Our Story
In May 2009, we met when Sean was offered a teaching job at the school I worked at in St Albans; we became a successful team but more importantly great friends from then and even worked together for years in our next school in Hampstead. Through hours of car rides together, hundreds of days working in school together and a host of international trips, the belief that “we could do this” was born.
In 2024, serious discussions took place and we realised it doesn’t need to be a dream for much longer. And now, here we are, fully accredited as a tour operator and open for bookings
James - Owner/Guide
Being born and bred in St.Albans, a city full of rich history, it was perhaps inevitable History would become my favourite subject at school.
Like so many others, my passion for learning about the World War One was inspired on a school trip to Belgium at the age of 14. The personal and moving sites I visited prompted a genuine interest in learning more about the events of the Great War; after my visit I learned more about my family’s links to the War and read a lot of books from the local library about the conflict My real interest was always about the lives of the soldiers, who in their millions, travelled over to fight in the Somme and Flanders.
History became my academic passion and I studied the subject at University; in my final year dissertation I wrote about the experience of Hertfordshire and its regiment during World War One and once again visited the Western Front. This visit during my final year of study cemented my ambition to become a secondary school History teacher.
Since qualifying, I have spent 22 years in the classroom, as a History teacher, Head of Department and Assistant Headteacher and have had a wonderful time and been inspired by teaching so many amazing young people. I am also and will continue to be a Senior Examiner for GCSE History and have a wealth of experience preparing students for their GCSE exams; through all the exciting experiences I had in school, my favourite part of the job in school was always our own school trips, especially those trips to the WW1 Battlefields in Flanders.
Outside of my passion for History my second love is sport; in my time I have played lots of football and racket sports, but the knees now prefer a more gentler sporting pastime so for the last 2-3 years I have taken up playing golf which is a great way to relax too.
Now it is the right time to step away from the classroom and focus full time on the HBBT and offer unforgettable trips for all kinds of groups. I really want to give many more people the chance to visit these sites and have memories that will last a lifetime. No matter how big or small your group may be, please do contact us and we will be happy to help plan an forgettable trip to the WW1 Battlefields for you.
Sean - Researcher/Guide
My love for History began as a small boy growing up in Canada. So many of my family stories always seemed to start with 'during or after the war...' or 'They served...' that I became curious and wanted to know more. I have since become a Historian and History teacher for the past 17 years and had the honour of finding my Great Great Uncle’s final resting place at Nine Elms Cemetery in France. I have cross-curricular training in several subjects and have worked not only as a classroom teacher, but also as a Head of Year and Subject as well as a senior role; I currently divide my time between a secondary school and Sixth Form College and am a mentor for students privately too.
I have helped to run Battlefield tours for the last 15 years with James across several schools, and we both share a mutual respect and dedication to preserving this tradition of remembrance. I take great pride in the everlasting relationships that I have built over the years, to the point where Ypres almost feels like a second home, something which inevitably leads to more memorable Tours. I truly believe that learning, at all ages, should be engaging and where possible full of personal stories. Outside of classrooms and working hours I am a sports enthusiast and outdoorsman.