09apr20-Vinbulance wine ambulance
22 images Created 9 Apr 2020
©Charlie Varley/varleypix.com
All rights managed. Phone +33 787120501.
09 Apr 2020. Montreuil Sur Mer (MSM), France.
Olivier and Belinda Tirel, (both 45 yrs) owners of La Cave de Montreuil and Le Touquet, 1hr south of Calais with emergency vehicle, the 'Vinbulance.'
Belinda, an Australian met Olivier, a Frenchman in London in 1996 when they worked at Café Rouge in Kew Gardens. Married 24 years with 4 children they own 2 wine shops, one in Le Touquet (2007), one in MSM (2015).
The Tirel’s knew they were in trouble when the French Government dramatically ordered their businesses shuttered March 17th as part of lockdown laws.. However realising the country’s need for wine to help ease the pain, the govt relented declaring businesses supplying alcohol and tobacco ‘première nécessité’ – literally translated as ‘first necessity.’
Their wine bar closed, restaurant sales decimated, Belinda knew they must act fast. Sitting home with a glass of wine one evening Belinda experienced ‘one of those light bulb moments.’ ‘Why not convert our delivery van into a ‘vinbulance?’ After all the word for wine in French, is 'vin,' pronounced ‘van’ in English and the word for ambulance is the same.
Not wishing to offend anyone working on the front lines of the war against Coronavirus, the couple contacted medical professional customers and friends.
‘Our friends’ response was overwhelming. Why not cheer people up, bring some smiles and lift people's spirits in these difficult times. And that is the point of it,' explained Olivier.
'People give us thumbs up, honk horns and wave when they see the 'vinbulance.' Belinda is stopped countless times with people asking to take photos,’ says Olivier. 'The coronavirus crisis crippled our business. We lost our restaurant trade, people don't have parties or celebrate and we don't get any government aid. We have 4 kids and a Brazilian exchange student staying with us. She is trapped and can not fly home. We had to save our business and provide for our family.’
Olivier and Belinda learned of the mandate closing all bars and restaurants when a customer came to the shop and asked for their wi-fi code to listen to Macron's speech. 'Only then did we learn we must close our doors at midnight. It was the same for everyone. It was brutal,' explained Olivier.
Looking on the bright side Oliver said, 'certainly these are difficult times for every business, who knows how many will survive? Yes, it's important to maintain social distancing and we worry we could catch the virus and take it home to our kids, but business needs to go on. You drink to celebrate and you drink to forget, luckily we will always have business.'
And with that, Belinda loaded the ‘vinbulance’ and headed out to bring a little cheer to countless customers during these uncertain times.
*MSM was British Army HQ during WW1, Field Marshal Haig's stature stands in the square honouring British sacrifice.
©; varleypix.com.
All rights managed. Phone +33 787120501.
09 Apr 2020. Montreuil Sur Mer (MSM), France.
Olivier and Belinda Tirel, (both 45 yrs) owners of La Cave de Montreuil and Le Touquet, 1hr south of Calais with emergency vehicle, the 'Vinbulance.'
Belinda, an Australian met Olivier, a Frenchman in London in 1996 when they worked at Café Rouge in Kew Gardens. Married 24 years with 4 children they own 2 wine shops, one in Le Touquet (2007), one in MSM (2015).
The Tirel’s knew they were in trouble when the French Government dramatically ordered their businesses shuttered March 17th as part of lockdown laws.. However realising the country’s need for wine to help ease the pain, the govt relented declaring businesses supplying alcohol and tobacco ‘première nécessité’ – literally translated as ‘first necessity.’
Their wine bar closed, restaurant sales decimated, Belinda knew they must act fast. Sitting home with a glass of wine one evening Belinda experienced ‘one of those light bulb moments.’ ‘Why not convert our delivery van into a ‘vinbulance?’ After all the word for wine in French, is 'vin,' pronounced ‘van’ in English and the word for ambulance is the same.
Not wishing to offend anyone working on the front lines of the war against Coronavirus, the couple contacted medical professional customers and friends.
‘Our friends’ response was overwhelming. Why not cheer people up, bring some smiles and lift people's spirits in these difficult times. And that is the point of it,' explained Olivier.
'People give us thumbs up, honk horns and wave when they see the 'vinbulance.' Belinda is stopped countless times with people asking to take photos,’ says Olivier. 'The coronavirus crisis crippled our business. We lost our restaurant trade, people don't have parties or celebrate and we don't get any government aid. We have 4 kids and a Brazilian exchange student staying with us. She is trapped and can not fly home. We had to save our business and provide for our family.’
Olivier and Belinda learned of the mandate closing all bars and restaurants when a customer came to the shop and asked for their wi-fi code to listen to Macron's speech. 'Only then did we learn we must close our doors at midnight. It was the same for everyone. It was brutal,' explained Olivier.
Looking on the bright side Oliver said, 'certainly these are difficult times for every business, who knows how many will survive? Yes, it's important to maintain social distancing and we worry we could catch the virus and take it home to our kids, but business needs to go on. You drink to celebrate and you drink to forget, luckily we will always have business.'
And with that, Belinda loaded the ‘vinbulance’ and headed out to bring a little cheer to countless customers during these uncertain times.
*MSM was British Army HQ during WW1, Field Marshal Haig's stature stands in the square honouring British sacrifice.
©; varleypix.com.
