Meet The Team

Here at Silver Travel Advisor we’re a team of mature travel industry professionals with more years of experience than we care to number! Our backgrounds are diverse, but we are all united by a passion for travel. We live and breathe our ‘Tried. Travelled. Trusted.’ ethos, travelling far and wide to bring back impartial advice and recommendations for our members.

Lisa McAuley

Lisa McAuley

Owner

Penny Worthy

Penny Worthy

Managing Director

Julie Crumpton

Head of Retail

Debbie Marshall

Debbie Marshall

Founder

Jenn Spence

Digital Content Manager

Marie Broadhurst

Marketing Manager

Silver Travel Advisors

Our Silver Travel Advisors take a personal approach to holiday planning. It’s our job to take on the tasks of research, organisation and paperwork leaving you to sit back and look forward to your holiday. We’ll bring together all aspects of your holiday into one easy booking including flights, accommodation, transfers and transport, cruises, tours and even what to see and do in your chosen destination. 

Find out more about the benefits of using a travel agent here.

Call 0800 412 5678 to speak to our advisors and start your journey.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a Silver Travel Advisor, click here.

Julie Crumpton

Head of Retail

Dianne Cox

Silver Travel Advisor

Marie Broadhurst

Silver Travel Advisor

Kerry Lowe

Silver Travel Advisor

Sue Lord

Silver Travel Advisor

Jayne Kerrigan

Silver Travel Advisor

Sophie Cayley

Silver Travel Advisor

Linsay Glaze

Silver Travel Advisor

Christine Rothwell

Silver Travel Advisor

Jack Richardson

Silver Travel Advisor

Toni Marriott

Silver Travel Advisor

Millie Boynton

Silver Travel Advisor

Silver Travel Advisors - Branch Teams

Faye Stringer

Debbie Mitchell

Admin. Assistant (Silver Travel Fulwood)

Silver Travel Contributors

Our team of contributors bring a wealth of travel experiences and adventures to life through their contributions to our website and magazine. Together they have visited an impressive list of countries and are more than happy to share their advice, hints and tips with you so you can read real insight to inspire your travels.

Lynn Scrivener

Lynn Scrivener

Associate

Gill Haynes

Gill Haynes

Associate

Carole Tidball

Carole Tidball

Associate

Cathy Bartrop

Cathy Bartrop

Travel videographer

Alan Fairfax

Alan Fairfax

Cruise specialist

Anna Selby

Anna Selby

Travel writer & journalist

Gillian Thornton

Gillian Thornton

Travel writer

Jane Wilson

Jane Wilson

Editor of the Wellness Traveller

Jeannine Williamson

Jeannine Williamson

Travel writer & cruise specialist

Mike Pickup

Mike Pickup

Journalist & photographer

Steve Aldridge

Steve Aldridge

Travel writer

Petra Shepherd

Petra Shepherd

Travel writer

Lisa McAuley

Lisa McAuley

Owner

Lisa, started her career in the travel industry over 30 years ago having started out as a travel agent at Lunn Poly at the age of 18. Having worked not only in travel retailing but also tour operating in both mass market and niche segments including ski, touring and hotels, in recent years Lisa discovered a love of cruising as the Managing Director of ultra luxury cruise line Silversea and sat on the board of CLIA. Prior to joining Silver Travel Lisa enjoyed the challenge of running the UK’s largest B2B tour operator Gold Medal with its multiple brands, focussing on long haul holidays. Her favourite destinations include the Galapagos, Maldives, Australia and her home patch the Peak District where she can be found combining long walks with even longer lunches in country pubs at weekends! An advocate for woman in business, Lisa was inducted into the Association of Women Travel Executives most influence women in travel in 2019 and is a strong supporter of Everywoman.

Penny Worthy

Penny Worthy

Managing Director

Penny has enjoyed over 35 years working in the travel Industry, starting out as a humble travel agent selling dreams, through to heading up a sales team at Avis Budget group. Penny’s main passion in life is travel. She has been lucky enough to have seen much of the world and is always planning her next adventure. Her favourite trips have been to Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Thailand, the Philippines, the Caribbean, and the Indian Ocean. Penny also loves the fresh air of the ski slopes, as well as waking up every day to a new destination when on a cruise.

Debbie Marshall

Debbie Marshall

Founder

Debbie has over 35 years travel experience including Crystal Holidays and Jetsave (where she was Managing Director until 2001), and from 2004 until 2010 at the helm of the award-winning villa specialist CV Villas and its sister company Ski Verbier. She launched Silver Travel Advisor in 2011 after a dinner conversation with a group of her father’s friends, when she was surprised to discover how much time retired people were spending on holidays; she realised that there was an opportunity to create an information, reviews and advice website especially for them! She is a non-executive director of Real Holidays and Bailey Robinson, and is on the ’60 for 60′ influential women list at the Association of Women Travel Executives. A finalist in the Everywoman Travel Awards, and at the AWTE Business Impact Awards, Debbie is also the Chair for Dementia Adventure, which offers supported holidays for people living with dementia.

Jenn Spence

Digital Content Manager

A Canadian now living in England, Jenn handles all things website and digital for Silver Travel Advisor. Although generally more of an ‘indoor’ person, travel is the exception – she knows she’s had a good holiday when her feet ache from days spent exploring! Her ultimate travel bucket list location is Hobbiton, New Zealand… although she enjoys anywhere with good coffee and no snow.

Marie Broadhurst

Marketing Manager / Silver Travel Advisor

Marie began her career in travel at the age of 17, working for a local travel agency before progressing into management and helping launch a flagship concept store in South Yorkshire.

Her career has since spanned a variety of marketing, events and business development roles, providing a wealth of experience in customer engagement, brand development and communications. During this time, she also successfully ran her own houseplant business and spent several years living in Spain.

Travel has always remained a constant passion, and Marie has now returned to the industry where it all began. As Marketing Manager, she supports the Silver Travel Advisor team across all areas of marketing, helping to connect travellers with inspiring destinations, trusted advice and carefully selected travel experiences.

A keen traveller herself, Marie is happiest exploring coastal destinations, enjoying local cuisine and discovering the culture and character that make each place unique. Italy, Spain and Greece remain firm favourites, but with a passion for history, nature and discovering somewhere new, her travel wish list continues to grow.

Dianne Cox

Silver Travel Advisor

How many years have you worked in travel? I have been in travel for 34 years, having worked in various areas of the industry, including High Street travel agents, specialist companies, and corporate travel customers.

Favourite destination and why? My most memorable visit was Alaska, the scenery and wildlife were amazing, and Glacier Bay was simply stunning. Cruising is also a big part of our lives; being able to visit so many destinations in one trip and the ease of it makes for a holiday we really enjoy.

Where do you want to travel to next? I have so many places yet to see on my bucket list: Australia, South Pacific and New Zealand are definitely at the top of the list followed by the Far East, South Africa with a safari, and Italy’s Amalfi Coast with a trip to Pompeii.

Who’s your ideal travelling companion? My favourite holiday companion is my husband as we both share a passion for travel. We love America and have covered many of the individual states.

What is your travel motto? My motto is ‘life is too short and should be grabbed with both hands and enjoyed’. The world is a small place and is there to be discovered!

Jayne Kerrigan

Silver Travel Advisor

How many years have you worked in travel? Over 35 years! During this time I’ve worked as a travel agent, an overseas holiday rep, and for one of the largest tour operators in the UK. I’ve been lucky to travel to many fabulous countries.

Favourite destination and why? Majorca. I Iived there for several years and fell in love with it. Beautiful beaches, stunning scenery, majestic mountains and fabulous food. What’s not to like!

Where do you want to travel to next? Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia – the list goes on…

Who’s your ideal travelling companion? My hubby – never a dull moment with him. Failing that Dame Joan Collins. She likes to travel in style and I’d love listening to all of her wonderful stories.

What is your travel motto? You’re never too old for new experiences. The world is waiting so go explore!

Linsay Glaze

Silver Travel Advisor

How many years have you worked in travel? 18 months, but I have always helped friends with their choices and bookings previously to working in travel.

Favourite destination and why? Difficult to choose between Spain and Greece! I love the combination of history and natural beauty, not to mention the delicious cuisine, warm hospitality, and amazing sunsets in both countries. I lived in Spain for 3 years in the province of Almeria, which is known as the only desert in Europe.

Where do you want to travel to next?Thailand is definitely on my need-to-visit list.

Who’s your ideal travelling companion? My partner, who has the same travelling passions: trying local cuisine, happy to fly and flop, or being more adventurous with sightseeing.

What is your travel motto? Keep your passport up to date and learn some basic words (particularly ‘please’ and ‘thank you’) in advance of your visit – it goes a long way.

Christine Rothwell

Silver Travel Advisor

How many years have you worked in travel? Prior to joining Silver Travel on 17th March 2025, I worked in Finance. However, I have travelled extensively. Taking redundancy instead of moving for the umpteenth time in 2009 I studied ‘Teaching English as a Foreign Language’ and took a gap year. When my first placement in Madagascar was cancelled due to a civil war, I turned it into a trip around the world and loved every minute. I enjoy the holiday planning process as much as the holiday itself and I’m generally the ‘social secretary’ for family and friends. So, how long have I worked in travel??? Most of my life!!

Favourite destination and why? Every time I go away, I find something special but two stand out. Firstly, South Africa holds a special place in my heart as it was the first stop on my first solo trip. I stayed at an animal rescue centre in the Limpopo region and visited Kruger and other private sanctuaries often. Secondly, it has to be the round the world cruise I took as it gave me the opportunity to visit Easter Island, Komodo Island and meet up with a childhood friend in Australia, all without packing and unpacking at each stop.

Where do you want to travel to next?I’m really excited about my next trip which is a cruise around Iceland and I have another cruise around South America and Antarctica to look forward to.

Who’s your ideal travelling companion? I love discovering places with other people, although I am at heart very independent. Holidays with friends are usually centred around a common interest e.g. a music festival, cultural events or wildlife and whilst we do a lot together, we are never joined at the hip. Group tours are a great way to get that balance and often my choice if none of my friends fancy going where I do.

What is your travel motto? When something good happens, travel to celebrate. If something sad happens, travel to forget. If nothing is happening, travel to change that.

Jack Richardson

Silver Travel Advisor

How many years have you worked in travel? 3

Favourite destination, and why? Mexico, because of its massive resorts, fun excursions and activities and great selection of restaurants and bars.

Where do you want to travel to next? I would like to do a tour of Thailand, experiencing all the different cultures and fascinating landmarks the country has to offer.

Who is your ideal travelling companion? My girlfriend!

What is you travel motto? Always try something new, whether that be a new destination or a new day trip, and always try to make new friends on holiday!

Toni Marriott

Silver Travel Advisor

How many years have you worked in travel? I’ve worked in the travel industry for over five years. I started my travel career as a beauty therapist with Steiner, onboard Oceania Nautica and with Silversea on the Silver Shadow. I have also worked as Cabin Crew with British Airways, based at London Heathrow. I have been fortunate enough to have been able to travel to some incredible destinations during my travels.

Favourite destination, and why? Singapore has my heart It has everything in abundance – from culture to food, shopping to nightlife, natural and architectural beauty and not to forget the Grand Prix!! The most fascinating thing about Singapore is its sustainability as an island and how clean it is.

Where do you want to travel to next? We have Morocco next on our travel list. I would love to take the kids to Lapland while they’re still young enough to believe the magic. My bucket list is an expedition cruise to the Galápagos Islands.

Who is your ideal travelling companion? Lots of my travels have been solo, and I do quite enjoy my own company when doing so. I believe that as a solo traveller your experience is unique to you and make it your own. But I love to educate my children with new adventure too.

What is you travel motto? Travel is an education in its purest form.

Millie Boynton

Silver Travel Advisor

Millie has had a passion for travel from a very young age. Fortunate enough to explore destinations both near and far throughout her childhood, she developed a lifelong love of discovering new places, cultures, and experiences.

After graduating with a degree in Professional Musical Theatre, she fulfilled her dream of combining travel with a career by spending three years working as a dancer at sea. This incredible opportunity allowed her to explore the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and even experience transatlantic voyages to the Caribbean.

Having travelled extensively and created countless unforgettable memories along the way, Millie understands the excitement that comes with planning a new adventure. She is passionate about helping others discover the magic of travel, turning the photos we see online into real-life experiences and cherished personal memories.

Faye Stringer

Manager (Silver Travel Fulwood)​

With over 20 years of experience in the travel industry, Faye brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and personal insight to every trip she helps create.

Having explored destinations around the world, she loves nothing more than sharing her travel expertise and helping clients craft their dream holidays.

Faye’s favourite destination is Mauritius — from turquoise lagoons, white sandy beaches, and warm hospitality Mauritius ticks all the boxes.

✈️ Favourite Destination: Mauritius

💬 Best Part of the Job: Turning travel dreams into reality

Debbie Mitchell

Admin. Assistant (Silver Travel Fulwood)​

How many years have you worked in travel? I have worked in travel for 20 years as cabin crew on both long and short haul routes.

Favourite destination and why? It would be a close call between the Caribbean and Greece. I love the culture and how island life shapes the traditions, transport, and daily routines of their people. Music, dance and festivals are central in both regions and deep historical roots influence traditions and celebrations. Life tends to move at a slower pace in both places, with a focus on outdoor living, enjoying nature, socialising and generally making the most of ‘Island Time’.

Where do you want to travel to next? Top of my bucket list would definitely be the Exumas.

Who’s your ideal travelling companion? It would have to be my partner. We’ve been lucky enough to travel extensively together for many wonderful years and there’s never been a dull moment.

What is your top travel tip? Eat where the locals eat. Don’t be put off if it doesn’t look as polished as some of the other restaurants, you’ll probably have the best meal of your holiday. Pre-book any ‘must do’ excursions before you go to avoid disappointment and – if it relies on the weather – leave yourself a few days afterwards, just in case you need to rearrange – don’t leave it until the last day.

Lynn Scrivener

Lynn Scrivener

Associate

Lynn has over 30 years’ marketing experience in the travel and cultural tourism industries. Travel business lessons were first learned at Lunn Poly, British Airways and Hertz Europe. A wide range of tourism development projects followed for such iconic venues as Somerset House, Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Chelsea Physic Garden. Most recently Lynn has enjoyed several years’ rambling (and ambling), leading the marketing team for Ramblers Walking Holidays and Adagio. Thanks largely to business trips and conferences, Lynn has been fortunate to travel extensively including to most of W. Europe, USA, French Caribbean, Egypt, Australia, Thailand and Indonesia. This past year or so, Lynn has enjoyed puffin-watching on Skomer, hiking in the Austrian Tyrol, canoeing the Charente near Poitiers and yet more culture-vulturing in New York. Hurrah for holidays!

Gill Haynes

Gill Haynes

Associate

Gill has over 30 years experience in the cruise industry, resulting in her being a dab hand at Trivial Pursuit blue questions so long as they are about coastal geography. After learning the marketing ropes with Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises, Gill led the team which launched the Ocean Village brand (‘the cruise for people who don’t do cruises’) and as Cunard’s head of global PR, masterminded its 175th anniversary celebrations when Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria performed a ‘riverdance’ on the Mersey in front of 1.3 million spectators. Gill’s favourite destination is South Africa where one walking safari involved climbing a tree to avoid approaching rhinos. A keen skier, mountain biker and windsurfer, Gill loves the great outdoors. Still on the wishlist are canoeing the Great Lakes in Canada and swimming with manta rays in the Maldives.

Carole Tidball

Carole Tidball

Social Media Manager

Carole worked as a Senior Manager and Consultant in Education before taking early retirement to become a writer and award-winning photographer, and to indulge her passion for global travel. She loves exploring new destinations on foot and finds the best adventures and photographic opportunities are often away from the beaten track. She is a keen runner, hiker and bird/wildlife watcher, regularly seen trekking, splashing and skidding along the hilly footpaths around her home. Carole looks after Facebook and Instagram for Silver Travel Advisor.

Cathy Bartrop

Cathy Bartrop

Travel videographer

Cathy has spent her entire career in the travel industry, starting out as a graduate trainee at Saga Holidays in 1983 before becoming Sales & Marketing Manager for Thomas Cook Faraway Holidays in 1986. A few years later she set up her own media and promotions company, initially focused on print and radio but eventually moving in to video production. When video finally became easily accessible online (only 15 short years ago), everything changed and Cathy seized the opportunity to create her own online channel, travelguru.tv. Like Silver Travel Advisor, it is focused on the mature traveller, so it’s a natural partnership. These days Cathy films solo, mainly with only an iPhone, creating videos that share her first-hand experiences and trusted travel advice. When she is not travelling or editing, she can be found on the golf course, seeking out wild swimming locations and enjoying the delights of her home county, East Sussex.

Alan Fairfax

Alan Fairfax

Cruise specialist

Alan is a passionate ‘Cruise Ship’ expert and travel journalist Over 150 cruises completed, sailed and visited 70+ ships of 22 cruise lines. He has travelled the world from the Arctic to Australia, USA to Russia, Asia, Baltic, Caribbean, Middle East, South America and most Mediterranean ports. Sailed several oceans plus the Arabian, Black, Baltic, Mediterranean and Red Sea. Alan a member of The International Travel Writers Alliance says “There is something magical about stepping aboard a beautiful cruise ship, visiting multiple countries and ports but only unpacking once”. Alan, a regular contributor to several newspapers and magazines, has appeared on television travel shows, delivered talks on cruising at various national venues and is known as our ‘Cruise Guru’ due to his extensive knowledge. Where are his favourite places, he is the first to admit his love of the Western Isles of Scotland and the Caribbean.

Anna Selby

Anna Selby

Travel writer & journalist

Anna Selby has been a journalist and feature writer for over 25 years and has been specialising in travel for the last 20. She has worked for most of the broadsheets (including the FT, the Times and the Telegraph) as well as numerous magazines and websites. She began travel writing when she lived in the South Seas for a year with her four-year-old son. They started off in the Cook Islands, where they stayed for six months and then travelled through Fiji, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Tonga and Western Samoa. The islands of Polynesia hold a special place in her heart to this day, and she has returned there several times. Many other places, though, draw her back repeatedly from the US to the Middle East (especially Oman and Jordan), Vienna to Botswana, Marrakech to Iceland. As well as general destination features, she writes regularly on health, spas, food and cruises. She lives in central London with her ex-soldier husband and sees her son as often as possible – though he caught the travel bug and now works and lives in Amsterdam.

Gillian Thornton

Gillian Thornton

Travel writer

An award-winning member of the British Guild of Travel Writers, Gillian has freelanced for more than 40 years, writing for women’s magazines and regional publications, corporate clients and the specialist travel press, both in print and online. She started her journalism career writing articles for her local county magazine, going on to write parenting articles as a young mum, general features, and interviews with personalities such as Roger Moore and Tim Rice, Dick Francis, Barbara Cartland and James Herriot. In 2018, she celebrated 20 years as a travel writer by winning the Best Cultural Article in the French Travel Media Awards. A fluent French speaker, she specialises in France and the UK, but writes on destinations as far apart as Cornwall and Cape Town, Canada and Cambodia. “I love walking holidays and cruising, cultural trips and city breaks,” she says. “But I’m happy to explore anywhere beyond my own front door.  I can have an adventure anywhere!”

Jane Wilson

Jane Wilson

Editor of the Wellness Traveller

Jane Wilson is a freelance writer and specialises in wellness travel. From the early days of the health farm concept to today’s hi-tech medi-spas, her passion for traditional therapies and indigenous treatments have led her to many destinations which define wellness tourism. Her 30 years of experience as a journalist and PR consultant in travel and international hotels have provided first-hand experiences of the ancient practises of Ayurveda in India, the latest holistic age-defying treatments in Europe, the spiritual tribal beliefs of Native America and thermal resorts for that much needed rest and recuperation. Tree-hugging and horse whispering to healing spices, generational remedies and lifestyle practices, Jane teases out the wellness benefits of holidays and leisure pursuits and weaves them into her features. Slow travel, mindfulness, cruising for health and the power of just being embraced in nature’s own garden – you are assured of articles immersed in wellness.

Jeannine Williamson

Jeannine Williamson

Travel writer & cruise specialist

A former newspaper journalist, Jeannine is now an award-winning travel writer and leading expert on river and ocean cruises. She contributes to a wide variety of publications including The Telegraph, Times, Cruise Critic and Riviera Maritime. Her worldwide travels have taken Jeannine to both well-known and remote destinations around the globe and include wolf calling in Ontario, paddling along part of the Mississippi in a wooden dug-out canoe, sailing on a cargo ship to the isolated Marquesas Islands, crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a tall ship in gales of up to Force 8 and horse riding across the plains of Mongolia. She has also clocked up hundreds of nautical miles on river cruises throughout Europe and Asia, including Russia, China, Myanmar, India, Vietnam and Cambodia. Jeannine’s awards include the Cruise Lines International Association Cruise Journalism Awards, Travel Media Awards, Latin American Travel Association Media Awards and Women in Business Awards.

Mike Pickup

Mike Pickup

Journalist & photographer

Mike Pickup is an award-winning journalist and photographer covering both land-based and cruise holidays. His work appears in national newspapers and magazines including the Mail, Sun and Telegraph. He is also syndicated in regional titles, making him one of the UK’s most published travel writers.

Steve Aldridge

Steve Aldridge

Travel writer

I am an award winning travel writer and like to embrace the huge variety of travel options the industry has to offer. Cruising (big and small ships), trekking, road trips, camping (mobile home), city visits, finding things off the beaten track and of course a little sunbathing, have taken me to some glorious parts of the world. These include the Arctic, Maldives, Bahamas, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia (including trekking in Borneo), USA, Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Greece, Turkey, France, Germany and many more. I like to root out the unusual in my travels and write helpful articles with a touch of humour.

Petra Shepherd

Petra Shepherd

Travel writer

Petra Shepherd is a freelance travel writer with over 30 years’ experience in television, 19 of which were with Travel Channel International, the leading global travel broadcaster, where she was responsible for award winning documentary style travel programmes. Prior to this Petra was a celebrity booker and has met everybody from Dame Edna Everage to Donald Trump! She’s visited over 100 countries, has lived in Hong Kong and Italy and is a great advocate of solo travel, in 2013 she spent six months travelling alone around South America. Petra particularly loves swimming, skiing, hiking, visiting markets and local festivals. When not getting of the beaten track and being as adventurous as possible, Petra divides her time between London and visiting her 12 God-children around the UK. She is a member of The British Guild of Travel Writers and combines her love of travel writing, books and food as Editor of The Silver Travel Book Club and The Silver Travel Cook Club.

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