On Thursday 21 June we welcomed ‘Suffolk Day’, a day to celebrate all the things Suffolk is well known for. Our branches hosted some wonderful activities in celebration of this occasion, so it seemed fitting to round off the day's celebrations with our Orwell Lady Champagne River Cruise member event.
Myself and Tracey, along with Jo Leah, Louise Bunce and our CEO Richard Norrington welcomed members to the Ipswich Waterfront at tea time aboard the Orwell Lady, a quaint little river cruise ship offering sightseeing experiences along the River Orwell.
Having been an Ipswich gal most of my life, I had never experienced time on the water which is right on my doorstep. Travelling beneath the famous Orwell Bridge (the rumours are true, there really is a gap in the middle of the bridge), a 2.5-hour gentle sail down to Pin Mill whilst viewing some of the gorgeous homes located next to the river along the way was a wonderful way to spend the evening. The tour guide did a fantastic job talking through what we could see and the service aboard the Orwell Lady was second to none.
As far as summer evenings go…you couldn't get any better! Glorious sunshine which transformed into a beautiful orange sunset, a glass of fizz sipped amongst a gentle breeze and topped off with wonderful company, chatting and sharing stories with our members.
I think most will agree we certainly met the brief of celebrating well known things in Suffolk! Getting to know our members personally on events such as this makes my role all the more worthwhile. The river cruise not only supported a local business by having us on board, but showcased a little-known delight we have to offer, right in the heart of Ipswich.
Thus, I ended Suffolk Day with a big Suffolk smile on my face!
