The Couple At Heathrow Airport Part2

[trt]

Here is the latest on this couple, their story seems to have worked for them.

But lots of unbelievers in the comments at the bottom.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2944540/Kind-strangers-donate-nearly-10-000-gobsmacked-middle-class-couple-forced-sleep-rough-Heathrow-consider-offers-place-stay.html

[Gromit]

Alan and Katrina mention in the article staying a a nearby B&B near to the airport.

I wonder if it is the 'Heathrow Cottages' B&B.

This helpful review on TripAdvisor

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g528817-d1547477-r91178592-Heathrow_Cottages-Stanwell_Greater_London_England.html

...says Alan and Katrina are wonderful hosts of the place.

[sherrardk]

They are mentioned in more than one review.

[ludwig]

You should send that to the Mail Gromit.

[237SJ]

Most reviews name Alan and KATERINA as the hosts.

[andy-hughes]

I wouldn't dream of donating money to these people while they are spending hundreds of pounds a month to store furniture - why? For a house you claim you cannot afford to buy, or an flat you claim you cannot afford to rent?

I would rather give money to a street sleeper in my own city than fork out money to these rather odd people - all sounds very fishy indeed.

[Gromit]

Just tried to do some digging on Alan Lane.

He set up a Consultancy, VASGAMA. The website is here

http://www.vasgama.com/index.php?page_id=7

He has just this week re-newed the domain name. His address(es) on whois.com are both in Dorest (not Heathrow).

http://www.whois.com/whois/vasgama.com

Companies House and Duedil.com can find no company registered as VASGAMA, and therefore no accounts have been filed.

A bit fishy.

[237SJ]

I asked someone at work about this couple. They had seen them at T1 in the middle of the night. Apparently, if you are going to get away with kipping at the airport, Terminal 1 is the place to do it although technically, nobody should be in the airport without a ticket. I hardly think they would be sleeping in the airport if they had a nice warm home to go to.

[trt]

You little Sherlock Gromit :-)

[Cloverjo]

I think they are genuinely homeless, but I'm surprised they are not doing more to sort themselves out. If they got rid of their stuff in storage, as Andy-hughes suggests, they could soon use that money to put a deposit and months' rent on a room at least. They could then claim whatever benefits they are entitled to and start to rebuild their lives.

[Gromit]

It looks like he is a fantasist. Here is a company profile for Vasgama claiming a turnover of $10million.

http://www.zoominfo.com/s/#!search/profile/company?companyId=257032382&targetid=profile

// VASGAMA
www.vasgama.com

Company Background & Description

Revenue: $10 mil. - $25 mil.

Employees: 50 - 100

Industry: Management Consulting , Business Services

Company Description: VASGAMA's founder and chief executive, Alan Lane, has more than 20 years' experience in reputation management consulting with international corporations and government. Prior to creating VASGAMA, he was Public Affairs Adviser (Far East, Australasia and South America) for Shell International Petroleum Company in London - part of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group with operations in more than 140 countries and net income in 2001 of US$10.8 billion. VASGAMA have developed, directed and implemented corporate programmes for a range of clients in Europe, the Middle and Far East, Australasia, South & North America, and Africa. We also operate in line with the internationally-accepted codes of conduct of organisations including: International Association of Business Communicators International Public Relations Association International Visual Communication Association Institute of Directors. Where we believe other services are required - or, by joining forces with others, we can better meet our clients' needs - we work with select partner consultancies. //

[237SJ]

Gromit - your first link at 2343 was dated 2009. I think you really want to discredit this couple but you haven`t provided any credible evidence in your case so far.

[Gromit]

237SJ

The vasgama.com domain name was renewed last Friday, 6th February 2015. The registered address is Dorset.

He is included on this training website which is bang up to date.
It is based in the tax haven of Cyprus.

http://www.levantinetrainingcentre.com/who-we-are/

[trt]

## He is included on this training website which is bang up to date.
It is based in the tax haven of Cyprus.

Blimey Gromit,
After reading that link, this story has gone from fishy to sharky!!!!

[Gromit]

Considering Mr Lane's speciality of work is 'reputation management' this will not have done him much good. His 'reputation' must be well and truely shot after this.

I hope a few enquiries are made into him before he is gifted the £10K that has been raised on his behalf.

[Gromit]

Another curiosity. When this story broke he was calling himself Alan Page. The Daily Mail url's still have Alan Page in the titles, but his name has been changed to Alan Lane in the articles.

Look at this google search to see what I mean.
https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?hl=en#hl=en-GB&;q=katrina+Dmith+and+Alan+Page

[-Talbot-]

ironically if they had let this development go ahead and downsized to one of the flats, they might not have foundthemselves knee deep in effluent
http://thesteepletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/The-letter-sent-by-Alan-Lane-and-Katrina-Smith-objecting-to-the-building-of-flats.jpg

[Gromit]

The address given by the couple on their website registration, which was renewed last Friday is:
2 Capella
Canford Cliffs
Dorset
BH13 7LH

Here it is...
http://www.berkeleys.com/offices/poole/properties-for-sale/4613-haven-road-canford-cliffs-poole/brochure.pdf

[whiskeryron]

Very fishy indeed

[Zacs-Master]

Alan Lane can also be found on Linked In (Looking slightly younger) accompanied by the comment 'creating value through reputation'.

[-Talbot-]

1st Oct 2004
50 St. Osmunds Road, Canford Cliffs, Poole BH14 9JX
Detached house, Freehold
£397,000

According to Zoopla 2004 was the last time their property was sold.
It's very intriguing.