Last October, Adrian Ridley-Jones started our tour at dawn in a small coffee shop, complete with maps and pictures, and set the stage for the day to come. Our party consisted of 3 family members, and I had doubts we’d make a full day. I have a moderate understanding, our daughter, who was referred to Adrian Ridley-Jones, has an extensive historical and military background, and my wife, an Interior Designer whose father was decorated for service in WWII. We represented both ends and the middle of the Bell Curve when it came to WWII historical knowledge. We began our trek in a cattle pasture above Omaha Beach, with a grand view backed by clouds still tinted by the morning, so perfect I could hear Charles Trenet singing, “La Mer,” and envision God’s sheep herded down the patches of blue . . . but it was the war’s scars hidden in the grasses that caught our focus. Trenches and concrete structures so well constructed, other than being overgrown, they looked almost new. Then working down the long sweep of sand and hill, our guide outlines the insidious design of the German defenses in terms that kept my wife engaged yet my daughter was still able to find details she needed. Our day continued on a rapid course, seeing as much as we could, trying to cram everything into our memories, all the while maintaining a structural understanding of the event my wife was able to appreciate and understand. Lunch, by choice, was brief and in a building still hiding an old radio shack. By this time, all of us realized one day would not be enough to satisfy us. I would think 3 to 5 days might be a good place to start, and maybe go back as needed. We had requested special focus on our friend, and my wife’s pediatrician, Doctor Dan Mcilvoy, a surgeon dropped near there on D-Day, and we could have spent a day or two on just that. As the sun was setting, we returned to the small town where our car was parked, still packing away new information. Adrian Ridley-Jones is a treasure house of information, facts and trivia I think you would find difficult to beat. All three of us highly recommend his services.

My wife and I visited the Normandy Battlefields during September of 2014. We had never been to this part of France. We wanted to learn more about the history of D-Day, because we had family members who fought in WWII. Adrian Ridley-Jones crafted an itinerary for the days we requested and then far exceeded our expectations guiding us through the area. We learned much more from him than from Guide and History Books. Adrian was extremely accommodating, friendly and informative. We highly recommend him as a Tour Guide. Bob M.