S1E19: Don't just book it, Thomas Cook it Artwork

100 Years of Cox

I am telling the story of ten siblings from the Machell Cox family, through the letters they wrote to each other. They were born in England between 1868 and 1884; seven of them lived in England and three lived abroad, in the Colonies. One of the siblings was my great grandfather.

All Episodes

100 Years of Cox

S1E19: Don't just book it, Thomas Cook it

October 09, 2020 • Frances • Season 1 • Episode 19

Send us a text

Frances reads Neville's second letter, from October 1907, describing his travels through Switzerland, as well as Lake Como, Milan, Venice, Rome, Naples and Pompeii in Italy.

It rains all the time, some towns are decidedly smelly and Neville tells us about his train journeys and how much his hotels cost.

Neville went on two Thomas Cook tours, in Venice and Pompeii, giving a fascinating insight into early tourism.
If you have never heard this slogan before - Don’t just book it, Thomas Cook it - it was a well known catchphrase for Cook's in the 1980s and 90s.

Intro - 00:00
Neville's second letter, 24 October - 2:15
Notes on Neville's letter - 28:29

You can contact Frances by email - machellcoxletters@gmail.com
or X/Twitter - @CoxLetters
or Blue Sky - @Coxletters.bsky.social

All content is subject to copyright and belongs to Frances Thompson and the Bodleian Library.