Former independent travel agent and sports tour operator Edwin Doran has died, aged 79.
Edwin moved from Ireland to England in the late 1960s and worked for a car hire company before setting up Edwin Doran Sports Travel and high-street agency Edwin Doran’s Travel World in Twickenham.
He was one of the founder directors of the Campaign for Real Travel Agents (CARTA) in the early 1990s, which is now known as AITO Specialist Travel Agents.
He sold the sports business to TUI and, 15 years ago, bought a vineyard near Cape Town.
His wife Rosie said he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer and had been in and out of hospital this year with infections and kidney problems. He died on 10 September.
She said: “Up to a month or so ago, he was still working on the wine farm business, alongside our son, Tom.
“The family will of course continue the wine farm business in Edwin’s name, and we will visit Cape Town and the farm regularly; we all had so much fun exploring this beautiful region, and plan to ensure that the Doran family name is firmly imprinted on many excellent bottles of wine yet to come; Edwin’s dream will live on in his memory.”
Funeral details have not yet been finalised. Anyone who would like to attend can email Rosie at [email protected].
Pictured, top left, Edwin with his daughter, Georgia, who used to work with him at Edwin Doran Sports Travel and who is now an independent travel agent. Pictured, top right, Edwin on his vineyard.
