Last updated at 17:25, Wednesday, 10 March 2010

THE organiser of a mystery tour to Barrow has given Furness a big thumbs-up.

Christine Rose, a manager at a travel company in Staffordshire, organised a tour which brought a coach of 42 people to Barrow. The group spent a Saturday afternoon touring the sights before going on to spend a night in Bowness.

They were met in Barrow by John Murphy, who guides parties around Furness under the ‘Murphy’s Miles’ banner.

Ms Rose, who works for Robin Hood Travel Ltd in Leek, said: “Our group had a fabulous mystery weekend, quite unexpected.

“As we pulled into Barrow Station and I saw all the graffiti on the walls, I did wonder what I had done in arranging a trip here!

“John Murphy was waiting for us, eagerly welcomed us and much to everyone’s amusement told them their final destination in the Lakes. Good job we had already done our “guess the destination” quiz for a huge cash prize of £20.”

She said the group were served lovely refreshments in the Duke of Edinburgh by very friendly staff before heading to Furness Abbey, and then to Roa island – where they visited the lifeboat station.

Then it was over the bridge to Walney Island, home to Mr Murphy.

Mrs Rose said: “John appears to have done everything on, over and under that bridge – he just loves it.

“A very slow drive along the coast road followed a pony trek, then it was back to Barrow for a tour of the Town Hall – a lovely building – and to purchase Saturday’s Evening Mail so they all knew what they were doing on Sunday – the mystery had by now gone out of the window!”

“The Dock Museum was a really interesting museum and it was free.”

Ms Rose added: “John really did give us a great tour of your town, he has so much enthusiasm and is quite a character and ambassador.

“We came away with the impression that Barrow could have a really good future if all the plans become firm.

“I do hope that I will soon be repeating the tour.”

First published at 13:13, Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk