Testing the Droitwich

Ahead of the full reopening of the Droitwich Canals, nb Atlas, towing the flat Cricket made a test run from Droitwich to Hanbury, providing valuable last minute feedback to British Waterway engineers that has enabled the canal to be declared open, writes Kevin McKniff.

Atlas is, I believe, the first Grand Union narrowboat to work this section ever, and despite being close to the bottom at 3' 3" and also the top of the M5 culvert on the return trip, is now tied up at Netherwich Basin ahead of the official opening this Friday 1st July.

Clive Henderson

Also making history was nb Nanshe, crewed by Clive Henderson, Inland Waterways Association National Chairman, his wife Helen with Rob Davies and myself of the Russell Newberry Register. (All pictured with a glass of champagne at the top lock.) Nanshe is the first pleasure boat to navigate from the Severn to Hanbury, and is powered by a Russell Newberry DM2.

Yesterday, Tuesday, Rob and I took our own RN engined boats (Galliard and Ebony) from Droitwich to complete a 'hat trick' of RN power from the Severn to Hanbury.