Activity packed Stoke Bruerne
OVER 30 working or historic boats, as well as around 50 modern craft, are expected to converge upon Stoke Bruerne for the Canal Museum's Annual Gala.
The weekend of the 10th to 12th June starts with an evening performance on the canal side by the water-borne Mikron Theatre Company at 7.30pm on Thursday 9th June and a get-together for boaters and lovers of traditional music with a jam session and bar on the Friday evening. The Gala proper begins on Saturday morning 11th June and lasts all weekend.
Number of stalls
The Canal Museum will be host to a number of stalls, including the ever-popular Towcester Ladies Market with their home-made produce; the Cheese Boat selling a variety of cheeses; the ever popular Fudge Boat and other sales boats moored on the canal.
There will also be on land, a Canal Antiques stall, Tombola, children's face painting and many other stands offering a variety of produce and displays. In addition there will be craft demonstrations, including roses and castles painting, traditional clothing and dress of the canals and on Saturday, for one day only, there will be a display of artefacts and memorabilia from the Stratford-on-Avon and Midland Junction Railway, which once had a station at Stoke Bruerne.
Boat handling skills
On both days there will be demonstrations of model boats and working boat handling skills on the water, a chance to board a trip boat to the tunnel and back; the Pitsford Home Guard will be parading in preparation for their appearance at Stoke Bruerne's Village-at-War event in October and buskers will be performing on the waterside. Saturday evening will see a free performance of two one-woman plays by Kate Saffin of the Roundham Lock Theatre Company.
Early on Sunday morning the Sunbeam Vintage Motor Cycle Club will rally with pre-1931 motorbikes at the museum car park before setting off on the 17th 'Rose of the Shires' run touring the Northamptonshire countryside and returning to Stoke Bruerne in the afternoon.
Beer by boat
An extra feature this year will be the arrival of a consignment of beer for the two pubs in the village sent direct from Marstons Brewery at Burton-on-Trent by canal boat, which will be delivered on Saturday morning, ready for the weekend. Also a large consignment of pre-packed fuel loaded in the London area will be transshipped between traditional narrow boats for delivery on to the Coventry and Tamworth areas via the Grand Union Canal.
The organisers tells us that all in all we can expect an activity-packed weekend for families with plenty to interest all who love our inland waterways and countryside.