Antrobus led a management buyout of the Surrey-based agency in 2015 after working under Brownrigg and his wife Di for seven years. The same year, she stepped up from being an Aito Specialist Agents panellist to chair the group with Brownrigg’s backing, himself a previous chair. Antrobus still holds the post more than nine years later.
She told TTG: “Andrew had stepped down as Aito chair by the time I joined the business. But when an Aito panel position came up, he encouraged me to go for it. He still loved to hear what was happening in meetings.
“Andrew also explained how to run Haslemere Travel and be Aito chair. I did not go into the role blind. It was the one thing he was always very honest about. He would say, ‘sometimes you have to put Haslemere first’.”
Antrobus said the agency has been rocked by Brownrigg’s passing earlier this month. “We still do the Brownriggs’ travel and they had planned trips into 2024,” explained Antrobus.
When asked about Brownrigg’s involvement once the buyout had been completed, Antrobus said: “He was always interested in hearing how things were going. He championed the independent side of the industry.
“I joined Haslemere Travel in 2008 when Di and him were looking at their exit strategy. They did not want to sell out to a big name that would engulf them. They wanted the business to continue as it had done.”
Antrobus said the agency still follows the mantras Brownrigg would repeat when he was running the business.
“One of the things that I learned from Andrew was the experiences we have as agents are why customers come to us,” she said.
“Today, we still spend a lot of money on sending staff on fam trips and conferences so we can bring that first-hand knowledge to selling. That is one of the things that I have carried on. We need to do that.”
Antrobus described Brownrigg as “a huge champion” of independent tour operators. “He always said that we use tour operators for their core products,” she said.
“Tour operators have evolved over the years to do different destinations, but when you’re choosing between X or Y tour operator, you’re choosing their speciality. That was something that Andrew was hot on.”
She highlighted how relationships with Lusso Travel, Abercrombie & Kent and Kirker Holidays started when Brownrigg owned the agency and have continued throughout Antrobus’ time at the helm.
Antrobus first met Brownrigg at home with Di when she was on maternity leave and worked in the hotel sector. At the time, she was considering a move into selling travel.
“I just remember thinking that I did not know this side of the industry, but they were super confident that everything was achievable,” she added. “Andrew was very confident I would learn this side of travel.”
Antrobus explained that Brownrigg never had “a cross word to say about anyone”, even during stressful periods such as 9/11 or the 2010 Icelandic ash cloud.
“He would always look for the positive outcome even when we had challenges,” she continued. “Nothing was ever unsolvable. He was just such a positive person. It was always all hands to the pump.”
Antrobus concluded that Brownrigg was “super generous” with his time and money. “Most of our customers would receive flowers and wine when they got home from holiday,” she said.
“We would also send our suppliers wine. It’s important that we thank our tour operators as well. It’s a two-way street after all. We need to help them and they need to help us.”
Brownrigg’s funeral will be held at St Bartholomew’s Church, Haslemere, at 2pm on 6 November. All are welcome.
