St Albans businessman Stuart Harding retired today, handing over the business to son Simon. Anne Main MP was there to help celebrate, and she spent an hour talking to Theatre Breaks' staff before formally passing over the keys.
Stuart Harding, now 70, set up the company in 1980 aged 42 - Simon's age now, having joined at when he was 18. Previously working with the then British Rail, this was the first time that entertainment, travel and independent business had combined to promote itself with a one-stop shop. This was soon followed by the addition of hotel packages and later, meals and attractions. The company has since employed over 200 local people.
And local MP Anne Main visited his office today to wish him well and thank him for his role in the local community over the years. He will, of course, continue to keep in touch with the company and theatre in general, in his capacity as a singer, actor and musical director.
Stuart knows that the company is in the very safest hands, as Simon has been responsible for many very significant developments in the company especially the website, which now generates the vast proportion of the expanding theatre break bookings. Theatre Breaks Ltd and www.theatrebreaks.com are very much Simon's brainchild.
With the company now offering meal deals - great for locals who don't need to stay in London overnight - Theatre Breaks Ltd can look forward to a very bright future. Simon has already picked up the baton and is most definitely running with it - in fact he's doing the London Triathlon in August!
