The model in the Abbey Gardens had its annual spring-clean by four of the town’s tour guides (Melanie Mills, Caroline Holt, John Saunders and Stephen Moody) prior to the opening of their new season of daily tours. As John explained, “The model is a great attraction for visitors and helps to illustrate how the splendid the Abbey would have appeared before its dissolution in 1539.” The guided tours of the town and Abbey take place at 11 am each day and are a great way of learning more and being entertained.

Although the tour guides did not win the recent VisitEngland Tourism Superstars award, they were delighted to be among the top ten finalists and are grateful to everyone who voted for them. That success has coincided with a record 828 bookings for their ghostly and macabre tours which concluded in March.

The guides are also very active in providing their Masters of the Air tours – demand has proved so great that they have put on extra tours. John Saunders explained, “The televised series has whetted the appetite of people who want to find out how Bury was affected during World War II. Our tour shows the changed use of buildings, how the American ‘friendly invasion’ was handled and describes the views of personalities. There is also a chance to visit the only surviving Operations Room at the Guildhall where the movements of planes were secretly plotted.” One of the extra dates coincides with Father’s Day, making this or other tours an ideal family present.

All the information for bookings is at www.burystedmundstourguides.org