Regular customers at a unique Woodbridge quayside cafe threw a surprise farewell party yesterday morning (Friday 22 December) for its popular proprietors as they faced starting a new life in Finland.

David and Pirkko Bradley have run the Caravan Cafe for eighteen years, but now they've dished up their final bacon sandwiches and fried breakfasts and poured their last mugs of tea before heading for Helsinki.  Several dozen regulars gathered to watch quayside resident, Bryony Hebson, present the couple with a painting of the cafe and its neighbouring barges and houseboats to remind them of the happy  days they'd spent there.  It had been painted by Woodbridge artist, Christine Lester.

Said an emotional Dave afterwards:  'I normally get wind of anything happening, but I didn't expect any of this.  It's all come as a great surprise.  We've got lots of good memories to take away with us and I shall miss all my customers.  I'm very torn.  I don't want to leave, but we've been planning this move for some time.'  When the couple sell their house in Wickham Market and get established in Helsinki Dave's hoping to find a part-time job.  'I've always worked and I don't think I'd be happy unless I was doing something with my life,' he explained.  

Dave spent many years working in catering in the merchant navy.  He gave up his life at sea after meeting his Finnish wife, Pirkko, at a stop-over in Helsinki.  The two of them have built up a loyal following at the cafe and their fame has spread across the world as tourists make a bee-line for their tiny eaterie.  While Dave does the cooking, Pirkko – with the help of assistant Amy Ward – makes the tea and clears up.

In the New Year the business will re-open with new proprietors, Mark and Sue Green and their daughter Joanna.

Source:
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