Water worker wings it

28/07/2005

A water worker reached new heights today as part of one of Suffolk’s major annual events.

Essex & Suffolk Water training co-ordinator, Kate Presland, showed her adventurous side when she was strapped to the wing of a plane and flew sky high as part of the Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival.

The opportunity to do the wing walk was part of Essex & Suffolk Water’s sponsorship of the air festival which included sponsoring the Utterly Butterly flying display team.  Twenty brave employees volunteered to do the walk and Kate Presland’s name was ‘pulled out of the hat’.

Kate, who is 41, lives in Lowestoft and works in the water company’s customer contact centre, St Mary’s, in Lowestoft, did the wing walk to raise money for a local charity that helps underprivileged children, Help an East Coast Child.

Despite the wet and windy weather the plane took off from Seething Airfield, near Bungay in Suffolk, at 3.35pm and soared to 500 feet.  The flight lasted ten minutes and the pilot tested Kate’s nerves at up to 80 miles an hour.

An exhilarated Kate, who was born in Chelmsford and has worked for Essex & Suffolk Water for 17 years, said:  “When I was being strapped onto the wing of the plane my knees turned to jelly and I had huge butterflies in my stomach.  When we started to fly it was a fantastic feeling – I did not want to come down! 

“All my friends and colleagues think I am crazy – I probably am, but I feel so lucky that I was given the chance to do the wing walk and am so pleased that I will make a difference to childrens’ lives.  Next on my list is a sky dive!”

Dorothy Tait, Essex & Suffolk’s community relations manager, said:  “Essex & Suffolk Water not only supplies 1.7 million customers with water which is vital for life, but it is immersed in the local community.  This has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Kate and will also benefit the community as she is raising money for a local charity.”

Staff at St Mary’s have an excellent view of the festival as the customer contact centre is right on the sea front and in the flight path at Lowestoft.  They are enjoying the atmosphere of the two days and joining in by wearing casual clothes to work and being treated to a tasty buffet tomorrow.

For further information contact Cara Hall, Essex & Suffolk Water, 0191 301 6720.