On Tuesday 4th June at 08:00, 25 D-Day veterans departed by ferry from P J Hayman’s closest city – Portsmouth – to France alongside a flotilla of vintage warships. These included Royal Navy patrol boats and WWII-era motor gunboat 81. Together, they set off to attend commemorations in Normandy with a commemorative torch for a vigil at Bayeux (on Wednesday).
By 16:00 that afternoon, more veterans graced the waves from Portsmouth to Normandy to mark the 80th Anniversary of D-Day that week. Like many trips to Northern Europe, The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans assisted this group of veterans. Plus, a specialist Free Spirit travel insurance policy (one of our flagship products).
The Free Spirit policy covered 67 people, including the veterans (three over 100 and several that will be 100 by the end of 2024). Plus, their taxi drivers, careers, and medical professionals.
Some may say that it’ll be the last time WWII veterans will embark on a trip of this scale to honour the fallen. However, at P J Hayman we believe that whatever your age, medical condition or disability travel can transport us away to special places with friends and family – whatever the occasion may be.
Below is a Trustpilot review from one of the organisers from The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, Richard Goodwin.
A quote from our Customer Sales Assistant Jan:
‘I’m sure that attending the commemorations for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day is going to be a very difficult and proud trip for these brave men and women. Mary and I accompanied this group there, back in 2017 (there were over 300 at that time) and I know it pulled at our heartstrings then’.
P J Hayman supports veteran’s charities
P J Hayman is not only a specialist travel insurance provider. It has always supported small and local UK charities such as The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans because P J Hayman is passionate about helping veterans.
The most recent charity event in aid of the Armed Forces Charity (SSAFA) that P J Hayman sponsored was Southwick Revival ‘Spirit of D-Day’ .
If you require a specialist travel insurance policy or are passionate about a charity that has made a difference to you or to someone you know, contact our friendly team.
How has P J Hayman assisted veterans before?
WWII veterans in the UK often attend trips and events to catch up with comrades at concerts, fundraising events and commemoration ceremonies across the UK, Holland, Belgium, and France. To assist them on their way, they receive help from The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.
The Liberation of Arnhem in the Netherlands
One commemoration ceremony held each year (since 1945) is the Liberation of Arnhem in the Netherlands. From September 17th– 26th, the people of Arnhem commemorate the allied Polish and British soldiers who fell during the Battle of Arnhem. Together, on the Friday of that week, they meet at the foot of John Frost Bridge.
In 2015, 120 veterans wished to travel from London to the Netherlands, for the 70th commemoration ceremony. They also needed travel insurance, which P J Hayman was happy to provide.
The problem was it would be a challenge to provide the WWII veterans with a “one size fits all” standard policy because 100 of them were over 90 (one was 97) and each had varying medical conditions.
Therefore, our team stepped outside of the usual medical screening ‘box’ to provide the Taxi Charity with a tailor-made policy. The policy included blanket cover for the medical risks of the travelling group, from London to Arnhem and back again.
Taking an innovative approach to travel insurance, ensured all the veteran’s committee members, carers, drivers, medical support team members, and guests, were able to attend the historical observance.
P J Hayman’s Customer Service Manager Mary explained: “It would have been an impossible task to medically screen each person. Providing insurance wasn’t just about ages and medical risks. It was about giving the veterans the peace of mind, that should something happen to them on their trip, they would be covered.”
A remembrance service at the Pegasus Bridge Museum Normandy
In 2017, our Free Spirit Policy provided specialist cover for the charity’s trip to Normandy once again. This time, 306 veterans’ committee members, carers, drivers, medical support team members, and guests attended a remembrance service, which was held at the Pegasus Bridge Museum. The trip also included visits to Bayeux and the beach at Arromanches. A couple of the members from our customer service team also joined them.
Trips to Northwest Europe
The charity continues to organise trips to northwest Europe with a specialist Free Spirit travel insurance policy to cover everyone who can make the trip.
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