Ipswich Town legend gets to ‘Wark on water’ once again, aboard Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Braemar in Harwich

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Braemar has welcomed a very special guest on board on her second call to Harwich, on her return from a spectacular seven-night Norwegian fjords cruise. To celebrate Fred. Olsen's travel partnership with Ipswich Town Football Club, the Master of Braemar, Captain Bent Ivar Gangdal, was introduced to Blues’ legend John Wark and gave him an extensive tour of the ship, including the Bridge, accompanied by Nathan Philpot, Fred. Olsen’s Sales and Marketing Director, and Ipswich Town’s Simon Milton.

As well as the important Ipswich Town visitors, Braemar also played host to a number of students from Suffolk One Sixth Form College and Suffolk New College in Ipswich, with whom Fred. Olsen has been working to develop specialist hotel management, travel and tourism study modules. Many of the students were keen to be photographed with the former footballers and to have the chance to hold John’s prized 1978 FA Cup winners shirt!

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“We have been delighted to be joined by our partners Ipswich Town Football Club on board Braemar in our local port, Harwich, and we hope that we have been able to give John and Simon a flavour of why we believe that our relationship with the Club is so important.

“We may offer cruises to all four corners of the globe from ten ports around the UK, but we are a local Ipswich-based company, and we are pleased to be reinvesting our earnings on every cruise booking made by Town fans back into the Club; hopefully, supporters can go on their cruise holiday knowing that they helped to develop the next young player and made a difference to their team.”

Simon Milton, Academy Sponsorship Manager for Ipswich Town Football Club, said:

“Ipswich Town are delighted to have Fred. Olsen as their official Travel Partners and continue the long-standing relationship between both companies. Our Academy U10 team will continue to wear the Fred. Olsen logo with pride on their shirts and we look forward to welcoming Nathan Philpot to the Training Ground to meet the team in the new season.

“When ITFC Legend John Wark and I were lucky enough to visit the Braemar, in Harwich, it was both an entertaining and informative experience for us. Meeting the Captain Bent Ivar Gangdal on the Bridge was a particular highlight.

“We recommend Fred. Olsen to all of our supporters for all of their travel needs, as we continue to grow the partnership in the new season.”

In December 2013, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and sister Ipswich-based company, Fred. Olsen Travel, signed a two-year deal with Ipswich Town, which sees Fred. Olsen Business Travel look after the Club’s travel requirements, including hotels, domestic and international flights, and even the players’ medical trips.

The agreement also gives Town supporters substantial discounts on holidays and cruises, whilst every trip booked by Blues fans means that Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Fred. Olsen Travel will invest funds back into the Club.

Fred. Olsen is continuing to support the development of the Academy by sponsoring the U10s team until the end of the 2014/15 season.

Fred. Olsen supporter offers are updated on the Ipswich Town website at www.itfc.co.uk on a regular basis, and are also available in the Fred. Olsen branches in Ipswich, Woodbridge, Bury St. Edmunds, Felixstowe and Colchester town centres.

Photo caption:

‘The Captain meets the Captain 1’

Master of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 929-guest Braemar, Captain Bent Ivar Gangdal (right), welcomes Ipswich Town Football Club ‘Captain’ and legend John Wark onto the ship’s Bridge and gets to hold John’s prized 1978 FA Cup winners shirt.

‘The Captain meets the Captain 2 / 3’ 

Students from Ipswich’s Suffolk One and Suffolk New College enjoy meeting the Master of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ 929-guest Braemar, Captain Bent Ivar Gangdal, and Ipswich Town’s John Wark and Simon Milton, out on deck in the Harwich sunshine.

Pictured, front row, left to right: Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines; Master of Braemar, Captain Bent Ivar Gangdal; and Ipswich Town’s John Wark and Simon Milton.