Providing boat trips from the pontoon at the front of the North Warehouse will be Still Waters. She was originally built in 1922 as a tender for the RMS Mauretania 1 (1906-1934), a sister ship to the Lusitania which was sunk by a German U-Boat in 1915. After the ship was scrapped in May 1935, Still Waters was transferred to the newly built Mauretania 2, a joint build venture by White Star Line and Cunard in 1936 and stayed until she was scrapped in 1966. In 2014 Still Waters was lifted out of the water and fully restored by Phil Goddard, a Southampton vintage boat restorer until transported to the Thames and returned to the water in July 2015. Still Waters was obtained by the Boat Station Slimbridge in 2021 and enjoys a new life as a passenger trip boat on the Gloucester & Sharpness canal.

Going retro in Gloucester!

News, What's On

RETRO on the Water co-ordinator Tony Aldridge is seeking interesting and historical boats to take part in the new event at Gloucester Docks during the August bank holiday weekend.

Providing boat trips from the pontoon at the front of the North Warehouse will be Still Waters. She was originally built in 1922 as a tender for the RMS Mauretania 1 (1906-1934), a sister ship to the Lusitania which was sunk by a German U-Boat in 1915. After the ship was scrapped in May 1935, Still Waters was transferred to the newly built Mauretania 2, a joint build venture by White Star Line and Cunard in 1936 and stayed until she was scrapped in 1966. In 2014 Still Waters was lifted out of the water and fully restored by Phil Goddard, a Southampton vintage boat restorer until transported to the Thames and returned to the water in July 2015. Still Waters was obtained by the Boat Station Slimbridge in 2021 and enjoys a new life as a passenger trip boat on the Gloucester & Sharpness canal.
Providing boat trips from the pontoon at the front of the North Warehouse will be Still Waters. She was originally built in 1922 as a tender for the RMS Mauretania 1 (1906-1934), a sister ship to the Lusitania which was sunk by a German U-Boat in 1915. After the ship was scrapped in May 1935, Still Waters was transferred to the newly built Mauretania 2, a joint build venture by White Star Line and Cunard in 1936 and stayed until she was scrapped in 1966. In 2014 Still Waters was lifted out of the water and fully restored by Phil Goddard, a Southampton vintage boat restorer until transported to the Thames and returned to the water in July 2015. Still Waters was obtained by the Boat Station Slimbridge in 2021 and enjoys a new life as a passenger trip boat on the Gloucester & Sharpness canal.

He would particularly like a well decorated working pair to go with a traditional sailing barge that would have met each other transhipping in Gloucester Docks.

Tony writes: I am pleased to advise you of a new waterways event, in the centre of Gloucester Docks. There has been a major event in Gloucester since 2014, Gloucester goes Retro, attracting thousands of visitors and hundreds of classic cars. This includes live music, street entertainment, competitions, fancy dress, Retro Fashion into the Docks – on Saturday, August 27. (gloucestergoesretro.com)

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New for 2022 is Retro on the Water with a variety of interesting and historic boats, stalls from key local waterways societies, competitions for Best Dressed Boat and Best Pirate Dog. Boat trips include a 100-year-old tender to RMS Mauritania and Dunkirk Little Ship, Queen Boadicea II.

Trips will also be available on Meanderer, originally built in 1952 for use as a working harbour launch, spending most of her life in and around the Norfolk coast and the Broads. Her construction comprises of a clinker-built wooden hull and superstructure and has an inboard Vetus three-cylinder diesel engine. Meanderer is as seaworthy today as she was when first constructed over 70 years ago and is the Boat Station Slimbridge’s second trip boat for the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. PHOTOS SUPPLIED
Trips will also be available on Meanderer, originally built in 1952 for use as a working harbour launch, spending most of her life in and around the Norfolk coast and the Broads. Her construction comprises of a clinker-built wooden hull and superstructure and has an inboard Vetus three-cylinder diesel engine. Meanderer is as seaworthy today as she was when first constructed over 70 years ago and is the Boat Station Slimbridge’s second trip boat for the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. PHOTOS SUPPLIED

Events on the water include paddling displays, model sailing boats, radio-controlled models, display by SARA (Severn Area Rescue Association) and by the Sea Cadets. The event starts at 10am Saturday and Sunday.

Moorings in the main Gloucester Dock will be restricted to invited participating boats, please contact tony@matilda1102.co.uk as soon as possible if you have an interesting historic boat and would like to be involved. Moorings for visiting boats will be available south of Llanthony bridge, or visit by car or train.

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Tony adds: This is an interesting development; 51 years ago I was organising canal rallies in the centre of Coventry with approximately 120 boats, steam gallopers etc trying to keep the 5.5 open, and inviting dignitaries like Sir Frank Price and local people to appreciate their canal feature.

In 1973 and 1974 we attended the IWA rallies in Gloucester on a similar campaign basis, now I am being invited by city councillors to publicise the regeneration and attractive docks in Gloucester to boaters.

#gloucesterdocks #towpathtalk #canals #canalsandrivers #narrowboat #rivers #waterways #lifeonthecut #boating #boats

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