Member News

Meet Rose and Hannah, our experienced Meeting and Event Planners. Take a tour of our 7 versatile meeting and event rooms and have a chat about how we can help you to plan your next event. Rooms will be set up in different styles to showcase the different set ups. Whether big or small, Christmas, team building, training or away day we have the flexibility to provide bespoke events. There will also be the opportunity to talk to some of our preferred suppliers. We have linked up with several great local independents who can add experiences to your event. This could be anything from paddle boarding, to an Escape Room or a guided tour of Norwich. Rose Taylor, our Events Manager, said “I really hope that people will take this opportunity to visit us. We have some excellent spaces and along with our prime position, in the centre of Norwich, offering complimentary car parking to all delegates, we believe we are the perfect venue for meetings and events. We can accommodate anything from 2 to 120 delegates. Also, we can deliver a great hospitality package” The Hotel boasts 84 contemporary bedrooms, all with their own unique design, so 24 hour delegate rates are also available. There will of course be plenty of tea and coffee available, along with croissants and pastries. In addition, you could win a pair of tickets for hospitality at the Top of the Terrace and to watch a match, or maybe take a spin in one of our vintage Bentleys, with our chauffeur Matt. To find out more about our Meeting and Events Open Morning contact events@maidsheadhotel.co.uk or call 01603 272008

A partner at a leading regional accountancy firm celebrates 40 years of a career that has involved recovering £3.5m in a compulsory liquidation from a Swiss bank; being involved in the arrest of a bankrupt on an incoming flight from Amsterdam; and a bankruptcy involving the sale of micro-pigs, which weren’t really micro! Andrew Kelsall, of Larking Gowen, says he has seen huge changes in the financial landscape, with many more options available to people in financial difficulties than when he started back in 1983. Andrew describes a varied career that is not without its dramas and quirks. In one bankruptcy case, an individual was supposedly selling micro-piglets as pets which caused a surprise for their new owners when they grew to full size. “It’s been an interesting 40 years, and I still feel excited and enthused about going to work. Insolvency is a fascinating area. You are dealing with people from all walks of life, often at a very emotional time. Having life experience is a real asset,” he said. “Over the years there have been massive changes in legislation and practice, that affect the way we do things and the general attitude towards insolvency from both a personal and corporate perspective. “We’ve seen a significant increase in personal insolvency as consumer credit has become more available, and debt relief and forgiveness solutions have developed. The 1986 Insolvency Act introduced the Individual Voluntary Arrangement as an alternative to bankruptcy and usually with no court involvement. “The stigma involved in using one of the personal insolvency procedures has been greatly reduced, although not eliminated, and it provides those in financial difficulty with choices to help with debt forgiveness and or repayment of debts.  Legislation has also been introduced in the last few years to give those in debt a ‘breathing space’, so again aimed at reducing the pressure of personal debt and having a period of time to consider options going forwards,” said Andrew. Andrew first joined Larking Gowen in Norwich back in 1980, to start his training as a Chartered Accountant, then left the following year to study for his ACCA examinations at Norwich City College. He then began a 29-year career with the Insolvency Service, which started at the Official Receivers Office in Norwich in 1983, moving to become the Deputy Official Receiver, at Southend in 1991, before he was seconded to the Insolvency Service Policy Unit in London in 1996. The following year, he returned to Southend as Deputy Official Receiver, and in 1998 was appointed as Official Receiver in St Albans. In March 2002, he transferred to Official Receiver in Norwich. 2012 saw his return to Larking Gowen as Director of Insolvency, becoming a partner in April 2014. “When I decided it was time for me to move on from the Insolvency Service, I didn’t have to look far. My first choice was to return to Larking Gowen, the firm where I started out, and where some of my former colleagues were still working. It’s reputation for dedication to client service and looking after people was an important part of that decision,” said Andrew. “The future brings even more changes, with the Insolvency Service looking to be the sole regulator of all practitioners and conducting a review of 40-year-old legislation to decide if it’s still fit for purpose,” he added. As well as his role at Larking Gowen, Andrew is Director of the Joint Insolvency Examinations Board (JIEB), and a committee member of the Smaller Practices Group (SPG) of R3 (The Insolvency Practitioners Trade Association.) Image provided by Larking Gowen.

When taking on any new service, as a business owner you will always want to know what your ROI and how it will benefit your business, your customers, and your employees. And that’s certainly the case with workplace wellbeing.  Mindsets are shifting when it comes to workplace wellbeing and business owners are starting to take their employees mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing seriously. The average cost to replace an employee is £30,614 (employee earning £25,000 a year or more) – so why not invest in your employees? Workplace wellbeing is a great way of rewarding and recognising the work your employees do and a perfect way of supporting their health and wellbeing.  There are wellbeing services for every business and budget. Our client, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils started a two-month trial with Hands On At Work earlier in the year and completed their own research into what effect the on-site workplace massages had on their employees. After the two-month trial, they decided to continue working with Hands On At Work due to feedback from the employees. What happens when you invest in your employee’s health and wellbeing?  Let us take a closer look at the results… 93% of respondents said that they were extremely satisfied with their chair massage. Specific elements: –94.5% of respondents said they were very satisfied with the massage therapist. –81.6% were very satisfied with the materials provided. – 90.8% were very satisfied with the time management. Additionally, 91% of respondents said that having a chair massage had improved their physical/mental health at work, 83% said that having a chair massage had improved their productivity at work and 70% said their expectations of what the massage would be like were beyond met. Things respondents liked the most about their massage:

• The friendly massage therapist.
• The relaxing nature of the sessions.
• The good massages.

Things respondents would like improved:

• Longer and more regular sessions.
• Option for lower leg massage.

Hands On At Work provide workplace wellbeing to businesses across the UK.  From inclusion in wellbeing strategies providing different services each month, to weekly and quarterly visits to companies.  There is something for every business and budget.  Our services include, but not limited to…

• Workplace Massage
• Couch Massage
• Reflexology
• Indian Head Massage
• Yoga
• Pilates
• Meditation
• Mindfulness
• Men’s Health
• Menopause
• Nutritional webinars
• Nourishing Diversity

If you’d like to invest in your employee’s health and wellbeing and explore the wellbeing services, we offer, contact info@handsonatwork.co.uk

“Those who sign up will be helping us continue our vital work, offering a family-centred, needs-led approach to care” Businesses are being encouraged to rally together and show their support for the vital work of a leading children’s hospice. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) has launched its Business Circle – a new corporate venture open to companies across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. It will give them a chance to build connections and attend networking events, while at the same time making a financial commitment to EACH. The cost is £1,000 a year, including VAT, and Business Circle membership includes the chance to visit one of the charity’s hospices – The Nook, near Norwich, The Treehouse, in Ipswich, and at Milton, near Cambridge. There will also be opportunities to sponsor events at a discounted rate, in addition to being a host venue for networking functions. “What better time to officially launch our new Business Circle than during Children’s Hospice Week?,” said EACH Corporate Fundraising Manager Caroline Allen. “This national awareness week is so important for everyone here, to raise funds and heighten understanding of our vital work. We rely on voluntary donations and a key part of our fundraising income comes from corporate friends and supporters. This is a very special opportunity to cement that commitment, by pledging a certain amount every year – money that will make a tangible difference to the families, children and young people receiving our care and support. It’s also a golden opportunity for companies to come together and join us at one of our quarterly networking events. It will give them an opportunity to make new contacts and forge connections with businesses across East Anglia.” Members will also have the benefit of PR opportunities, have exclusive use of the Business Circle logo for internal communications, be featured on EACH’s dedicated Business Circle webpage and be listed in EACH’s Report and Accounts. They will also have the opportunity to be a keynote speaker at networking events, feature in EACH social media posts and receive tailored updates on EACH’s work. “We already have a Giving Circle for Major Doners and Supporters but are now very proud to introduce our Business Circle,” added Caroline. “Those who sign up will be helping us continue our vital work, offering a family-centred, needs-led approach to care and ensuring all the needs of the children and young people we care for are met – whether that be psychological, physical, emotional, social or spiritual.” To read more or sign up, head here. Alternatively, email Caroline via (caroline.allen@each.org.uk), Laura Southcott (Norfolk) via laura.southcott@each.org.uk, Hannah Forbester (Cambridge and West Essex) via hannah.forbester@each.org.uk, Billie Nugent (Suffolk and East Essex) via billie.nugent@each.org.uk or Rachel Mayes-Dally (Suffolk and North Essex) via rachel.mayes-dally@each.org.uk Image provided by EACH.

Submissions now due by Friday 1 September 2023 Greater Anglia and other train operators have listened to feedback and are extending the consultation deadline on proposals to change the way tickets are sold and customer service is provided at stations by a further five weeks. This extension of the consultation period means that people now have until Friday 1 September 2023 to complete the consultation and express their views via one of the independent statutory rail passenger watchdogs, Transport Focus or, where appropriate, London Travel Watch, which will receive and review all consultation responses, before providing recommendations on next steps. By extending the time available, more customers and stakeholders will have the opportunity to have their say and help shape final plans. Details of the proposals for all Greater Anglia stations involved are available on the Greater Anglia website at www.greateranglia.co.uk/consult, including the contact details for the relevant passenger watchdog in each case. Greater Anglia, along with most other train operators, is proposing changes designed to improve customer service by providing more flexible roles for staff at stations, which would provide a better service and more assistance for customers. The proposals form part of plans to modernise the railway and bring it more in line with modern consumer expectations. They reflect significantly reduced usage of ticket offices over the past decade, as customers move to alternative, more convenient ways of buying tickets. Most tickets are now bought either online or through ticket machines. Given those trends and a world where London Underground has already moved away from ticket offices, and other sectors have also updated their models of service away from the classic desk-based approach, it also makes commercial and financial sense for the rail industry to look at the best approach for the future to ensure customer needs and expectations continue to be met. Agreement has now been reached on the formal proposals on which the industry is now consulting, to get public input before deciding on the next steps. Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “We’ve listened to feedback from customers and stakeholders and extended the consultation period for responses to our station proposals, which are aimed at providing a more modern and flexible service for our customers. They reflect the more convenient ways in which passengers are looking to buy their tickets and check travel information. “Station colleagues would undertake a new, more flexible role – bringing staff closer to customers. Passenger assistance arrangements would continue as they do now, from first to last trains, but with additional mobile teams to give greater flexibility in providing assistance across the network. “More details, including information about each station covered by the proposals, can be found on our website.  Any comments or feedback should be provided to Transport Focus, or where appropriate, London TravelWatch, before the end of the public consultation process, which is now on Friday 1 September 2023. So anyone wishing to contribute to the consultation is encouraged to provide their comments or feedback by the deadline.” Under the plans, staff would undertake a new, more flexible ‘customer host’ role, providing advice about the best and cheapest fares, and supporting customers with other queries and accessibility needs, rather than being confined to the ticket office. Customers would still be able to buy tickets from the ticket machine and online (as now), and colleagues would still be available at the station to help customers at certain times. Ticketing assistance would also be available directly from staff in Greater Anglia’s Customer Contact Centre, contactable via the ticket machine (24 hours a day). Across the Greater Anglia network, it would mean that all 54 stations which currently have ticket offices would switch to the new model of retailing. At seven major stations – London Liverpool Street, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich, Stansted Airport and Cambridge – Customer Information Centres would sell a full range of products, as well as providing help with more complex transactions. Across the remaining 47 stations, some stations would have staff available for similar hours to today, while some would have staff available for fewer hours than today, focused on the busiest periods. The type of approach proposed for these 47 stations is, in fact, similar to that already in place at Bury St. Edmunds and Cambridge North stations, which has proved to be successful and well received by passengers. All Greater Anglia stations involved in the proposals already have ticket machines, which also have an assistance button enabling customers to contact Greater Anglia staff based at the Customer Contact Centre in Norwich (24 hours a day), to gain guidance or assistance with ticket purchase. No station would become unstaffed as a consequence of the proposals and other station facilities, such as waiting rooms and toilets, would be unaffected. Greater Anglia would continue to meet all its commitments on providing accessibility for passengers, including passengers with reduced mobility and people requiring in-person assistance. It would also create new, additional mobile assistance teams, offering greater flexibility and support in providing assistance. To re-affirm, the key components of the proposals are as follows:

• The plans would provide a more modern and flexible service for customers
• There would still be someone to help with ticket queries and information at all the stations covered by the proposals (specific hours would vary by station) and the ability for customers to speak direct to the Greater Anglia Customer Contact Centre via the ticket machine for guidance or advice
• Passenger Assist arrangements would still apply, with additional mobile assistance teams providing extra support
• No station would become unstaffed as a consequence of the proposals and other station facilities, such as waiting rooms and toilets, would be unaffected.

The consultation is taking place to inform future plans and, whatever proposals are then formally agreed, the transition to full adoption of the new model would probably take two to three years. The consultation runs until Friday 1 September 2023 and anyone with any comments or feedback on the proposals should send their responses to Transport Focus or, where appropriate, London TravelWatch, the statutory rail passenger watchdog organisations which will receive and review all consultation responses, before providing recommendations on next steps. Details of the proposals are available on the Greater Anglia website at www.greateranglia.co.uk/consult. The information is also available in alternative accessible formats via our website (Easy Read, large print, braille, audio, and British Sign Language).  Physical copies can be ordered by contacting Freepost – Greater Anglia Customer Relations, or by calling 0345 600 7245 (Option 8). Anyone can contribute to the consultation by contacting either Transport Focus or, where appropriate, London TravelWatch, about the proposals for their station. Details of which statutory rail watchdog to contact for each individual station can also be found on the Greater Anglia website (www.greateranglia.co.uk/consult). Submissions must be made by the end of Friday 1 September 2023. A Q&A about the proposals has been prepared by the Rail Delivery Group and is available at http://raildeliverygroup.com/customer-focused-stations.

Greater Anglia has unveiled a special train livery to celebrate Pride and the LGBT+ community. The livery, which has been applied to an Alstom-built ‘class 720’ commuter train (number 720506), includes both the Pride and transgender flags adjacent to the driver’s cab, on both ends and sides of the five-carriage train. The train operates between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge, between London Liverpool Street and Clacton, Harwich and Ipswich, and on many other Greater Anglia routes across much of Essex and Hertfordshire. Launched at a special ceremony at London Liverpool Street station on Thursday 27 July, it also includes the word ‘Pride’, applied beneath the windows of the first and last carriages, in colours supporting the progress flag and representing visibility for marginalised LGBT+ people, as well as the wider values of diversity and inclusion. The special livery, which was the idea of Lee Shaw, a train service manager at Greater Anglia (GA), and applied at the company’s Ilford depot, will now provide a year-round reminder of GA’s overall commitment to diversity and inclusion, and more specifically to LGBT+ staff and customers across its network. Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia’s managing director, said: “Many of our colleagues at Greater Anglia are members of the LGBT+ community, along with many of our customers too. “It’s important we show that they and everyone else is welcome on the railway, right across all the many destinations we serve on the GA network. “We’re pleased to celebrate our continuing commitment to diversity, inclusion and, in particular our LGBT+ colleagues and customers, with this livery showing that Pride is all year round. “Suggested and developed by GA colleagues, it’s a really positive and very visible initiative, on a train which will operate on many of our routes, helping to embed and symbolise our ongoing work to make Greater Anglia a welcoming place for all.” Two drivers who were directly involved in the event, by driving and accompanying the train from Ilford depot into the terminus for the unveiling, are supporters of the initiative. Martin Burr, who drove the train from Ilford depot, is a diversity and inclusion representative for the depot and also gay himself, said: “I’m glad to be a part of it and take pride in being so. “Ilford depot is one of the most diverse workplaces. We have different cultures from all over the world and different orientations here, and we’re reflecting the diversity in the depot by being part of the day. “It’s nice to show respect for people who are represented by this livery, as well as showing your understanding and acceptance. “These sorts of trains catch your eye and it’s just different from the day-to-day normal livery – it’s extra special and I’m sure it’ll make people feel respected and represented.” Jason Winstanley, a trainee driver who is non-binary and who was in the cab, said: “Hearing that Greater Anglia was putting a Pride livery on a train at pretty much the same time I was joining the company filled me with happiness. “I love the idea that trains are out there with the Pride flag on and that the railway shows that it accepts and welcomes the LGBT+ community. “When I manage to drive the Pride train in passenger service, it will be a special day.” The livery unveiling comes just weeks after station staff put up flags and bunting at a number of stations across the Greater Anglia network in celebration of Pride month in June. It is part of Greater Anglia’s wider diversity and inclusion strategy, which sees the company working year-round to make itself a better and more inclusive place to work. A group for LGBT+ colleagues and their allies’, called ‘Affinity’, was also set up earlier in the year. The aim of the group, run by frontline and manager members of staff together, is to inspire action, education and connection, along with acting as a support community around the topic of sexuality and ensuring the company is as inclusive as possible. Image provided by Greater Anglia.

“It’s become a regular school holiday event for us and we hope it encourages and entertains young readers throughout the summer” A leading children’s charity is rolling out the ‘read’ carpet to young bookworms this summer. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is once again running its Free Books for Kids scheme across its 47 shops. Children can pop in and pick up one free book per week throughout their long school holiday. Ian Nicolson, EACH Director of Retail and Trading, said: “We’re excited to be running this fabulous initiative again because it proved popular in 2022. “It’s since become a regular school holiday event for us and, as ever, we hope it encourages and entertains young readers throughout the summer. “It’s always popular and well-received, particularly during the long summer break when families may be struggling for low-cost ideas to keep children entertained. “We appreciate the value of reading and know how precious family story time can be. Through the work we do, we help families make the most of their time together and create memories that last forever.” EACH delivers all-encompassing, supportive care to babies, children and young people, in addition to life-long support for families. It relies on donations for the majority of its income and this year alone needs to raise £6.7 million from fundraising and £7.8 from its Retail operation. The charity has shops across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. To find out where your nearest one is, head here. Image provided by EACH.

Team HODL have completed the world’s toughest row and achieved a world record doing it! In just 38 days, the team rowed more than 2,800 miles from California to Hawaii. They secured a world record and finished first in the trios. This is the most incredible set of achievements by the three superstars, two of which are Langley alumni! Huge congratulations to Luca, Cutu and Matt, who set out on a journey across the pacific to raise as much money as possible for The Ocean Cleanup along with a collective of people supporting them from afar. Their team name stands for ‘Hold On for Dear Life,’ which they certainly did throughout all the challenges they faced and they now have a world record to show for it. You are an inspiration Luca, Cutu and Matt! Image provided by Langley School.

Planning a company award ceremony is no easy feat. From finding the perfect venue to coordinating with suppliers, there are countless moving parts that require careful consideration. But with the right support and planning, your event can be a huge success. In this post, we’ll explore the secrets to planning a company award ceremony. Full Support with Planning Your Event The first step to planning a successful event is to have full support from a team that specialises in event planning. You wouldn’t try and try and buy a house without expert support from a solicitor (and with budgets sometimes exceeding the cost of a property – get the experts in!). Expert event planners can help you bring your vision to life and ensure that everything runs smoothly on the day of the event, leaving you to network, enjoy the event and focus on your guests and sponsors. Full Pre-Event Coordination of the Event Before the event, it’s important to have full pre-event coordination of all aspects of your company awards. This includes liaising with the venue on timings and logistics, coordinating with AV suppliers, photographers, and award suppliers, and managing the event budget and expenses. Pre-Event Site Visit A pre-event site visit is crucial for ensuring that the event runs smoothly on the day. A site visit allows the event planning team to familiarise themselves with the venue, assess any potential hurdles, and identify potential areas of improvement. Suppliers & Quotes for Your Company Awards The best company award ceremonies are a result of a well-planned budget. A professional event planning team will create a comprehensive budget that accounts for all elements of the event, including catering, production, AV, entertainment providers, speakers, awards/envelopes/certificates, photographers/videographers, room dressing, security, and design teams/printers. Sourcing and Booking Additional Services Another secret to planning a successful company award ceremony is to source and book additional services that will make the event stand out. This may include booking activities, corporate gifting, and entertainment. A professional event planning team can help you with everything from booking contracts to coordinating all logistics. Creation of the Comprehensive Event Management Plan A comprehensive event management plan is at the heart of any successful company award ceremony. This plan should include everything needed for the event, from the seating arrangements to the catering and entertainment schedule. With a well-prepared plan, you can ensure that everything runs smoothly on the night of the event, and means all of the suppliers and events team know exactly what they’re doing. Collaboration with Suppliers Event planning teams work with a vast array of suppliers, including award suppliers, caterers, photographers, and AV suppliers. During the planning process, the event management team should create a supplier briefing document and coordinate supplier briefing calls to ensure that everyone involved in the event is on the same page. Event Manager to Oversee the Event Finally, the secret to a successful company award ceremony is having an experienced event manager to oversee the entire event. The event management team will be with you on the day/evening to help with anything you need and ensure the smoothest, best event possible! Still not sure? Check out what our previous clients have to say about our events. Get in touch today for us to support with your next Awards Ceremony!

Sustainability, water management and environmental schemes will be the key topics discussed during the 2023 Autumn Farming Conference at Wherstead Park, Ipswich on Tuesday 10 October. Aimed at farmers, growers, landowners and the wider agricultural sector, it is being organised by Larking Gowen, a major regional independent accountancy partnership and one of the UK’s top 40 accountancy firms, in conjunction with the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), the membership organisation for owners of land, property and businesses in rural England and Wales. “The 2023 Autumn Farming Conference will demonstrate the direction of travel for the farming industry and how the requirements of the environment and food production can be mutually compatible. The emphasis will be on delivering practical information and advice which delegates can use in their own businesses,” states Bruce Masson, the Larking Gowen partner behind the event. Joining him will be fellow Larking Gowen partner Laurie Hill and Steven Rudd, Head of the firm’s Farms and Landed Estates team. “Farmers are currently having to deal with extreme volatility in input and output prices, making it incredibly difficult to plan or budget accurately,” Bruce adds. “The unprecedented scale and speed of interest rate increases following almost 15 years of low, stable borrowing costs, together with Defra’s announcements on environmental schemes and how they will impact the taxation of farming businesses, are adding complexity to these significant challenges. “The speakers we have selected are all experts in their respective fields and will provide a valuable insight into where we are as an industry, the headwinds and opportunities which exist for those who are correctly positioned, together with the future direction of travel. The aim is to consider how changing legislation will impact the farming sector, address delegates’ concerns and help them chart a roadmap for the future. Rather than simply being a series of presentations, this will be an interactive event where delegates will be able to ask questions and share their experiences with others.” In the light of last year’s extreme drought and the last major water infrastructure in England being some 30 years ago, water management and how to make best use of this increasingly precious resource will be a key focus of this year’s Autumn Farming Conference. It will also be the focus of an interactive panel discussion hosted by specialists in this sector, including Charlie MacNicol of the Stody Estate, a family-run, diversified and ever-evolving estate in North Norfolk. The organisers are currently finalising the line-up of sponsors and speakers, a full list of which will be announced nearer to the event, but already many individuals, businesses and organisations have committed their support. Headline partners for the 2023 Autumn Farming Conference are Oxbury Bank and CLA Energy. Oxbury is the only UK bank dedicated to British agriculture, only lending to the food and farming sector. CLA Energy Services offers energy and water procurement services, free energy health checks, invoice validation and management of siteworks. The conference is also supported by partners YAGRO, Integrity Asset Finance Ltd, and Impact Services. We are also pleased to announce that Anglia Farmer are joining us this year as our media Partner. The 2023 Autumn Farming Conference will be chaired by CLA East Director Cath Crowther and include presentations by a range of speakers. Amongst them will be Ian Evans, who will outline the diversification journey which he and his wife Diane have been on since opening Copdock Hall, their stunning Grade II-listed Elizabethan barn in the beautiful Suffolk countryside, as a wedding and events venue in April 2015. A former journalist, who is passionate about wine and wine making, Ian and Diane also own Copdock Hall Vineyard. Ian will be joined by Matt Ryan, Head of Farmer Relationships at Oxbury, and Henry Welham, Partnership Manager at Yagro, while Emily Norton, former Head of Rural Research at Savills UK Ltd, will focus on environmental/sustainability policies and their interaction with agriculture. Born and raised on a mixed arable and dairy farm in Norfolk, Emily studied law at Cambridge and qualified in London before studying for a master’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture. Returning to the family farm, she founded Nortons Dairy, an on-farm dairy processing business. Charity partners for the Autumn Farming Conference are YANA (You Are Not Alone) and Yellow Wellies, all profits from the event going to these much-admired organisations. YANA is the farming charity which provides mental health support for the farming and rural community. The Farm Safety Foundation, known by many as ‘Yellow Wellies’, works closely with Young Farmers Clubs, HSE, the Farm Safety Partnerships and a range of farming organisations to help raise awareness of farm safety. Further details of the Autumn Farming Conference are available at www.larking-gowen.co.uk/AFC and tickets can be booked online. The event on Tuesday 10 October 2023 will start at 09.15 with arrival/registration and conclude at 16:00.

A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia customers are advised to check before they travel due to industrial action taking place this weekend (Saturday 29 July) and next week (Monday 31 July to Saturday 5 August). The RMT trade union has announced strike action on Saturday 29 July. As a result, trains will be running across the company’s network between 07:00 and 23:00, with many routes having a normal or near normal service between those hours, but some routes having a reduced frequency and certain routes seeing no services at all. The services which will not run at all are as follows: Ipswich – Felixstowe Manningtree – Harwich Town Colchester – Walton-on-the-Naze via Colchester Town Bishop’s Stortford – Stratford Hertford East – London Liverpool Street Meridian Water – Stratford A summary of the service patterns for each route on 29 July are provided at the end of this release and more details are available on the Greater Anglia website. Separate industrial action short of a strike, called by the ASLEF trade union, will affect the Greater Anglia network between the start of Monday 31 July and the end of Saturday 5 August inclusive. It means there will be a small number of cancellations on most Greater Anglia routes while the action takes place. A full list of the trains that will be cancelled from 31 July to 4 August inclusive is provided at the end of this release, as well as on the Greater Anglia website. Alterations for Saturday 5 August are still being worked on and will be published as soon as possible. Action short of a strike has also been announced by ASLEF for Monday 7 August to Saturday 12 August. This action is likely to have a similar impact to next week’s action, i.e. a small number of cancellations on most routes, but details will be confirmed as soon as they are available. On all days affected by industrial action there is a risk of short notice service alterations or cancellations. Other train operators are also affected by both sets of industrial action. Passenger assistance arrangements will be available as usual on all days, but anyone requiring assistance should plan their journey and book assistance in advance if possible. Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia’s managing director, said: “While the majority of services will be running as normal during the periods affected by industrial action, there will be some alterations and cancellations across our network, plus some routes where no trains will run at all on 29 July. “We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by these service alterations and advise customers to plan ahead and check before they travel.” Customers can find all train times by using journey planners on either National Rail Enquiries or www.greateranglia.co.uk The full list of train frequencies by route for Saturday 29 July and alterations and cancellations for Monday 31 July to Friday 4 August is shown below. Service frequencies – Saturday 29 July (RMT strike action) The frequency of each route will be: Braintree to London Liverpool Street: every hour Cambridge/Cambridge North to London Liverpool Street: every 30 minutes Clacton-on-Sea to London Liverpool Street: every hour, with trains calling additionally at Hythe Colchester Town to London Liverpool Street: every hour Ipswich to London Liverpool Street: every hour Norwich to London Liverpool Street: every hour Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street: every 20 minutes Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street: every 30 minutes Ipswich to Cambridge: every hour Ipswich to Lowestoft: every two hours, with trains calling additionally at Westerfield Ipswich to Peterborough: every two hours Marks Tey to Sudbury: every hour Norwich to Great Yarmouth: every hour Norwich to Lowestoft: every hour Norwich to Sheringham: every hour Norwich to Cambridge/Stansted Airport: services affected by planned engineering work with buses between Norwich and Ely, connecting with trains between Ely and Cambridge/Stansted Airport (please note that passengers may need to change at Cambridge when travelling to/from Stansted Airport) Wickford to Southminster: every 40 minutes Routes with no service: Colchester to Walton-on-the-Naze via Colchester Town Manningtree to Harwich Town Ipswich to Felixstowe Hertford East to London Liverpool Street Bishop’s Stortford to Stratford Meridian Water to Stratford Service cancellations – Monday 31 July to Friday 4 August inclusive (ASLEF action short of strike) Norwich to London Liverpool Street – 11.32, 13.30, 16.30 London Liverpool Street to Norwich – 14.00, 16.00, 19.02 Norwich to Cambridge – 07.30 Cambridge to Norwich – 09.13 Norwich to Sheringham – 09.45, 18.55 Sheringham to Norwich – 10.46, 19.54 Norwich to Great Yarmouth – 07.36, 08.36, 10.35, 12.34, 14.40, 16.40 Great Yarmouth to Norwich – 08.17, 09.17, 11.17, 13.17, 15.17, 17.17 Norwich to Lowestoft – 05.36, 12.05 Lowestoft to Norwich – 06.35, 07.50, 12.57, 22.48 Ipswich to Lowestoft – 13.16, 15.16, 18.13, 21.17 Lowestoft to Ipswich – 06.14, 15.06, 17.02, 20.07 Ipswich to Felixstowe – 08.25 Felixstowe to Ipswich – 08.54 Ipswich to Cambridge – 11.21, 13.21, 17.21 Cambridge to Ipswich – 12.47, 14.47, 18.47 Ipswich to Peterborough – 11.56 Peterborough to Ipswich – 13.50 London Liverpool Street to Ely – 19.07 Cambridge North to London Liverpool Street – 14.53, 20.53 London Liverpool Street to Cambridge North – 18.37 Bishops Stortford to Stratford – 09.47, 14.47, 21.15 Stratford to Bishops Stortford – 08.04, 11.30, 20.00, 23.00 Hertford East to London Liverpool Street – 00.07, 17.39, 22.09 London Liverpool Street to Hertford East – 21.12, 23.12 Hertford East to Stratford – 06.21 Stratford to Hertford East – 16.30 Broxbourne to Hertford East – 05.43 Meridian Water to Stratford – 07.38, 11.08, 16.08, 19.36, 22.38 Stratford to Meridian Water – 07.17, 10.46, 15.46, 19.00, 22.16 For further information about this press release, please ring the Greater Anglia Press Office on 0330 109 7555. For urgent or out-of-office hours calls, contact 07798 857385. All recent press releases and blogs can be found on the Greater Anglia website at: https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/news-desk. Follow the Greater Anglia news Twitter account: @greaterangliaPR and listen to our podcast Life On Rails. Image provided by Greater Anglia

Chantry Place Norwich is now home to 10 large animal sculptures as its free Safari Summer trail gets underway. The trail has got off to a brilliant start with over 200 trail maps given out every day since the trail launched on Saturday 22^nd July 2023. The animal sculptures include a giant gorilla, a lion, a hippo, zebra and panda which will be at Chantry Place every day until Sunday 3^rd September 2023. Free trail maps can be picked up from Deichmann on the lower ground floor at Chantry Place. Once complete, families can post their trail maps in the postbox in Deichmann, and collect a free goody bag offering a complimentary child’s ticket for free entry to Banham Zoo or Africa Alive, with a full paying adult, as well as an animal medal. Plus, everyone who enters their details will be in with a chance of winning a family annual pass to Banham Zoo and Africa Alive. Paul McCarthy, general manager at Chantry Place, comments: “Opening weekend of the safari trail has been popular, with our retailers handing out lots of trail maps and goody bags. Families are snapping pictures with the sculptures and taking selfies, and this free trail is putting a smile on little faces during the school holidays, and is also perfect as a rainy day activity too! Our Wild Wednesday arts and crafts sessions with SchooDoodle have sold out, and we’re confident that visitors will thoroughly enjoy all our free events this summer, including the zoos visiting us every Wednesday with educational activities. Feedback has already been brilliant, and we look forward to hosting a summer of safari fun for our visitors.” From Wednesday 26^th July, ‘Wild Wednesdays’ will begin with local company SchooDoodle which is hosting free arts and crafts sessions, which are now sold out, and Banham Zoo and Africa Alive offering educational sessions. Banham Zoo and Africa Alive education’s team will be at Chantry Place with animal artefacts, animal information and other zoo-related puzzles and games, every week during the school holidays. Norfolk Wildlife Trust will be visiting Chantry Place on Monday 7^th August and Monday 21^st August, and will be educating visitors on urban wildlife, plus hosting free fun activities. For more information on Safari Summer at Chantry Place, visit www.chantryplace.co.uk