We’re here, again! The last week of the year is upon us, and what a perfect time it is to look back at what a great year it has been for us here at Traditional Punting Company.
So grab a cuppa or some leftover Christmas wine and join us whilst we reminisce over the year 2022.
Winter
I think it is safe to say that this year has been one for the record books, weather-wise. We really have experienced both ends of the temperature spectrum.
In February high winds graced us with their presence. Meaning we had to shut up shop for a few days (nothing, however, compared to last year).
Our boats were all loved up and sold out on Valentine’s Day. With special romantic punting packages booked, red roses ordered and champagne in the cooler. We would recommend booking your Valentines’ Day punting early to avoid disappointment.
Spring
As the weather started to look up in March, we started to look towards the upcoming season. We spent much of the month preparing the boats ready for the Easter holidays.
Easter marked the first Punt and Hunt of the year. This was a huge success, providing lots of entertainment (plus some free sweets) for families.
In May we saw the return of large bookings, with summer schools and corporate events reassembling again after a long covid hiatus.
Summer
The start of summer started off with a bang, quite literally. After two years of cancellations, the May Balls returned. Trinity College held theirs first and showcased an impressive display of fireworks set to a variety of music. St Johns College was next and they didn’t shy away from an extravagant affair.
June marked the Queens Platinum Jubilee. Celebrations were held throughout the country but as Cambridge has a strong royal connection, there were lots of events around the city celebrating the Queen’s reign. We decorated our punts with Union Jack bunting and some of our customers had our Harriets Afternoon Tea onboard, really making them feel like royalty.
Our first summer staff party also took place, with BBQ and games taking place in the back garden of our office. Fun was had by all and it was a great start to the Summer season.
In July we had one of the hottest weeks on record, with temperatures in Cambridge rising to nearly 40 degrees celsius. Because of the glorious sunshine, we experienced an influx of tourists visiting Cambridge (we also got some great photos).
After a two-year break, our Music on the River in collaboration with Let’s Go Punting was back. This year we had three incredible artists; Dorothea, Liam Martin and Ukulele Simon. Three Friday evenings throughout July and August were spent gliding along the River Cam being serenaded by the best local artists Cambridgeshire has to offer.
Autumn
To celebrate a successful Summer period we had our end-of-the-season staff party at Cafe Foy in early September. Pizza was shared, awards were received and drinks were consumed.
Speaking of drinks, we launched our champagne punting package. This was very exciting for us as it meant we could elevate our private tours to an even more exclusive experience for our customers.
We also became friends of the Cambridge Film Festival, donating a tour towards their raffle. In return, we were lucky enough to be invited to two documentary premieres, both of which we thoroughly enjoyed.
October saw our second Punt and Hunt of the year, Halloween. This took place during the October half term, we saw lots of very scary and spooky Halloween costumes on our boats. It is safe to say that this was a very successful week.
In November we launched our new fibreglass boat ‘Glider’. This was the first of a brand new fleet that we are slowly introducing. As much as we love our current punts, we are so excited to get this new fleet out on the river.
December
This month has flown by, perhaps it’s down to the sheer amount that has gone on.
The first weekend in December saw the return of our very successful Christmas Carols on the River. Alongside Let’s Go Punting we welcomed back St John’s Evangelist Choir. We raised £830 for Cambridge Aid. Additionally, we donated £150 to the choir which in turn was given to Winter Comfort.
December also saw the return of our third and final punt and hunt of the year. This time Father Christmas is among the many visitors to Cambridge.
We also had our Christmas Dinner at The Punter and had a Taskmaster-style competition between all the staff, (sadly my group didn’t win).
2022 finished just like it had started, with very cold weather. For the first time since we opened, the River Cam completely froze over meaning we had to close for five days.
Overall it has been a very successful year and we are all very excited to see where next year takes us.
Posted on December 23rd, 2022, by the Traditional Punting Company Editor
