The Crew
Katie Hanger - the creator |
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It was a combination of a new exciting business opportunity, and a fulfilment of a life ambition to run my own business that prompted the creation of Lola Charters. Now, let me journey back a little further to an excursion that I booked during a visit to Queensland, Australia back in 2001. 'Uncle Brian’s Waterfalls Tour'... It was quite simply a perfect mix of value for money, a very personal service (Brian made sure he remembered everybody’s name on the trip) and exceeding every expectation, with 5* catering appearing from the back of his mini bus at every stop and the perfectly timed soundtrack that complimented each waterfall stop - it all contributed to creating a timeless experience I will never forget. It's these three attributes that I've pursued in setting the standards for Lola Charters today. With this in mind I now love nothing more than slipping on my worn in deck shoes each morning and getting out on the water... |
Robert - the navigator |
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Having been brought up on the Norfolk Broads I'm never happier than when I'm out on the water – whether it’s doing 25mph on a wake board through Breydon Water or 4mph on board Lola through the village of Horning. Since being part of Lola it’s great being able to share the experiencewith our guests on board. I find the best time out on the Broads is when the hire craft have all moored up for the evening, the wind has dropped and the sun is going down... the wine keeps flowing. |
Christine - the realist |
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Preparing picnics, pressing table linen and taking control of the wheel on board Lola are just a few of the roles I have with Lola Charters… not much call for these roles as I was training to be a nurse 36 years ago but rewarding none the less in so many ways. The highlight of the charters I crew is the looks on people’s faces when I deliver the food to them on board, dressed on pretty stands and plenty of it. Which reminds me of a funny time afloat back in the late 1960’s early 1970’s – The great Bread Strike! We were moored on Barton Broad tucking into our Farmhouse picnic when out came the homemade loaves… within minutes all the passersby on boats and foot were offering money to buy just a slice, it was like gold dust! |
Jamie - the experience |
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Without showing my age… I have over 25 years of experience of Broads navigation as a Navigation Ranger with the local national park authority. I am fortunate enough to have been using the broads for over 40 years and I love nothing more than sharing my experiences and knowledge of the water with our guests on board. I do like to keep a watchful eye out for the rarer wildlife in the park too, with a couple of close sightings of the Bittern and some great passing’s of the electric blue kingfishers. Not that many years ago I had the honor of transporting some of the Royals protection officers for Prince Charles, Camilla and Princess Anne, I met them all and welcomed them on board during their visits to the Norfolk Broads. David Belamy and Jim Davidson were a couple of other famous faces I have had the pleasure of afloat but I think Arthur Fowler from Eastenders was the turning point in my career! |
