This year’s Suffolk Show is celebrating a towering achievement as its first ever viewing platform nears completion.
The tower, constructed by Wherstead-based family scaffolding business, TH Moss and Sons, offers two platforms - one at 30ft and the other at 60ft - and breath-taking views across a large sweep of Suffolk landscape.
The structure, which will be open to the public and free to ascend over the two days of the show, offers visitors the chance to get a bird's eye view of the show and much further afield, taking in county landmarks including the giant cranes at the Port of Felixstowe and Mendlesham mast.
MORE - Everything you need to know about this year's Suffolk ShowTH Moss managing director Tim Moss agreed to take on the engineering challenge by long-time friend Bruce Kerr, who is deputy director of the Suffolk Show, and had seen viewing towers being used at other shows. "And here we are," said Tim. "I'm very proud of it - I'm proud of everybody who works for us."
Safety has been paramount throughout the process, he explained, and the entire structure has been 'over-engineered' to ensure its sturdiness.
Around six to eight his staff have been working on the striking structure - which is bound to be a big draw on shows days - flat-out since the start of May, making it a big commitment in terms of time and equipment. Assembling the right components for the job was one of the major challenges.
"The pressure has come through time constraints and three days of rain the week before last," admitted Tim.
In what's thought to be a first, the structure is anchored - fittingly - using agricultural machinery such as tractors and diggers.
The firm, which was launched in the 1960s by Tim's father, Trevor, and also includes Tim's brother, Paul, employs around 25 staff and, as the approved scaffolding contractor at the Port of Felixstowe, is responsible for much larger 300ft scaffolding structures there. It works on projects as far afield as Brighton and Peterborough.
Tim, who says he has a "very healthy respect of heights", said all projects had to be assessed very carefully, with wind strength one of the factors which they looked at.
"I'm very pleased with it. To the best of my knowledge it's never been done quite like this before," he said. "The response we have had from people attending the showground setting up their stands has been very positive."
The show takes place on May 29 and 30. Visit www.suffolkshow.co.uk for details.
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