Travel agents join Newmarket Holidays’ team for beach clean

Claire Hodgkin and Stuart Cowell, account managers at Newmarket Holidays, were supported by local agents from Howard Travel, Global Independent Travel, Miles Morgan Travel, Hays Travel and Inteletravel to complete the good deed on behalf of the Marine Conservation Society.

Together, the brilliant beach cleaners collected 10 bin bags of rubbish from Sand Bay, removing litter that included cans, food containers, sweet wrappers and lollipop sticks, plus more unusual items, including a sock, pants and the wheel from a wheelbarrow. 

Every item collected was recorded on a beach clean volunteer survey form and supplied to the Marine Conservation Society, who monitor the status of Britain’s beaches. 

The day was planned by Claire Hodgkin, who lives locally and chose the site as it hasn’t been litter-picked since before the summer holidays. 

Claire said: "Stuart and I were overwhelmed to see so many of our travel agent partners wanting to join in and make a difference to the environment. Everybody really enjoyed having the opportunity to give something back to the local community. It was lovely to receive thanks from people as we swept the beach and we all felt we made a difference!"

The beach clean was completed as part of Newmarket Holidays’ charity initiative, which gives all employees two days of paid leave every year so they can support charities that are close to their heart.