The Magnificent Seven - well Seven Rotarians anyway
The weather for the day was perfect and two full coach loads of children with their individual carers all from the Treetops School in Thurrock, together with seven of our club Rotarians, were collected in the morning from the school and whisked away to the Southend Sea Life Centre. There the children took great delight in seeing in the aquariums everything from sharks to lobsters and all manner of fish plus monkeys and Meercats. Meanwhile in a forest setting life-size models of pre-historic dinosaurs were found and then finally a colony of Penguins.
After lunch at the Sea Life Centre, everyone walked along the Esplanade beside the sea to Adventure Indoors and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon on funfair rides and amusements. We would like to thank the Sea Life Centre and Adventure Indoors for their tremendous generosity in providing the children, and carers (plus of course ourselves) with free access to both venues and a place to have our lunch, its so appreciated and the trip could not have happened without their support. Profound thanks also goes to KB Coaches who heavily discounted the cost of providing two coaches to ferry us all from Treetops School to Southend and back in such comfort and safety.
Thanks to Pam Watson Jones the Rotary area coordinator for Kids Out, Steve Payne who organised the day from our end and club members, Bob Paterson, Adrian Alsop, Chris Churchyard, Peter Hoche, Steve Quigley and Clive Page. Note the photo of Rotarians on the Esplanade enjoying a donut – enough said!
The coach trip home was quieter than the one out and all the children will no doubt have slept soundly the night after their day at the seaside.
Next Year we hope to return to the more usual time of year for this event.