yesterday, 80 trucks congregated at norfolks county hall at norwich for the 21 annual childrens convoy. for anyone who does’nt know anything about it, we take disabled and disadvanted kids to pleasurewood hills theme park for the day, and then parade back via greay yarmouths seafront. personally it is my favourite day of the year, and really makes you proud to be a truck driver! the streets of norwich are lined,as is every layby bridge and small turn off on the A47 en route across to pleasurewood hills, it really is unbelievable just how many people turn out to wave us all on. many people even plan their holiday to see the convoy! year after year a lot of the same people turn out, and have even made banners to show their support, elderly people at residential homes come outside (sometimes in fancy dress!!) to wave us on, it really makes you so proud!
anyway, for the day i had andrew, a 12 year old with autism, and his mum. he is naturally shy, but we could tell he loved the day, and on the way back after yarmouth seafront, he was constantly giggling!! it was his first year on the convoy, but im sure he will be back!
the great thing about the convoy is that it has the full support of the council and the police. the police outriders who ■■■■■■ the convoy and direct all the traffic are on their day off, and like the drivers, give up their time to help on this wonderful day
right, here are a few pictures of the day…
ready for the off from norwich at 10am sunday morning. everyone leaves in convoy, and does a lap round the carpark past the vips for the day.
people on route waving us along…
once we got to pleasurewood hills, off we went to the rides. we went on the carousel, helter skelter, saw a parrot show and had some dinner before the kids had a show put on for them. i left andrew and his mum to watch the show while i darted to get a few snaps of the trucks that were new on the convoy this year…
Stunning Paul arthurton contingent are always immaculately turned out, and are a real credit to the drivers and paul himself
dannis well turned out volvo, which spends its days working on greene king
winner of the best presented truck this year
leader of the convoy and main organiser, glenn johnson
once the show was over, it was head off again, again the crowds were out in force to cheer and wave us on
and finally a picture of me and andrew in front of the truck i borrowed for the day (big thankyou to my old boss james harvey for that)
the pictures just do not do justice to how many people were out to support this event, it has to be seen to be believed! the seafront alone must have at least 10,000 people there on the golden mile 
we headed back to norwich, where the kids were collected by their parents, and were given a goody bag each to remember the day by (not that they are likely to forget it in a hurry!!) and the drivers are given a presentation for their help. also this year, one child who is on the convoy asked for money for his birthday this year instead of presents!!
i hope you have enjoyed reading this and seeing the pictures of the day. if you would like more information on the club/charity, please visit www.eastcoasttruckers.org, and even better, become a friend of the charity or make a donation to help the convoy take place (even if just 1 person reads this and does so, that will be great!!)
A much needed piece of good PR for truckers. Great to know the kids had a good day out, well done to all those invoved 
