Tower and Town, August 2026 (view the full edition)Footsteps To Marlborough: Elaine FerryElaine Ferry, Director of Elaine’s Travel Co, answers some questions from Matt Gow I was born in Marlborough at Savernake Hospital and spent the first 22 years of my life in Burbage before settling in Marlborough and Manton with my husband. I had a wonderful family life growing up in the small village of Burbage with my mum, dad, and sister. I attended Burbage Primary school, a lovely village school. Our family became involved in school fetes and village life - I even played guitar in Burbage church. Then came Pewsey Vale School, where I excelled in tennis and badminton, and was proud to become head prefect. At an early age, our parents gave us a choice: have pets or enjoy holidays abroad. It did not take us long to decide! We were among the first of our friends to experience travel to places such as Florida and Spain, sparking my lifelong passion for travel. I have always had a strong work ethic and got my first job at the age of 14 in the local Spar shop. I soon began travelling abroad, where my real passion for travel first began. In 1986, I started an apprenticeship with Lunn Poly before moving to an independent travel agency while studying for my tourism exams. In 1988, I was proud to be awarded Student of the Year in Tourism before eventually setting up my own company. I recall the days before computers, when all we needed was a telephone and a notepad - how times have changed! I have since travelled to every continent, including Antarctica, and most recently Uganda, where I fulfilled a lifelong dream of seeing gorillas up close. Antarctica and Uganda had always been on my bucket list. My second passion is sport. I played County League tennis and badminton, competing in ladies’ and mixed teams for over 25 years. Recently, football has become a big interest, and I now share my husband’s passion for Coventry City. We are proud season ticket holders and were thrilled to see them recently win the league. The travel industry has shaped my life and allowed me to experience many wonderful places, but I always love returning to Marlborough and driving down our High Street. As I often work abroad, returning home is even more special. We always say, "Marlborough is like being on holiday”. When I say that I’m from Marlborough, people often tell me how much they enjoy visiting. Many see it as the perfect stop when travelling to Bristol, London, or the South Coast, highlighting just how well-regarded Marlborough is. Travelling the world and living in the best part of the UK - what more could a girl want? I seem to have become Marlborough’s unofficial tourist information bureau, as everyone sends people to me with questions - "Elaine will know, go and ask her!" - and honestly, I love it! Matt Gow |