Friends spring trip surprise on Linda

SURPRISE ... Linda Hilton, centre, is given a delightful shock as her colleagues appear from nowhere before setting off on a Chronicle coach trip to celebrate her 60th birthday.

A 60th Birthday surprise saw a group of friends commandeer a Chronicle trip for a wonderful day out.

Linda Hilton, from Chadderton, has previously been the architect of many a surprise event — but hadn’t an inkling of the treat colleagues at Oldham’s social services had arranged to celebrate the milestone.

Friend Glenys Marshall teamed up with Chronicle Reader Travel to book a coach on a three-in-one Winter special on Friday.

The group of 15 visited Dobbies Garden Centre in Southport, before enjoying a three-course lunch at the Scarisbrick Hotel and then setting off to Liverpool to explore the shops and ending the day watching the feelgood musical “Buddy”, based on the life and music of Buddy Holly.

Glenys said: “It went really well. The show was good and it was a really good day. Linda really enjoyed it and was very surprised.

“Every time someone has been 60 we have done something and it seemed a really good idea. It was a bit of everything — shopping and a show.

“It was easy to arrange and everyone was very obliging. I would like to thank everyone at the Chronicle Reader Travel for allowing us to do what we did and making it an enjoyable day.”

Linda said: “It was absolutely wonderful. I did not believe they could do something without me knowing. I had no idea whatsoever. I have organised a few surprise trips myself and thought I was one step ahead.

“We have all worked together for a while and get together on Chronicle trips at Christmas. I was all wonderful from start to finish. The show, hotel and meals were all good. I enjoyed it so much.”