Reuben’s Retreat restarts works and takes on Dolly


Juliet Dennis


Reuben’s Retreat has restarted building work on its latest renovations – and taken on a lovable new recruit. Construction of a hydrotherapy


pool, sensory room, movie room and messy play room was halted last March due to the pandemic and delays to the delivery of materials. Charity founder Nicola Graham,


a former travel industry professional, is hopeful work will be completed by April at the retreat, which is based at the site of a former hospital in Glossop, near Manchester. The work will create a sensory


room, play room, kitchenette and an office in its new wing for families of children with life-limiting illnesses or life-threatening conditions, while the pool will provide therapy and allow children time with their families to boost their confidence and closeness. The construction comprises


phases four to six of the retreat’s planned developments and is costing around £1 million. To further help families, the


charity recently took on Dolly, a cavapoo puppy, as a therapy dog. Dolly has now started training


to provide multisensory stimulation with auditory, visual and tactile


Nicola Graham shows off new recruit Dolly


experiences, help reduce stress levels and provide special memories. Nicola said: “Dolly wasted no


time in getting involved and after lots of puppy socialisation and with four training sessions under her paws she’s already entertained some of the children, enjoyed carols in the park and attended a dove release for bereaved families on Christmas Day.” The charity decided to acquire


Dolly after being told about puppies for sale via a friend while Reuben’s dad and charity trustee Mike was running the virtual London Marathon in October last year. “By the time Mike finished


Jet2holidays recruits Wilson and Thake for regional sales roles


Jet2holidays has hired two trade sales executives. Sharon Wilson (pictured, left), who was an agent before a 25-year spell at Royal Caribbean, will cover Scotland and Cumbria. Michelle Thake (right), formerly of G Adventures, Travel Counsellors, Going Places, Hays Travel and Thomas Cook, will look after the southeast.


8 11 FEBRUARY 2021


his marathon, I had spoken to the breeder, she had sent a video through…it was love at first sight!” recalled Nicola, who said the number 23 on the breeder’s T-shirt was a sign Dolly was right for the charity. The number 23 holds special significance for the charity in memory of Nicola and Mike’s son Reuben, who was 23 months old when he died in 2012. The charity is now looking to


raise money for the final four phases of renovations. Estimated to cost £2.3 million, they include tea rooms,


family apartments and landscaping. i To donate to Reuben’s Retreat, visit: bit.ly/ReubensRetreat


Ireland vows to clamp down on ‘Dublin dodge’ passengers


Ireland’s foreign affairs minister vowed to stop Britons “abusing” the Common Travel Area to avoid UK quarantine rules. Reports cited a rise in passengers flying into Dublin since the UK banned flights from the UAE, in what has been dubbed the ‘Dublin dodge’. Simon Coveney said: “If it’s been abused,we’ll close that door”.


Kemp Little’s travel and aviation legal team taken over by Deloitte


The travel and aviation team at law firm Kemp Little, led by partner Farina Azam (pictured), is joining Deloitte as part of a wider deal that will see 80 lawyers move to the firm. A total of 114 Kemp Little employees will join Deloitte Legal, including 29 partners – doubling its UK lawyer headcount to more than 170.


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MSC and Fred Olsen reveal fresh postponements


MSC Cruises hopes to resume sailings in Greece by Easter but has postponed the return of MSC Magnifica. Magnifica was due to sail again


on February 14, on a Greece- bound itinerary, but MSC has now postponed its eastern Mediterranean voyages until April 29. MSC has operated some ex-Italy


cruises since August 2020, with a short break in sailings over the Christmas period. Flagship MSC Grandiosa returned on January 25 and is currently operating western Mediterranean itineraries. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines,


meanwhile, has extended its pause in operations until the end of June. The line had been due to resume


cruises on May 22 but has cancelled 14 more sailings “in light of the current restrictions in England as a result of the pandemic”. Managing director Peter Deer


said: “This extra time allows us the opportunity to fully understand how the rollout in the vaccine affects the procedures we operate.”


MSC Magnifica


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