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Is this the best job in Norfolk? Broads rangers share highs and lows of role

4 0
03.01.2026

But spend a shift with the people who monitor the waterways, and it is clear it is not all plain sailing.

Will Mason and Bob Goddard are two members of the Broads Authority's team of rangers, who are responsible for keeping people safe while on the water, among countless other duties.

Broads Authority rangers Will Mason and Bob Goddard at Great Yarmouth Yacht Station (Image: Owen Sennitt)

Their main beat last summer was Breydon Water and the connecting rivers, the Yare, Waveney and Lower Bure.

While many days are spent gliding along rivers on patrol, within a split second, their day can switch from idyllic to high stakes, where they can sometimes be the first people to arrive at serious incidents.

Broads Authority rangers Will Mason and Bob Goddard approach Breydon Bridge on board a launch (Image: Owen Sennitt)

As Mr Mason puts it, there are two key rules every ranger must follow: "Be ready to change your plans and don't forget your lunch."

The pair see themselves as "custodians of the rivers", and they must be ready to undertake a huge range of duties.

From spot checks of boats to check for hazards to helping direct the thousands of tourists that visit each summer, there seems to be no end to the work they may have to do.

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© Eastern Daily Press