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SHEBDON UPDATE (23 Oct 09): The navigation has re-opened to craft this morning. Boaters are advised that there is no mooring between Shebdon Wharf and Bridge 45 due to the presence of workboats. Boaters are advised to exercise caution and adhere to local warning signs whilst passing along this section of canal.

The towpath will remain closed for the next two weeks whilst the contractor removes equipment and reinstates the towpath.

Montgomery Canal Big Dig 40 ― Procession of Boats

The weekend of 17/18 October 2009 was called Big Dig 40, and was a commemoration of the start of the restoration of the Montgomery Canal at the Big Dig in Welshpool in 1969. - Welshpool Procession of boats:

1, ‘Melrose’, which led the boat procession with Welshpool Mayor Cllr. Ann Holloway on board, is a 19ft Dawncraft 'Dandy' cruiser which has been on the Montgomery Canal in Wales since 1991. She is 'very lonely' and would like some neighbours! Her owner, Gordon Adams from Welshpool was at the Big Dig in 1969 and was a member of the Welshpool Branch of SUCS set up after the event.

2, ‘Graculus’ is a 19ft 6in steam launch. With her owners Paul, Joan & Amy Miller from Aberystwyth, she is a regular visitor to the Welsh length of the Montgomery Canal and has attended the Welshpool Festival of Transport as waterborne transport since 2006.

3, ‘Digby’ is an 18ft Norman cruiser. Owned by John Markwick from Welshpool, she was bought by his father-in-law from Ladyline during the 1974 fuel crisis. She spent most of her life based on the Trent & Mersey and was moved to the Montgomery Canal in Wales in 1992.

4, ‘Deep Harmony’ is a 14ft 6in canoe owned by Idris Owen from Newtown, a regular visitor to the Montgomery Canal and a dedicated participant in the annual Montgomery Canal 'Dinghy Dawdle'. Idris, a local canoeing veteran has canoed 2,800 miles in her.

5, ‘Elfin’ is a 15ft 2in steam launch owned by Stephen, Rosemary & Doug Milns from Ellesmere. A regular visitor to the Montgomery Canal in Wales, she has attended the Welshpool Festival of Transport as waterborne transport since 2007 and, in 2006, carried VIPs to the opening of Newhouse Lock.

6, ‘Crwdryn’ is a 25ft Midway narrowboat with an outboard motor. Owned by Robin & Pat Murchie of Llanymynech, she has recently joined the small local 'landlocked' boating community on the Welsh length of the Montgomery Canal.
7, ‘Rennie’’ is a 54ft narrowboat built by Canal & Rivercraft in about 1980 as a hire boat on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. She has a marinised former-taxi Leyland diesel engine. Bought by Chris Bushnell of Welshpool in 1989, she was brought overland to her mooring on the Montgomery Canal near Welshpool in 2005.

8, ‘Vulcan’ is a 20ft steam launch built in the style of a small harbour tug. She has a single cylinder 3½" x 4" 'puffer' engine and a coal-fired vertical fire tube boiler. She had to come to the boat event by road and her owners Jonathan & Doreen Phillips of Llanymynech hope she will soon be able to cruise to Welshpool directly!

9, ‘Ictus’ is a 54ft replica Edwardian steam launch built by Bay Class Yachts in 1989 as a floating studio for well-known waterways artist Garth Allan. Exhibited at the London Boat Show in 1990, she has a kerosene-fired compound condensing replica 'LIFU' steam engine built by Alex Ritchie. Moored for years on the Thames, she was sold reluctantly in 2004. 'Discovered' in a steam broker's yard near Canterbury by her current owners Maggie Ellis & Chris Bushnell of Welshpool in 2006, she was brought overland to her mooring on the Montgomery Canal near Welshpool.

10, ‘Heulwen III Silver Lady’ is a 70ft narrowboat and a brand new addition to the ‘fleet’ owned by the Heulwen Trust of Welshpool. She was specially built with a wheelchair lift by Maesbury Marine Services for use in the Trust's work of providing free trips on the Montgomery Canal in Wales for less able people. On Saturday she was giving public trips.

11, ‘Helterskelter’ is one of 64 Caraboats made in 1971-73. Just 16ft long and towed by an ordinary car, she can be used as a caravan or boat, going into the water with the wheels on. She was refitted by her owner, Neil Mcgarry of Lytham St.Annes in 2004-7 for less than £1,000 using recycled units etc.

12, ‘Mariamne’ is a 16ft steam launch owned by Bill Entwistle of Ellesmere. A regular visitor to the Welsh length of the Montgomery Canal, she has attended the Welshpool Festival of Transport as waterborne transport since 2007 and, in 2006, carried MP Lembit Opik for his official opening of Newhouse Lock.

13, ‘Heulwen II’ is a 70 ft narrowboat, the second to be built for the Heulwen Trust of Welshpool to give free trips on the Welsh length of the Montgomery Canal for less able people including wheelchair users. On Saturday she was giving public trips.

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