Country Images Magazine North Edition November 2017 | Page 30

Another son of Melbourne also became known across the world. He doesn’t
have a city named aft er him, but the fi rm he started is linked to travel,
especially leisure travel. Th omas Cook was born in poor circumstances
here in 1808 and in early adulthood found work as a wood-turner, jobbing
gardener and, in his spare time, an evangelical missionary. At a time when
poor people rarely went beyond the boundaries of their parish, he travelled
on foot nearly 2700 miles in his fi rst preaching tour alone. Th e mission he
is best remembered for took place in 1841 when he persuaded the Midland
Railway to take 570 passengers, a temperance party, on a trip from Leicester
to Loughborough and back for a shilling (5p) each.
Th e unexpected popularity of the trip led to Th omas Cook aided by his
son John, setting themselves up as one of the fi rst ever travel agents. It was
John who had the business acumen and through him the business developed
rapidly. Aged only 17, John took 165,000 people to London for the Great
Exhibition in Hyde Park. John was a marketing genius who realised he
had to do something to attract people and so hired a brass band to parade
through local streets. When people came out of their houses to listen to the
band, he persuaded them to join one of his London-bound trains. Gradually
the business of Th omas Cook and son spread far and wide with customers
joining personally conducted tours all over the world. Th e company
planned the tours, booked trains, ships, and hotels, eventually establishing
their own banking system in order to deal with foreign currencies; they
looked aft er every detail of travel at home and abroad. By the time Th omas
died in 1892, the fi rm of Th omas Cook and Son had its headquarters in
London with branches throughout the civilised world.
Georgian town houses and picturesque cottages
Th ere are plenty of pubs and cafes in Melbourne, but if you fancy a picnic,
then the best place nearby is Staunton Harold Reservoir. With waterside
tables and a play area overlooked by the tower of an old windmill, it makes
an ideal place to relax aft er exploring the town. Beyond the reservoir,
Staunton Harold Hall, part of the National Forest, off ers an alternative, as
does the nearby National Trust estate of Calke Abbey.
Th e viewing platform on the tower of the old windmill
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