DYKES TRAVEL CENTRE was originally established in May 1981 as a member of the Association of British Travel Agents (25845) by Geoff Dykes & Carol Lynch, who a year later was to become Carol Dykes. The original shop was at 96 Church Lane in Harpurhey and was formerly a branch of Freeman Hardy Willis.
Shortly after opening a 'free airport transfer service' was introduced which was operated by a 'PeopleMover' Ford Transit minibus initially driven by Geoff. This much imitated service continued until the late eighties when it was sold on to the then driver, Sylvia, whose business continues to this day.
In 1984 the business was expanded into the neighbouring double-fronted shop at 94 Church Lane which had previously been trading as a second hand furniture shop. This building was originally occupied by one Edgar Eady who traded as a newsagent and who was responsible for the construction of 'Imperial Buildings', as the row of properties is named, back in 1906. The expansion involved the creation of a new central access and consequently the whole shopfront was replaced with aluminium frames, electric roller shutters and illuminated box signs for which a new logo was introduced.
In 1989 further expansion took place following the acquisition of the adjacent butcher's shop at 202 Fernclough Road formerly owned by Ken and Clara Rogerson.
The trading name was abbreviated to DYKES TRAVEL in October 1991 when the business ownership transferred to the Liverpool-based Shirespeed Group.
In January 1994 the business returned to independent ownership as David Edwards, Judith George & Grant Redfern became equal partners with Geoff & Carol Dykes and the partnership name of GJD Travel Associates was introduced, trading as Dykes Travel and Value Travel under a new ABTA number (E1389). This was also the year that IATA and British Rail (ATOC) licences were obtained in order to properly service the growing number of business clients.
In May 1998 the trading name of Peregrination was introduced with the opening of a branch office at 317 London Road, Hazel Grove.
In May 2001 the Hazel Grove office was relocated to 287 London Road - a property we acquired and refurbished with a mezzanine floor and palm tree.
In May 2003, following the departure of Grant Redfern, the partnership name was amended to the sole trading style of Peregrination.
In March 2004 the end property, at 200 Fernclough Road (formerly a launderette), was acquired by Geoff & Carol Dykes to complete their ownership of half of the Imperial Buildings row and ultimately to provide a home for their daughter, Stacy.
May 1, 2005 saw the introduction of revised opening hours and in a radical departure from tradition the business stopped trading on Saturdays.
During 2006/7 the whole of the property underwent major external renovation to bring it in line with the other major improvements in the area including the new market, North City Centre shopping and leisure complex, the police station and the new MANCAT sixth form college/library facility.
On October 31, 2007, following their divorce earlier that year, Geoff & Carol sold their shares in the business to the remaining partners, David Edwards and Judith George who chose to consolidate the business to the Hazel Grove location and thus the Harpurhey office was closed on Friday, November 30, 2007 marking the end of 26 and a half years serving the people of north Manchester.
Geoff was retained as a consultant to Peregrination for six months and subsequently chose to relaunch the Dykes Travel brand as a website whilst Carol remained employed in her administration role with Peregrination until August 2009.
April 1, 2008 saw Geoff establish a small office at Harpurhey but by the end of November that year he decided to hang up his travel shoes for good.