SUBMITTED PHOTO/Clarendon Citizen - Members of the Tour are front row Mick (bus driver), Ann Alderman, Devon Duval, Maree Rogers, Lib Tiller, Melanie Nexsen, Pat Wiliamson (tour leader) and Peter Dundon (tour guide); second row Carolyn Smith, Sara Stasiukaitis, Sandra Coker, Nell Black and Jenny Lynn Preacher; third row Mark Smith, C.E. Coker, Jim Black and Dickey Preacher; fourth row Alice Frazier, Mary Jo Hamlin, Betty Coffey and Beezie Jarrett; fifth row Bill Frazier, Darrel McClung, Billy Coffey and Billy Jarrett.
A popular 2008 film, “The Bucket List,” describes the shenanigans of two terminally ill men who escape a cancer ward to head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.
For Manning businessman Jim Black, seeing the lands of his ancestry was a “bucket list” item, and he is in great health, in case you were wondering.
Under the well-seasoned traveling wing of Pat Tour operator, Pat Williamson, 23 South Carolina residents recently traveled to England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland for a 10-day whirlwind tour of “ye olde sod.”
“It was all just wonderful,” said Nell Black. “I was able to travel with old friends and make some new friends. It was just a great group that just gelled together.”
One of the unique highlights of the trip was the attendance of the group at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.
“Our own Citadel Regimental Band and Bagpipes had been invited to perform along with units from across the globe,” explained Williamson. “The Charleston military school got rounds of applause from their South Carolina audience when they played ‘When the Saints Go Marchin’ In’ and ‘Hey Girl, along with bands from Poland, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland and Australia.”
Appearance at the Royal Tattoo is by invitation only and the last time the Citadel appeared was in 1991.
“With Billy and our two sons being Citadel graduates, that event was really special for us,” said Betty Coffey, who took the tour along with her husband, Billy. “There were people there from all over the world. To be South Carolinians and be there was an awesome experience.”
The tour also included stops at Stonehenge, the ancient city of Bath, the beautiful walled city of York, the thoroughbred area of Kildare, Ireland, several castles and the birthplace of Shakespeare. The group traveled on a ferry from Wales to Ireland across the Irish Sea to Waterford, Ireland and on a ferry from Belfast to Scotland during their trip.
“I think the most beautiful part of the trip was seeing the countryside of Ireland, Scotland and Wales,” added Black. “It looked like what I imagine heaven looking like.”
“Our group returned to South Carolina weary and tired but overwhelmed at all they had experienced and seen during the trip,” Williamson said. “They all were extremely proud to have gotten the opportunity to support The Citadel on their trip.”
