touchdown World Travel. He went on to become a partner in the business before selling to Travel Industry Services in 2011.
It was then that he joined Travel Counsellors.
Steve said: “I was 51 and was deciding what to do next, but I knew I wanted to stay in travel. I decided to go with Travel Counsellors – I got to choose my own hours and build my business. I didn’t have a client base as all of my sales had been to the trade, so I had to get out there and start networking locally, which is so important.
Travel Counsellors has been great for me – I have done 39 trips since I have been with them.”
He said highlights of trips over the years include India – where he has been twice – and Sri Lanka, where he is returning to in January with his wife, Christine.
Steve is passing his clients on to another Travel Counsellor in Crawley, Lindsay Barnes.
He said: “The clients I have told I am retiring have wished me well and I had a few who have wanted to book a trip with me before I finish, which has been lovely. I almost feel guilty retiring, but I am leaving my business in good hands and it’s time.”
