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  • The John Bunyan Community Boat receives The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

    The John Bunyan Community Boat receives The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

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    The John Bunyan Community Boat, a completely volunteer based group in Bedford have just been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE. The John Bunyan Community Boat, launched in 2013, is run as a Social…

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  • Countdown begins to 30th anniversary Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival

    Countdown begins to 30th anniversary Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival

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    FINAL preparations are being made to welcome thousands of music-lovers to Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival’s big come-back event marking its 30th anniversary. The popular festival, returning after a two-year absence, will set toes tapping at venues across the town including local pubs where live music will be on tap throughout the weekend, June 16-19.  A…

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  • MP praises volunteers’ canal restoration work

    MP praises volunteers’ canal restoration work

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    This week is National Volunteer Week so how appropriate it was for the Wey & Arun Canal Trust to receive a visit from Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs last week, in recognition of all the work done by volunteers in bringing an historic canal back to life. Andrew’s visit started at the…

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  • PUSHING THE BOATS OUT FOR THE PLATINUM JUBILEE

    PUSHING THE BOATS OUT FOR THE PLATINUM JUBILEE

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    As Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, national charity the Canal & River Trust has found nearly 350 boats on its 2,000 miles of waterways have names related to the Queen (circa one in every hundred). 66 boats are called Elizabeth or have Elizabeth in their names, while a further 130…

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  • Friends of Cromford Canal announce new premium trip

    Friends of Cromford Canal announce new premium trip

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    News of a new extended and guided premium trip on the narrowboat Birdswood. After the success and positive reviews, by passengers, of their trial here’s an extended 3 hour guided tour of the following locations; Leawood Pump House Wigwell Aqueduct The Nightingale Arm Aqueduct Cottage The FCC are offering narrowboats trips on the afternoons of…

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  • Boats craned in for Crick Boat Show

    Boats craned in for Crick Boat Show

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    Monday saw boats weighing up to 35 tonnes each craned into Crick Marina by MJT Cranes. This was part of preparations for the 23rd Crick Boat Show, which takes place over the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday June 3-5. A special Trade & Preview Day will be held on Thursday June 2, for advanced ticket holders…

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  • Lottery boost for pilot mental health support for boaters

    Lottery boost for pilot mental health support for boaters

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    A PILOT psychotherapy and mental health skills coaching service for boat dwellers without a permanent mooring was launched during Mental Health Awareness Week. The National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) was awarded nearly £10,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund to support the low-cost service. NBTA chairperson Pamela Smith said: “Our heartfelt thanks go to all…

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  • ​MP impressed with Montgomery Canal visit

    ​MP impressed with Montgomery Canal visit

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    NORTH Shropshire MP Helen Morgan recently made a fact-finding visit to the area of the Montgomery Canal near Crickheath accompanied by Coun Roy Aldcroft of Shropshire Council. She was invited by Clive Robertson and Tom Fulda, both of whom are trustees of Shropshire Union Canal Society (SUCS) to look first hand at the current restoration…

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  • Leighton Buzzard towpath closures begin 6 June 2022

    Leighton Buzzard towpath closures begin 6 June 2022

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    On 6 June, in partnership with national walking and cycling charity Sustrans, Canal & River Trust, the national waterways and wellbeing charity, is starting a £500,000 towpath improvement project on the Grand Union Canal in Leighton Buzzard. The works, which will be undertaken by the Canal & River Trust’s engineering contractor Kier and are due…

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  • Out and about with Alarum Productions

    Out and about with Alarum Productions

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    KATE Saffin and Heather Wastie of Alarum Productions are back performing live and have a host of events planned for the summer.  Their June and July dates are as follows: June 3-5  Crick Boat Show, where you’ll find them performing in various parts of the site. June 23 ‘I Dig Canals’ in the beer tent…

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  • HAYES CANAL FESTIVAL IS BACK

    HAYES CANAL FESTIVAL IS BACK

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    Hayes Canal Festival is back on the Grand Union Canal on Sunday 29 May, for the first time in nearly three years. From free boat trips and canoe sessions to fishing and a climbing wall, there will be activities and live entertainment throughout the day – on water and land – from noon until 5pm.…

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  • Annual Montgomery Canal Forum

    Annual Montgomery Canal Forum

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    Achievements of canal restoration – activity on the canal – plans for the future This year’s Montgomery Canal Forum will be held at Open Newtown’s new Riverside Venue on Monday, 20 June 2022 at 2.30pm. After the disruptions of Covid, the Forum will mark last year’s bicentenary of the final opening of the canal to…

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  • Open Weekend Celebration Event to be held in Stafford

    Open Weekend Celebration Event to be held in Stafford

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    Stafford Riverway Link (SRL) are organising an Open weekend event to mark the 250th anniversary of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. It is also 25 years since the formation of the Stafford Riverway Link C.I.C, making it a double celebration. The large fete event will take place on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th May 2022…

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  • NEW ‘CANALATHON’ CHALLENGE LAUNCHED ACROSS THE NATION’S WATERWAYS

    NEW ‘CANALATHON’ CHALLENGE LAUNCHED ACROSS THE NATION’S WATERWAYS

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    People across England and Wales are being challenged to put on their trainers and take to the towpaths in a new ‘Canalathon’ to raise money to protect the nation’s 200-year-old canals and the wildlife-rich green corridors that they provide. The Canal & River Trust, the charity which looks after 2,000 miles of waterways across England…

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