Dear Members & Friends
How amazing is it to start getting back to live face-to-face business events as well as meeting up with family and friends? Whilst we should remain cautious it proves how important human contact is and we were so lucky to have sunshine for our first ‘in person’ meeting last week, 15 months after our last live event. We were kindly hosted by Penny and Liz at The Trout Inn, Lechlade, with delicious breakfast baps and unlimited tea and coffee. Old and new members got a chance to catch up and share stories, both successes and challenges, from the past year whilst taking in the spectacular view of the Thames.

The river was the home of our speaker’s business, Cotswold Boat Hire. Shirley (also our Vice Chair & Treasurer) who owns the business along with husband Greg explained the complexities of running their business during the pandemic with changing regulations as to when and what boats could be hired out. The additional work required for the maintenance boats for those that couldn’t get out to look after them and working as a ‘family bubble’ when crane day meant they couldn’t have additional staff to help lift all the over wintering boats into the water! However, it shows by being pragmatic and focussing on what you can do, not what you can’t, their business continues to be successful and we wish them a good summer season. You can book a boat for a great few hours, or days, on the Thames.
We continue with our in-person meetings on 24 June in Coleshill with a talk from Rory Souter of the Cotswold Cider Co. about how the company developed and the industry, whilst tasting a variety of ciders! Places are limited to members only plus one guest. Book HERE >>
We will also have a summer social on 29 July at Lechlade Marina, thank you to Ian and Jules, with a car rally proceeding this. Our September meeting will be kindly hosted by Richard and Trish at Cotswold Woollen Weavers and we will hear from some of our award winners in a panel session. More information on how to book will follow soon.
Talking of award winners, it was great to finally be able to present some of our winners with their certificates from our ‘virtual awards’ back in February. Congratulations again to Ian from Lechlade Marina for winning New Business of the Year and Penny and the team at The Trout Inn, Lechlade for the Howard Dowler Award.
Take care and I hope to see you at a meeting soon!
Kind regards
Helen
Chair - FLBC


