The world’s longest summer job – It lasted 45 years

"We will miss you at the embassy," said Vivien Life, British ambassador to Jette Ward with Gary Robson Regional Manager Nordic & Russia, VisitBritain.

Jette Ward started in 1971 at a summer job in British Tourist Authority in Copenhagen. She was stuck and became in 1985 not only tourism manager for British Tourist Authority, which changed its name to VisitBritain.

Stig Sommerfeldt Kaspersen, Chairman of ANTOR Denmark and Portugal's tourism chief in Denmark with Niels Francke, outgoing PR Manager for VisitBritain in Denmark and Mogens Christensen, product manager, FDM Travel.
Stig Sommerfeldt Kaspersen, Chairman of ANTOR Denmark and Portugal’s tourism chief in Denmark with Niels Francke, outgoing PR Manager for VisitBritain in Denmark and Mogens Christensen, product manager, FDM Travel.

She also in 1999 got the prestigious British order, MBE, Member of the Order of the British Empire, and became the longest-serving head of any VisitBritain office.
Now it is all over.

Two competitors had found together, Heidi Maak, Managing Director, Vitus and Mikkel Blom, Managing Director, Kulturrejser Europa.
Two competitors had found together, Heidi Maak, Managing Director, Vitus and Mikkel Blom, Managing Director, Kulturrejser Europa.

VisitBritain has decided that all activities should gather in Stockholm, so not only Jette Ward was fired, but also PR Manager Niels Francke was fired.

After 45 years Jette Ward was hailed at the British Embassy in Copenhagen with a farewell reception.

Annette Paludan, Assistant Manager, BCD meetings & events, Eigil Frost, Managing Director and owner, euro tourist, Aalborg and Susanne Bøgvad Aubertin, Manager, Travel's Easy.
Annette Paludan, Assistant Manager, BCD meetings & events, Eigil Frost, Managing Director and owner, euro tourist, Aalborg and Susanne Bøgvad Aubertin, Manager, Travel’s Easy.

“The closing of our office in Copenhagen is not my decision. Now I will enjoy my summer vacation. So, I hope that some can use me within the hotel or travel industry. It needs not to be a full-time or highly paid job,” says Jette Ward, 66, to TTO Scandinavia.
“45 years has to be the longest job as a summer assistant in VisitBritain’s history and Jette Ward has been a unique ambassador for Britain,” said the Nordic boss Gary Robson in his farewell speech to Jette Ward.

“Denmark is a very important market for Britain. In 2015 there were 765,000 Danish arrivals to the UK. An increase of 14 per cent. compared to 2014.”

 

 

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