Pilgrim trip to Rome in ruins

AN OLDHAM tour operator has gone into administration — leaving organisers of a pilgrimage to Rome forced to cancel their £200,000 trip.

Magnum Holidays, based at Chadderton’s Whitegate Business Park in Jardine Way, has closed with administrators the Tenon Group making all six full-time staff redundant.

The pilgrimage to the Eternal City was organised to mark the centenary of the Catenian Association, an international brotherhood of practising Catholic laymen, and had been planned for almost two years.

But it was cancelled just four days before almost 200 people had been due to depart when Magnum fell into financial difficulties.

Owner Gary Boland confirmed to the Chronicle that the business is in administration but was unwilling to discuss the reasons or comment further.

He told the Catholic Herald newspaper that he was “extremely sorry” for letting the Catenians down.

He said: “I am not far short of devastated at having let them down. I can assure you that I did absolutely everything in my power to avoid what happened.”

Mr Boland reportedly said the company, like the rest of the travel industry, had been badly affected by high fuel prices and a weak pound.

The week-long pilgrimage was to include a general audience with the Pope and a gala dinner at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence.

It had been organised by Peter and Christine Smith, from Stockport, who have arranged the Catenian trips to Rome every two years since the early 1990s.

Mr Smith said: “We feel very sorry for the people who were so much looking forward to it.”

The Catenians had been assured they will get their money back either through credit card companies or through the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL).

• If you've been let down by Magnum Holidays we may be able to help by putting you in touch with one of the Oldham Chronicle's Reader Travel partners. Mistral European Holidays (fully bonded members of ABTA and ATOL) are currently offering holidays to Rome, Amalfi, Sorrento, the Cinque Terre & Tuscany and Lake Garda and may be able to help to rearrange your holiday for you or your group once refunds are settled. Call Oldham Chronicle Reader Travel on 0161-622 2130 for Mistral's contact details.