I WAS going on holiday on December 22 to Interlaken Switzerland with a group of friends, three of whom use wheelchairs.

Dolphin Coaches has a specially adapted coach with a lift enabling people who use wheelchairs to enjoy the holiday.

I visited my mother in her care home (she was 100 earlier last year); she was cheerful and wished me a lovely holiday.

A taxi picked me up early Saturday and I joined the coach at Christchurch and met my friends on the coach. There were 17 of us.

Unknown to me, my mother had developed pneumonia and was rushed into Bournemouth Hospital.

I am very fortunate to have a daughter and twin sons, along with their partners, who all continually visited my mother.

My mother had told my family not to contact me as she wanted me to enjoy my holiday.

During Christmas Eve even my grandchildren, some with their partners, went to see my mother.

Unfortunately, she took a turn for the worse and my daughter phoned Sheralyn (of Dolphin Coaches Holidays) to tell her the news, but not to tell me.

Later that evening my daughter phoned me, very upset to tell me mother was seriously ill. Early Christmas Day one of my sons phoned and said I should come home immediately.

Here I was in Interlaken on Christmas Day, now trying to think how quickly I could get back to Bournemouth Hospital.

In stepped Sheralyn (Dolphin Coaches Holidays). She went to the reception desk at the hotel and asked to use their computer.

It was now 8.30am. She found I could get a BA flight from Geneva to Heathrow, leaving Geneva at 2.15pm. We booked this with the help of my little ‘plastic’ friend.

How was I to get to Geneva? Once again Sheralyn went on-line and found a train leaving Berne at 11.10am. Christmas Day, very little chance of a taxi – no bother, she said. They were going on a sightseeing tour that morning, instead they would do a slight detour to take me, along with the rest of the party, to Berne where I could catch the 11.10am train.

When we arrived at the railway station Sheralyn came with me. I purchased my ticket and she waited until the train arrived. I arrived at Geneva airport a little time before my flight to Heathrow.

When I arrived at Heathrow Sheralyn had arranged for Aerial Taxis of Parkstone to have a driver meet me, holding a card with my name on it. A very friendly driver drove me to Bournemouth Hospital arriving at 4.30pm, only to be met by all my family sadly having to tell me my mother had passed away at 9am that morning.

I am writing to say how wonderful Sheralyn and her husband Terry, who drove the coach, were. They made no fuss about doing a detour so that I could catch the train.

Also to all my friends on the coach, especially my friend Inge, who gave me virtually all her holiday money, in case I needed emergency money.

MRS LOUISE KENDALL, Address Supplied, Poole