Norwich Meeting - 10th March 2010
Ivan Hardy – East Coast Truckers Charity

Ivan began the evening by showing a documentary style film of the 19th Convoy from 2004. It showed the full days events, from the trucks preparing to leave from The Cattle Market, the Convoy down the A47, the afternoon at Pleasurewood Hills and the Convoy back along Great Yarmouth Seafront on the return journey to Norwich.

After the film, Ivan explained that this year marks the 25th Silver Jubilee of the Convoy and this year there would be 100 trucks in the convoy (there is usually about 80), along with vintage trucks and fire engines.

Ivan went on to explain some of the logistics behind the convoy, both before and during the actual convoy. From marshalling the trucks in the car parks, to obtaining road closures, to catering for all the children and helpers on the day.

There are no paid staff in the East Coast Truckers Charity so all money raised at events goes to giving unique days out to children with special needs and buys specialist equipment (such as Specialist Sports Wheelchairs) that would otherwise be out of reach for so many children.

The East Coast Truckers are best known for their Annual Convoy, but they are also busy throughout the year. They attended the Hippodrome Circus with 220 children in January and in February took 250 children to the Attleborough Pantomime. They also organise an Easter Egg Hunt at The Dinosaur Park, a Teddy Bear Hunt at Great Ellingham. They attend the Truck Weekend at Santa Pod Raceway with 50 children. They attend Gala Day at the Royal Norfolk Showground. They visit Colchester Zoo and in December they hold a Christmas Party where over 400 children attend, and this event is open not only to the Children on the Charities Database, but also to their siblings.

Ivan then took questions from the audience.

A very interesting talk.

This years Convoy will be on 29th August 2010 starting at 10am from County Hall.