About Us

Rembrella is a family business started in 1998 with the launch of The Poppy Umbrella.

The company is managed by Graham and Rona Parker, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, and their daughter, Joanna Legg, in Bracknell, Berkshire.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Graham W. Parker, O.B.E.

On completion of 32 years' service with the British Army he served a further 13 years on the British Army Liaison Staff in Belgium. During this period he was responsible for many commemorative events in Flanders.

Following research into family members who served, and those who died, in the Great War of 1914-1918 Graham founded Flanders Tours in 1988. For 12 years the family operated study tours to the Western Front. His comprehensive knowledge of the subject and his deep respect for those involved in the conflict, has influenced many travellers to follow in the footsteps of their relatives. Graham continues to act as a guide for private tours to the battlefields of both World Wars.

Rona Parker

Rona is responsible for Rembrella administration and accounts.

Joanna Legg, B.A. (Hons)

Joanna graduated with a B.A. Honours degree in German from the University of Warwick in 1982. She was employed for three years in the Publicity Department at the Imperial War Museum in London, and then as a space management project co-ordinator for Office Project Services. In the 1990s Joanna became self-employed to allow her to assist with the operation of Flanders Tours, managing the booking administration and assisting as a guide. In her current role with Rembrella she is responsible for umbrella sales, marketing, design of publicity material and both the Rembrella.co.uk and Greatwar.co.uk websites.

Joanna shares her father's interest in the Western Front. From 1995 she began research into the German Army to portray the battles from 'the other side of the wire'. She has presented the German story at numerous Western Front Association meetings and on the battlefields of the Somme, Ypres, Loos, Vimy and the Vosges.