Products & Reviews

Book review: “A Delight for all Boaters”

by

Shannon Butcher

–

March 17, 2020

“WHAT a wonderful surprise I had when starting to read We Don’t Go Far But We Do See Life,” said reviewer, Les Heath. “Author Keith Harris had been musical director of the annual festival at Saul, dubbed Folk On The Water. I was there with my boat in 2006 when 12,000 people attended and £50,000…
Continue reading »
A very modern ‘hideout’ from Knights Narrowboats

by

Sam Hewitt

–

January 20, 2020

THE latest boat from Knights Narrowboats won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. If you like a traditional book, then the hideout isn’t for you, but if you like a clean-cut modern look then the builder’s 19th boat will appeal to you. From its two-tone grey and off-white exterior to the similarly coloured interior the hideout…
Continue reading »
Mysterious Moorings with Mouse by Kitty Irvine

by

Janet Richardson

–

July 31, 2017

A magical canal adventure Reviewer: Kathryn Smith THE adventures in the story of Mysterious Moorings with Mouse all begin when Fred and Lottie’s longed-for family holiday to Disney World is cancelled because Dad loses his job. Unexpectedly liberated from corporate fun, the imaginative possibilities are endless. Barge dweller Kitty Irvine brings her obvious love for…
Continue reading »
The Complete Guide to the Lancaster Canal

by

Janet Richardson

–

June 28, 2017

The only guide you will need to the Lancaster Canal Reviewer: Les Heath THINKING of doing the Lancaster Canal in the near future? Well don’t – not without a copy of the latest edition of The Complete Guide to the Lancaster Canal. Carrying a copy on your boat will transform an enjoyable canal trip into…
Continue reading »
Britain’s Historic Ships

by

Janet Richardson

–

June 28, 2017

Dip in these pages to expand your horizons Reviewer: Harry Arnold BRITAIN’S Historic Ships is another lavishly produced and illustrated volume from Bloomsbury in what might be described as a similar style and page-size format as Canals Of Britain. Not as weighty, but also not as expensive; equally attractive though. Perhaps if you are just…
Continue reading »
Towing Path Tales by Beatrice Holloway

by

Janet Richardson

–

June 28, 2017

Towpath tales for children Reviewer: Kathryn Smith AN ITINERANT lifestyle, new faces and places every day and evenings spent around a roaring stove; the link between boats and storytelling feels utterly intuitive. Hillingdon Narrowboats Association clearly thought so when it commissioned Beatrice Holloway to be their resident children’s storyteller, a project from which this book…
Continue reading »
Canals Of Britain by Stuart Fisher

by

Janet Richardson

–

June 28, 2017

A detailed overview of Britain’s waterway network Reviewer: Harry Arnold THERE are a number of general guides to Britain’s waterways and this is one of the better ones. Subtitled ‘A Comprehensive Guide’, Canals of Britain by Stuart Fisher is indeed that, in both excellently researched content and a mass of illustrations. A previous edition has…
Continue reading »
Hidden Nature – A Voyage of Discovery by Alys Fowler

by

Janet Richardson

–

May 30, 2017

The healing power of the outdoors Reviewer: Sarah Palmer I’VE been a fan of Alys Fowler’s approach to gardening for some time: her embrace of non-conventional methods makes a refreshing change to the rather strait-laced approach of some gardening writers. So, I was rather intrigued to learn that she was about to release a book…
Continue reading »
London’s Strangest: The Thames

by

Janet Richardson

–

May 30, 2017

Odd happenings along the River Thames Reviewer: Elizabeth Rogers A COLLECTION of ‘extraordinary but true’ stories has been compiled by Iain Spragg in London’s Strangest: The Thames – the latest in the ‘Strangest Tales’ series. All relating to incidents along the River Thames, they come in a surprisingly slim and compact volume in which are…
Continue reading »
The Canal Pioneers by Anthony Burton

by

Janet Richardson

–

May 5, 2017

Canal construction from 2500 BC to the early 20th century Reviewer: Robert Davies ANTHONY Burton is a well-known author and broadcaster and we reviewed the fifth edition of his first book, The Canal Builders, just over 12 months ago. This was written in 1972 and since then he has penned more than 70 books, specialising…
Continue reading »
The Mid-Shannon Waterway – A pictorial book of designated and tranquil moorings by Donal Boland

by

Janet Richardson

–

May 4, 2017

The Mid-Shannon Waterway – a new book for intrepid boaters Reviewer: Alison Alderton I FIRST met Donal Boland at a Shannon Boat Rally which he attended in his Humber barge, the James and Mary. Having recently come to Ireland from the waterways of the Midlands I was immediately attracted to the boat, one of the former…
Continue reading »
Panorama of the Thames. A Riverside View of Georgian London

by

Janet Richardson

–

May 3, 2017

A riverside view of Georgian London Reviewer: Elizabeth Rogers FOR any book lover looking for a purposeful use of any Christmas gift book tokens – or any lover of books – a very good choice would be this highly impressive publication which would grace any coffee table. It is composed of a reproduction of the…
Continue reading »
The Wrong Way Round by Rob Pearson

by

Janet Richardson

–

May 3, 2017

Going the wrong way round Reviewer: Les Heath AN INCREASING number of boaters are now using blogs on social media to keep friends in the picture with regard to their cruising adventures. But boater Rob Pearson and his wife Lesley have taken the art a step further with a 163-page ‘super blog’ on the trials…
Continue reading »
From cars to canal boats

by

Janet Richardson

–

March 21, 2017

Phil Pickin meets the team at the Bickerstaffe Boat Company. PEOPLE come to boating in some unusual ways and none more unorthodox than husband and wife team Kevin and Susan Kenny who, after spending more than 25 years in the automotive industry, packed it all in to build narrowboats. Boat owners already, they didn’t need…
Continue reading »