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22 April 2025
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This year marks a fantastic milestone for Rayburn Tours, as the Derby-based company proudly celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Since 1965, this family-run business has been shaping the educational travel experience, offering geography-focused school tours that bring the world’s landscapes, cultures, and environments to life.
From its humble beginnings, Rayburn Tours has grown into a leading provider of tailored school travel, helping students and educators explore the diverse geographical wonders of our planet.
Rayburn Tours’ chairman, John Boyden, reflects on the company’s journey, highlighting how their commitment to providing enriching geographical experiences has remained at the core of their mission since day one.
John Boyden’s journey at Rayburn Tours
‘“No trouble is too much trouble for Rayburn Tours” was the mantra of the founder Barny Rayburn when speaking of customer service and with these words he set the guiding foundation and ethics to how the company should work.
In the early days I had been providing the coach transport for the tours and then in 1984 Mr. Rayburn quietly and fatherly-like told me that I was to buy the company as he was retiring. I did. And so, my proud association with RT (as we fondly refer to it) began.
Expansion and providing class leading curriculum-based geography trips
The three staff moved from Mr. Rayburn’s house into a small office and with the huge support of my wife (then still a music teacher) the growth and development of the company began. Several office moves ensued as the company grew.
Performing concert tours was the first addition to our portfolio and these continue to provide exceptional music making experiences and esprit de corps for youth and adult groups.
With the wishes of our customers to add more and more educational focused tours and with the support of exceptionally talented teachers, we set about providing class leading curriculum-based trips which, to this day, continue to reflect the changing syllabus and educational needs.
Throwback images featuring John Boyden in Iceland with his son, Jamie Boyden, who is the current director of Rayburn Tours.
Assisting the next generation
Our work is infectious, it’s interesting, and we feel a valued part of assisting the next generation to be more informed and to be a positive influence on our communities.
Very early on in my career I learnt that work would fill a large part of my life and, therefore, to be happy and satisfied with my life I should do what I believed was interesting and fulfilling work. I believe that being part of RT I have achieved that, and I believe the majority, if not all of our company, love what we do.
Now, in my retirement from day-to-day operations, I have handed the baton of control to the next generation of the family and a group of highly competent non-family directors and senior managers. I am immensely proud of our team and I feel confident that, in their hands, our company will achieve further growth, enjoyment and recognition.’
Looking to the future of Rayburn Tours
To all the teachers, students, and explorers who have travelled with us, thank you for being a part of our story.
Here’s to the journeys yet to come!
Written by John Boyden, chairman at Rayburn Tours
© John Boyden, Rayburn Tours and the Geographical Association, 2025
