Pat Disley: 30 years of putting memories in hearts

How did it all begin?

I started my training with Theatregoers under a three-month trial – my first trip only had 13 participants, but within six months I was able to rise to the challenge of having full coaches going out. It was so good to discover the concept of operating trips for members to treasure.

I am at retirement age now and considered giving up the group the Christmas before Covid. But when we actually went through Covid many of them wrote to me and asked me to change my mind and since then we have gone from strength to strength.

What’s the ethos of your group?

My slogan is the “art of enjoyment” so I want to ensure people do enjoy themselves and feel at ease. It’s not just about putting bums on seats – it’s about putting lasting memories in hearts.

My husband Alan helps out and is affectionately known as the longest-serving apprentice. He too goes the extra mile and to my surprise presented everybody on the coach with a rose on our Valentine’s trip to the Opera Gala at Cadogan Hall this year.

What types of trips do you do?

We do a real range of visits. While top London shows feature, we also catch up on some at regional theatres. We have seen endless wonderful productions, including concerts and ballet and we are off to see Bill Bailey in January in Vaudevillean which will be a different show to experience.

Besides our usual holidays and short breaks, we also arrange an annual Christmas trip and a special activity such as making Christmas decorations. We’ve made a pork pie in Leicestershire and a glass bauble last year – this year we are trying our hand at chocolate making in York.

Where are some of the memorable places you’ve been over the years?

So many! With three to four holidays and one to two UK breaks each year, we have been to so many places worldwide, from Austria to South America and since 2010, every two years, we have had the use of a boat exclusively taking in different parts of Croatia on a cruise. On a visit to China the group met the man who discovered the first head of the Terracotta Soldiers, a real privilege that would not have happened had I not had this job. We have recently had a very special visit to Scotland and Dumfries House, and we are going to the Carpet of Flowers in Brussels and have a Rhine in Flames Cruise coming up. 

It’s about making it easy for people, the convenience of being picked up and travelling on a luxury coach and then dropped near their homes.

What type of attractions and productions seem more popular with your group?

We have shared so many memorable adventures in the past and rarely repeat a destination or event. Our visits include the Kent Lavender experience, Lullingstone Castle, Port Lympne Safari Experience, Frameless, a private visit and talk at the Riverhill Himalayan Gardens and a visit to Eel Pie Island to name but a few.

As well as top shows, we include some revival evenings going to shows like Les Mis and Phantom. We often do two theatres in one evening which gives a greater choice and lots to talk about when we get back on the coach afterwards. We are so lucky in this country that we can experience such diverse and enjoyable events including dinner theatre experiences which are popular with the group.

How has the theatre changed for you over the years?

Of course ticket prices have increased and I find that often venues are not happy to extend cut-off dates for too long, making it really important to have decisions as soon as possible and reminding my members, and that is the part of the job I like the least. However, my love of the arts and planning for the enjoyment of the group keeps me constantly pursuing and looking out for special forthcoming theatre productions for us all to enjoy.

You’ve been doing this for 30 years, what do you love about it?

It’s amazing. I’ve still got two members that started with me 30 years ago. I love getting Christmas cards saying “you’ve made my year” or somebody saying “I would never have dreamt of doing this if you hadn’t dropped a leaflet through my door”. It’s about making it easy for people, the convenience of being picked up and travelling on a luxury coach and then dropped near their homes – it gives them a life of things to do.

The group are like my family – I love hearing everybody’s stories, everyone loves to discuss what they’ve seen. We’ve had some real adventures on holidays. It gives me a lot of satisfaction – knowing you’ve enabled them to do these things, they’ve enjoyed it and you have too.

I get as much joy from the planning as I do from the trips themselves.