Head seeks legal advice after ski trip cancelled

A HEADTEACHER who cancelled a skiing trip for more than 100 pupils due to safety fears is today seeking legal advice regarding the tour operator.

Tavistock College’s head Helen Salmon said she abandoned the Swiss break because of uncertainty from organisers Skiing Europe that a hotel was booked.

Skiing Europe’s Chris Reynard, listed as a director on company records, has denied the allegation, and claimed a hotel was ready and waiting for the children.

Disappointed parents and pupils from Tavistock spoke of their anger that their skiing trip was scrapped at the last minute, after more than a year of planning and saving.

The 112 youngsters and 17 staff due to take the half-term holiday were informed of the cancellation on Friday afternoon – shortly before coaches were due to leave.

It had cost around £800 per pupil, plus equipment costs.

Mrs Salmon said parents will be refunded through insurance.

She said: “I will be talking to Devon County Council’s legal department on Monday to see what our options are.

“Parents will expect me to take the strongest action I can.

“I’m desperately sorry for the parents and children. But we had to make the decision to cancel because we believed there was no accommodation booked at the other end, even though we had paid for it.

“It was a very difficult decision and, in terms of safety, we were certain it was the right one.”

She said staff had tried “all morning” on Friday to rescue the trip, by calling Colyton-based Skiing Europe and representatives in the resort of Interlaken. She said she made the final decision after continued uncertainty from the company, and Mr Reynard, about where travellers would stay.

Mandy Govier, the school’s chair of governors, said her own daughter Alice had been due to celebrate her 16th birthday on the holiday.

Mrs Govier said: “We couldn’t take the risk after questions were raised about accommodation. We just weren’t prepared to take a gamble on children’s safety.

“The children were bitterly disappointed and it was very difficult. There were some students whose parents had already left for holidays elsewhere. They are all staying with other families or friends.”

Mum Gill Northey said the trip had been a Christmas present for her 13-year-old son, David Northey.

Gill said: “All the children are devastated. There had been a huge build-up to the holiday. To be told five or 10 minutes before you jumped on the coach was a shock.”

Davina Ludwig’s 15-year-old son Freddy also missed out on the trip.

She said: “The school are doing all they can to help us with it.

“It’s very disappointing, sad for the children and staff, but hopefully we will get to the bottom of what has happened.”

The students, from Years 9 upwards, were due to take coaches to Dover and then a ferry to the continent.

A Skiing Europe spokesman said: “We are extremely sorry for the children’s disappointment, but would like to state that we did not cancel the trip.

“There was a hotel and the hotel was ready.

“Because the school is taking legal advice, we feel we cannot comment further.”