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 Graham W. Parker, O.B.E., (Retd.)
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 involved with the organization of 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. He is a Vice President of The Western Front Association and an honorary member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides.
Graham is a Rotarian with the Salisbury Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.
The idea for The Poppy Umbrella came to Graham on 11th November 1995 as he was leading The Poppy Parade in Ypres, Belgium. It was a wet Armistice Day and the sight of assorted umbrellas combined with the image of poppies on the First World War battlefields inspired his idea for The Poppy Umbrella.
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 the family's battlefield tour company "Flanders Tours". Joanna was responsible for managing the booking administration and assisting as a guide.
In her current role with Rembrella Joanna 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.
David Legg
David, Joanna's husband, has 25 years' experience as a software engineer. David is responsible for the development of the websites at greatwar.co.uk and rembrella.co.uk.
greatwar.co.uk
Visit our sister website to see lots of fascinating information for visiting the First World War battlefields on the Western Front in France and Belgium. The website is illustrated with many photographs and gives locations and details about the many cemeteries, memorials, museums and commemorative sites to be visited. There is information too for family historians wanting to find out more about researching a relative who fought in the Great War of 1914-1918.
Rembrella Ltd. Company Details
The owner of the websites at www.rembrella.co.uk and www.greatwar.co.uk is Rembrella Limited.
Postal address: Rembrella Limited, 12 Oak Ash Green, Wilton, Salisbury SP2 0RR, England
Telephone: 01344 - 989 802 (international +44 - 1344 - 989 802)
Email: info@rembrella.co.uk
Registered office: Rembrella Limited, St. Mary's House, Netherhampton, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8PU, England
VAT Number: GB 494 4809 05
Company No. 6072644