Member Viewpoint 2005 - Bristol Zoo

On a beautifully sunny day in September 2005, we invited 89 members to Bristol Zoo for Member Viewpoint. We gave our members a tour around the Zoo to get up close and personal with all of the different animals living there.

Bristol Zoo Gardens is a 12 acre site in Clifton that is run by the Bristol, Clifton and West of England Zoological Society Ltd. Awarded 'Zoo of the Year 2004' by the Good Britain Guide, Bristol Zoo Gardens has a continuous reputation for excellence, innovation, and dedication to conservation. It's the fifth oldest zoo in the world and the oldest outside of a capital city, and a long established major tourist attraction in Bristol.

Our members asked us some interesting questions and all really enjoyed the day which spurred us on to launch the next event in Norwich.

On 6 June 2006 our second Member Viewpoint event took place in the Norwich City Football Ground. Attendance at the event was 122 members who came to two separate sessions. Members enjoyed the 'Delia buffet' which was made up of Delia Smith's published recipes using only the finest ingredients and local seasonal produce.

Before becoming a director at Norwich City Football Ground, Delia was a long time Norwich City supporter and can still be found watching the games from the stands rather than the Directors' box.

Norwich City FC are part of the Football in the Community initiative, a registered charity, where facilities are offered to voluntary organisations 'to enhance existing opportunities and provide new provisions in which boys and girls of all ages can participate, regardless of their ability, social status or location.'

The ducks were out in force on Thursday 19 July at the Arundel Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) for our third Member Viewpoint.

Arundel Wetland Centre is part of a UK network of Wetland Centres run by the WWT, a UK registered charity.

The WWT is an organisation that is close to Chelsea's heart with its original birthplace at Slimbridge Wetland Centre being very close to our Head Office in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. By choosing Arundel WWT, we directly contributed to their conservation effort.

With 60 acres of ponds, lakes and reed beds, WWT Arundel was the perfect setting for a relaxing day out.

Many hundreds of the world's most spectacular ducks, geese and swans joined us for the day and our members enjoyed refreshments overlooking the beautiful Swan Lake and the Arundel Castle on the skyline.

As usual, our members challenged all of our staff attendees with questions and thoughts about Chelsea and the financial services industry. It's great to know how passionate our members are about their membership to Chelsea.