The Rocquaine Regatta (held 29 July 2017) has a very special place in the GTA's heart as two of our senior managers volunteer their time to help organise it. Our chief executive, Simon Le Tocq, has been the regatta's Secretary for the Management Committee since 2012:
"Growing up in St Peters I attended many Regattas as a child and remember very clearly the piano smashing event with pieces of wood and piano wire flying everywhere! I have been involved with the Regatta as an organiser since 2011. In my role as Secretary I try to secure corporate sponsorship (we are very proud of the fact that the Regatta is a free day out for all the family but do rely on sponsorship to meet the costs of the event). I also help arrange the various permits and permissions we need and book the various groups and food stalls that keep everyone happy! On the day I help out with the junior sand events and seeing the smiles on the faces of the children taking part makes all the hard work worthwhile! See you on the beach!"
Our head of university programmes, Kate Lenfestey, is a (very) long-serving volunteer to the regatta. She organises the boat races on the day itself:
"Year after year the regatta always has a fantastic atmosphere - it's so wonderful to be a part of the whole community getting together and having fun! There are races for fishing boats of all sizes, as well as fast boats and sailing boats, and they come from all around the island. It's amazing to see all the effort that goes into decorating the boats, and it's always a struggle to judge which one is the most-deserving of first prize."
We are so happy to be able to support this fantastic local event through our staffs' volunteering activities. Other members of staff volunteer their time on a regular basis for: