FRED FINN, THE GUINESS BOOK OF RECORDS HOLDER AS THE WORLD'S MOST TRAVELLED PASSENGER BY AIR SPEAKS FROM THE HEART

One invitation. Six hundred Concorde flights. Forty years of wonderful memories, his thoughts on his 40th anniversary of 600 Concorde flight on 8th October 2026

Fred Finn says "Looking at this invitation, I find it hard to believe that forty years have passed since an evening I remember with such affection.

On 8 October 1986, the directors of Simpson (Piccadilly) Limited hosted a reception to celebrate what the invitation rather wonderfully describes as my “supersonic achievement of 600 flights on British Airways Concorde”.

Around 400 people gathered at the store, home of DAKS, for an occasion supported by Rolls-Royce Motors, Executive Travel Magazine, Inter-Continental Hotels, Mount Kenya Safari Club and Land Rover. Reading the invitation today brings back the faces, the laughter and the extraordinary effort that went into making it all possible.

They even removed the store’s doors and alarm system to get a Rolls-Royce inside! With a Range Rover at the other end, it was quite a setting for an evening celebrating “The Best of British”.

Richard Branson joined us with members of Virgin Atlantic’s cabin crew, alongside Geoffrey Boycott OBE. Particularly special to me was seeing so many familiar faces from my Concorde family — flight deck crew, cabin crew and engineers whose skill and dedication had made those journeys possible, and whose friendship meant so much.

I began my speech with “My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen”, celebrating the best of British Great Britain Guinness Book, Great Batsman Geoffrey Boycott one of our great British batsmen! His retort you should be on the Yorkshire Committee

It was my pleasure to present Richard and Geoffrey with honorary membership of the Mount Kenya Safari Club, that wonderful retreat some 7,000 feet up on the slopes of Mount Kenya. Their membership certificates bore the signature of its founder, William Holden.

Kenya has always held a special place in my heart. I later took Richard, Joan and their two children there, and it gave me enormous pleasure to share a country I loved with them. They enjoyed it so much, and Richard would eventually establish his own safari lodge in the Maasai Mara. Looking back, it is lovely to remember where those friendships and shared experiences led.

Chris Serle compered the evening, while the Zambia Airways dancers gave an amazing performance in top hats and black tailes outfits, complete with canes. Even after forty years, I can still picture them!

There were speeches from Jeremy Franks, managing director of DAKS Simpson, and Mrs Simpson of the Simpson family. Geoffrey drew the winners of some wonderful travel prizes, while Cellnet presented mobile phones with call charges included — quite a prize in 1986! Guinness World Records joined us too, with signed books for our guests.

I was deeply touched by the awards British Airways presented to me. A silver mounted Concorde Another treasured moment came when Mike Toynbee, editor of Executive Travel, gave me an enormous print of the magazine’s “Best of British” cover, featuring Concorde, a Rolls-Royce and myself.

“It’s nearly life-size,” Mike said — a remark that still makes me smile.

Six hundred flights was a remarkable milestone in my life, but remembering that evening reminds me just how much I owe to the people who were part of those journeys. To have so many of them together, sharing that celebration, was a privilege.

To everyone who organised, supported or attended the reception, my heartfelt thanks. And to my Concorde family, thank you for the care, kindness and friendship you showed me over so many years.

Concorde carried me across the world. The friendships have stayed with me ever since - With affection and wonderful memories,

"Today as we mark the 40th anniversary of 600 Concorde flight on 8th October 2026, I salute Fred Finn for his tenacit, and above all for doing what he does with his heart and with dedication. He has been a faithful friend of Kenya and for Seychelles which he visited often over the years. I got to know Fred Finn well and consider him a true friend of tourism and travel, and one who believes that through tourism a positive step is taken in the building of a more peaceful world" said Alain St.Ange, Ambassador At Large of the Republic of Seychelles.

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