KEFLAVIK — To anyone who’s ever travelled with their mom, this one’s for you.
Ellen Beam was eight months pregnant and working as a flight attendant on Trans World Airlines 60 years ago. While on a flight on Nov. 15, 1958, her water unexpectedly broke and Beam went into labour, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in Iceland.
Upon landing, Beam was rushed to Keflavik Hospital (now The Southwest Health Center) where she gave birth to her daughter, Anne.
Now, 60 years later, Beam and Anne have returned to Iceland with help from Kensington Tours, to celebrate Anne’s 60th birthday and the incredible story of her birth. Kensington tours helped the duo plan a monumental week-long trip that included a stay in one of Reykjavik’s finest boutique hotels, an exclusive city tour and a special Northern Lights escape complete with an expert private guide
To make the trip extra special, the company also located the hospital where Anne was born and organized a meet-and-greet with staff who worked there back in 1958!
Beam, now 89, reminisced of the unexpected delivery, telling Icelandic newspaper Morgunblaoio that “it was as if God just meant for us to [land] here.”
On playing a part in Beam’s and Anne’s full-circle journey, Alison Hickey, President of Kensington Tours said: “We make it our mission to not only provide our clients with unparalleled, carefully curated itineraries but also truly unforgettable experiences. Going above and beyond, and providing exceptional service is part of our DNA.”
