A Long Way From Home: Shanghai Days by Jake Barber

Punting in Shanghai

Punting in Shanghai

Punting a Long Way From Home: A Busy Couple of Days in Shanghai!

Scudamore’s was invited by Visit Britain, in conjunction with British Airways, to participate in ‘The Big British Invite’ an event taking the best in British music, fashion, and heritage all the way out to Shanghai between the 8th and 9th of March.

The stage was set in Joy City shopping mall in Central Shanghai, with Visit Britain heritage ambassadors, Tower of London Yeoman Serjeant George Brodie and I, given the task of selling the idea of British tourism to the thousands of visitors who came by over a busy couple of days.

Alongside ambassadors from British Airways we spent our time chatting to Shanghai residents, getting them to dress up in British fashion, listen to music, and have fun viewing an Alice Temperley fashion show, as well as a retrospective on British Airways Cabin Crew fashion throughout the years. And of course there were photos, many, many photos! The visitors seems to take particular delight in putting on that epitome of punter chic, the boater, and snapping away photos for their friends.

Shanghai may seem like a long way from home for a lowly punt chauffeur, but as Consul-General in Shanghai (and Cambridge University alumnus/one-time punter) Brian Davidson explained during his speech to the media at the opening of the event, Great Britain has a fantastic heritage and events like these provide a wonderful opportunity to promote this overseas. In addition, with a growing and increasingly affluent population Shanghai is the perfect place in which to promote luxury British goods, and what could be more luxurious than a guided tour with Scudamore’s Punting Company?

The Big British Invite is part of a larger initiative called The GREAT campaign, an Olympic and Paralympic legacy program run jointly by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), Visit Britain, the British Council, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to promote British technology and innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity, knowledge, eco consciousness, heritage, sport, shopping, music and the outdoors.

It has been a great honour for Scudamore’s and personal privilege to be invited to join in with The Big British Invite, to be recognised for the unique aspect of British heritage our work preserves and learn so much from Visit Britain, British Airways, and the Tower of London.

Punting in Shanghai

Date posted

Mar 11, 2013

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29th March: Due to strong winds we are operating our self-hire services for experienced punters only, until further notice. River tours are running as normal.

If you have any questions contact us at enquiries@scudamores.com, Facebook Messenger or on 01223 359750.

Email or Call Us: 01223 359750

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