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Historic Boat Gathering At Retford

Lots of historic narrowboats were moored on the Chesterfield Canal at Retford at the weekend - 10/11 September 2011.

The event was part of Retford Heritage Day and attracted large crowds. Many of the local people said how wonderful it was to see so many colourful and impressive boats on their canal.

The event was organised by the Chesterfield Canal Trust. Their tripboat, the Seth Ellis, ran hourly cruises that were sold out. There were also some stalls and the Trust’s promotional trailer did good business telling the public all about the canal. The Rum Runner pub ran a beer festival.

The idea for the Gathering came from Pete Ramsell, one of the Trustees. He has organised the restoration of the Trust’s own 82 year old ex-working boat, Python. This gave a link to Historic Narrow Boat Owners’ Club, whose members it was that brought their beautiful vessels.

All were gaily painted with highly polished basswork. The owners were very happy to talk to interested people about their boats and many invited the public aboard. It was probably Elizabeth that got the most attention. This was rebuilt in an Art Deco style in the 1930s and is like no other boat most people had ever seen Derek Turner, the Chair of Retford Heritage Day Committee said “The Gathering was a great success and brought people into Retford to enjoy the Chesterfield Canal and the Heritage of Retford.”

This proved to be a doubly successful weekend for the Chesterfield Canal Trust, because some volunteers from the Waterway Recovery Group had been helping the Trust’s own Work Party in the very last stages of constructing a 500 metre washwall to link the canal at Mill Green to the new Staveley Town Basin. This huge project is almost complete and will allow the new basin to be flooded in the next couple of months. This will be the site of the Trust’s Festival next summer.

The Trust is very grateful to the Retford Civic Society, the Historic Narrow Boat Owners’ Club and the Waterway Recovery Group. It is also very proud of its many volunteers who do so much to enhance people’s enjoyment of this wonderful waterway and to campaign for its full restoration.