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Never-ending love affair with France
Hamiltons will be exhibiting at the French Property Exhibition at London’s Olympia from 5th-7th October 2012. “The British love affair with living in France shows no sign of cooling,” says managing director Michael Sawyer.
“When we took a stand at the previous exhibition in Yorkshire we talked to many people whose life-long ambition was to start a new life in France, retire there or have a second home.”
They included Angela and Chris Webb, who had holidayed for many years in Brittany when their children were small. Angela had taken early retirement from her job as a primary school teacher and they were looking to relocate.
“Moving at any time is stressful,” says Angela. “You lie awake at night and think through all the things that could go wrong – but nothing did! Hamiltons gave us an estimate really quickly, and there were no hidden extras. The staff were consistently helpful, even when the temperature during the actual move was 30 degrees. They not only carried in all the furniture, but offered to set up the rooms exactly as I wanted. All I did was make them cups of tea throughout the day!”
Hamiltons provide a weekly service to France, and the company has been able to turn this into two-way traffic. “We are increasingly providing a removal service to individuals or businesses relocating back to the UK, or French nationals moving here. This means that our removals vehicles are coming back fully loaded, and we can pass on these economies to our customers.”
With the strength of the pound at a two year high against the euro, organisers Archant Lifestyle are expecting over 3,000 visitors to the exhibition, 80% of whom are actively looking to buy in France.
Hamiltons’ French team of experts will be on hand to provide advice on everything from customs regulations to insurance requirements, setting up a business or schooling. “We can – and do – move anything,” says Michael. “We even moved an entire farm from England to the Dordogne – including the livestock.”
See our free guide to relocating in France.
A Night on the Tires
As the sun rose over Dunwich, on the Suffolk coast, on Sunday 1st July, Hamiltons were poised waiting – for 1,500 cyclists who had ridden 120 miles overnight from London. They had left Hackney by moonlight the night before to arrive from 5am onwards for breakfast on the beach and a swim in the sea.
This was the eleventh year that Hamiltons have transported the bikes back from the Dunwich Dynamo cycle run. “We support the ride every year because it is so rewarding to help these cyclists who have made the effort to cycle through the night,” says Hamiltons’ managing director Michael Sawyer, who personally oversaw the transportation.
“We have a special technique for packing the bikes. The first row goes in forwards, the next with their handlebars in the opposite direction. Then they are wrapped in cardboard, before the next row is loaded. These bikes are of immense value, in price and to their owners, and as with every job we undertake, we ensure that they are packed effectively.”
The transportation of cyclists and cycles is arranged by Southwark Cyclists. “Most of us are regular, low tech commuters with a taste for adventure,” says organiser Alex Crawford. “Many people say that doing this ride has changed their lives.”