When tourism pioneer Thomas Cook organised the first-ever conducted tour of Switzerland in 1863, 31-year old Jemima Morrell from Yorkshire was one of several Victorian ladies who leapt at the chance of exploring the Alps.

Jemima’s own experiences were recorded in her 1863 leather-bound personal diary, which was found in 1947 within a blitzed London warehouse.

Jemima, who came from Selby, married John Greeenwood, a very wealthy landowner from Keighley, and had a son, Robert. She went on to have other adventures, but nothing quite compared with the splendour of Switzerland.

She and her brother, William, invited a number of like-minded friends to join them. They dubbed themselves the Junior United Alpine Club – a slightly tongue-in-cheek reference to the Alpine Club of Great Britain, which had only recently been formed in 1857.

Switzerland Tourism, in conjunction with Yorkshire-based Inntravel, has launched a search for the modern-day Jemima. They are looking for an enthusiastic and energetic woman, with a spirit of adventure and with Yorkshire ties, to apply for the role of Jemima as one of a party undertaking a commemorative journey in June.

Thanks to Jemima’s diary, which was published as a book in 1963, entitled Miss Jemima’s Swiss Journal, Inntravel is able to recreate her itinerary as a thrilling new holiday – Jemima Morrell’s Victorian Adventure.

Inntravel and Switzerland Tourism are looking for a woman (over 18) who is free to travel to Switzerland between June 22 and 29.

She must enjoy hill walking and writing, as the successful Jemima will be required to produce several blog and diary entries on her adventure for Switzerland Tourism and Inntravel.

When applying, entrants are asked to attach an image of themselves taken on an earlier adventure, anywhere in the world, and to say in less than 100 words why they should be Jemima. Applicants should e-mail jemima@ inntravel.co.uk before Saturday. See inntravel.co.uk/ the-new-jemima for more details.