From Guest to Guardian of the Programme

Meet the mastermind behind every break, Group Programme Manager Sue Secker

When you check in at Five Lakes or Hopton-on-Sea, there’s a moment that quietly sets the tone for everything that follows on your Fully Inclusive Break. You’re handed your programme.

It’s carefully timed, and packed from morning to midnight with activities, workshops, quizzes, shows and new additions. At first glance, it looks effortless — a seamless flow of options designed to help you make the most of every hour.

But behind every programme is a remarkable amount of thought, planning and experience. And at the heart of it all is Group Programme Manager, Sue Secker.

“Every break has its own unique programme, and every programme is its own jigsaw puzzle,” Sue says. “There are many pieces, and occasionally some missing ones I have to find! But when it’s put together and I see guests arriving, enjoying their first coffee with their programme and a highlighter, it brings a smile to my face.”

Part of Potters for Five Decades

Sue’s story with Potters began long before she stepped into the world of spreadsheets and scheduling grids.

“I first started coming to Potters as a guest in the 1980s, with my family and friends,” she laughs. “I know — I don’t look old enough!”

She then joined the team in 1999, moving from her home town of Epping, in Essex. As a casual team member alongside a full time role at Norwich Airport, she worked in ten pin bowling and assisted with party nights, before stepping into the team permanently. And across five decades, she’s witnessed extraordinary change.

“I remember peacocks roaming the Archery Field, Donkey Derbies bringing smiles to families, and Village Rambles creating chaos in Hopton-on-Sea. There’s been so much investment that’s transformed venues, facilities, entertainment, all of which have seen the guest programme expand and evolve.”

But it’s that initial guest perspective that remains central to how she works today.

“When I’m planning the programme, I still always put myself in the guests’ shoes,” she explains. “What would I want to do? How would I want my day to flow? What would make my break feel special? 

“There’s so much to do at Potters and inevitably activities overlap. So it’s getting that balance right too — what is overlapping with what, and giving guests every opportunity to experience as much as they want to.”

It’s that lived experience — that understanding of what it feels like to be on the other side of the check-in desk — that to this day makes Sue uniquely suited to her role.

With Hopton-on-Sea colleague, Buzby Allen

The Puzzle of Possibility

Potters delivers over two hundred Fully Inclusive Breaks each year across its resorts in Hopton-on-Sea and Five Lakes. Each one brings its own rhythm, guest demographic and seasonal considerations.

Family Breaks at Hopton-on-Sea demand high-energy daytime options and activities that adults and children can enjoy together. Adult-only breaks might lean further into workshops, quizzes, wellness or educational sessions. Seasonal changes influence venue use, daylight hours, what’s indoors, what’s outdoors — essentially the whole mood of the programme. Then there’s unique break programmes such as during the Ambassador Cruise Line World Indoor Bowls Championships, Ceroc’s Swish Dance Weekend, or unique Christmas and New Year Breaks, which warrant additional attention.

On every break, Sue also has to consider the total number of guests, ages of guests (especially on Family Breaks), whether new show rehearsals are blocking out venues, the management of the Entertainment and Activity Teams’ holidays, ‘Plan Bs’ for the Great British weather, supplies for craft sessions… and the list continues.

So when Sue says “it’s like a jigsaw,” we see what she means.

“It’s never just copy and paste,” Sue says. “Every break has its own personality. The programme has to reflect that.”

Always Evolving

Then there’s the ever-growing list of new additions. Sue is the person who brings all of those elements together on paper, as old favourites merge with new discoveries.

In 2026, guests have enjoyed more new activities than ever before, not least a wealth of wellness opportunities. Each new activity has to be tested against timing, venue capacity, rotas, guest flow and the overall balance of the programme.

“When a fresh activity is introduced, it’s exciting — but it also means reworking the bigger picture,” she says. “The programme is never static, and you’re constantly asking: does this complement what’s already there? Does it give guests enough choice without overwhelming them? Is there something for every interest at any given time?”

And ultimately, that evolution comes down to one simple premise: “We never want guests to feel like they’ve done it all’,” Sue says. “Even if you’ve been many times before, there should always be something new. Some guests are competitive too — they like to beat their scores from previous breaks!”

The Quiet Architect Behind Amazing Memories

It’s easy to think of a holiday programme as a list of events. But in reality, it’s the framework for all the memories you have, and will have again in the future.

It’s the quiz you won unexpectedly. The workshop that sparked a new hobby. The wellness session that reset your routine. The evening entertainment that became a highlight of your break.

Sue might not be centre stage during your stay, but her fingerprints are everywhere — in the pacing of your day, the balance of your choices, and the smooth transitions that make everything feel effortless.

So next time you arrive and unfold that programme over your first coffee (with or without a highlighter) take a moment to appreciate the careful planning behind it.

Because while the fun is delivered by the Activities and Entertainment Teams across our resorts, it’s Sue Secker who pieces together the jigsaw puzzle, ensuring that from your very first afternoon to your final night, every moment has its place.