As we see two coach operators go into administration my hopes for optimism are a bit scuppered at the moment. So today a bit of realism. I am fully convinced that no major battlefield tour operator will be touring this year. Some of the smaller ones who operate may

...have the ability to do so but this will be reliant on quarantine and social distance issues. And if they manage to get overseas where do clients then stay and where do they eat. Will coy & client insurance even cover them. 2/

There has been a recent spate of "when lockdown ends I'm off to X Y Z" for the sole traveller and those who regard going to the battlefields as a break I think there is every chance of getting out there. However, for those of us that rely on this industry as the main part or 3/

...sole income it will be struggle. Returning to the big tour operators in this industry the hurdles they will have to leap will be huge. How do you social distance on a coach? Sure you can limit passenger numbers on coaches or even lay on two coaches but, this in turn, 4/

...will raise the cost of a tour per head. Once on tour how do you implement and retain those social distancing rules. With @MatMcLachlan we sometimes use a larger coach with fewer passengers - maybe this is the way forward. Ins Coys no doubt will raise costs and implement 5/

...greater restrictions. For those with enough cash to afford these sorts of trips and can cover the cost - I hope they will still keep comjng but there will be many who look upon this as a luxury that has to be withdrawn. Schools IMHO will be the last to return and this..6/

is for the simple reason of how you social distance 40 kids on a 48 seater coach or get them all fed, lodge (which is usually in dorms 4/5 bunk rooms). So how does that affect us as guides. Certainly when restrictions end it is going to, I think, be a more competitve market 7/

With fewer tours going out work could become restrictive. For those that guide/tour manage on our own it is going to make our job far more difficult. For sure I think those guides we see as a community who are consistently on the battlefield with established reputations 8/

Such as @MatMcLachlan guides @LegerBattleTour guides @bhltours guides and the likes of individual guides and companies such as @TGTandV @itfbattlefield @FlandersBTour (apologies for anyone missed out the list is long) will retain their guides - but doubt will look to recruit 9/

new guides. It is, at the moment, a worrying & sorry picture for our industry. I think the various innovations re historical podcasts/book writing, twitter threads are brilliant. However, that in my view, is the reality for this year at least & maybe well into next. 10/

I hope I am wrong or that I had a magic wand. Hoping you all stay safe and well - am now off for a long run in the hope I don't get blown away - End