---

Narrowboat/Boat Shares For Sale

Canalside - Riverside B&B & Accom

---

Mercia Marine Boat Insurance

---

---

WATCH VIDEO

---

CanalCuttings - Your FREE Online-world British Inland Waterways, Narrowboat, River Cruiser, Canal Boat Magazine, Info Source and Britain's & Narrowboat Holiday Guide.

---

Around 800 Pages of Information and Features About Canals, Navigable Rivers and Their Usage - We're not just a Narrowboat World Magazine. The website includes River and Inland Waterways information - UK Inland Waterways Press Releases and Articles Invited.

---

THE BEST RALLY I’VE EVER ATTENDEED

Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club 50th Anniversary - Golden Jubilee Rally

Richard Yorke of North Cheshire Cruising Club, winners of the plaque for the most boats attending, giving our Commodore, Ken Marek a commemorative stool to mark our 50th birthday.

After much planning, Stoke on Trent Boat Club’s Golden Jubilee celebrations got a flying start with a stirring speech by Joan Walley MP, who touched on the Club’s past role securing the future of the Caldon Canal, the hidden gem of North Staffordshire; she referred to the Club’s current campaign and for the future, promised her support for the waterways, which must be protected.

Prior to this, newly elected Leader of SMDC, Karen Maryon - herself a member of the Boat Club - raised the Club’s flag, with its golden trim. Some seventeen VIP guests attended the opening, and joined Ken Marek, Commodore, and several Past Commodores for a buffet prepared by Club members.

Meanwhile, the celebrations continued - 140 boats had booked for the rally, and visitors enjoyed lines of colourful boats moored along the towpath through Endon, a rare sight here. They included narrowboat Saturn, the last remaining Shropshire Union Fly Boat, recently restored. On Sunday, Queenie the boat-horse arrived for demonstrations of harnessing.

There were displays to view. You could win prizes on the tombola or the grand raffle, you could support the many charities present - Guide Dogs with Dog ‘Whisper‘, the RNLI with their in-shore lifeboat [thankfully not needed]. Or you could bag a bargain on one of the many stalls - white elephant, books, videos, boat jumble. Sniggles from Signal 1 and 2 attended the Teddy Bears’ Picnic on Saturday and the Tots’ Tent was popular. Ducks raced on the stream, and the Potteries Model Boat Club cruised their radio-controlled models in the basin. The Fire Brigade gave away smoke alarms to the boaters, with advice on how to avoid boat fires.

For the boaters, a barbecue was held on Friday, and Saturday evening’s entertainment was provided by The Rock-Its, a local group who gave their services as live group and disco, for a very modest charge, as the event was being held to support two local charities - the Brown Edge and Endon First Responders and The Donna Louise Trust Treetops Children’s charity. It is not yet known how much was raised- the Treasurer is still counting! On Sunday evening, the entertainment was provided by the boaters themselves and judging from the laughter, everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

During the weekend, the Boat Club received some birthday presents - North Cheshire Cruising Club [who won the award for the most boats attending] gave a specially decorated canal ware stool; Stafford Boat Club a mounted model boat; The Potteries Model Boat Club donated a working model of The Tippler, made by their Chairman, Tony Hill; also Past Commodore John T Sutton had recreated a model sailing boat dating back to the early years of the club.

The members of the Club would like to thank everyone who contributed to the event and all who attended. Everyone said how much they enjoyed themselves. ‘The best rally I’ve ever attended’ was the comment of one visiting boater.

Erica Martin
Stoke on Trent Boat Club

---

---

---

---

SCARED OF SWITCHING?

---

NEW BW Continuous Cruisers Mooring Information

---

---

Canal, Waterways, Club And Society Events Diary

---

---

FREE Canal Route
Planner Link

---

FREE ENTRY UK MUSEUMS

---

---

Boater Bingo