Boats arriving at Etruria

MANY decorated historic canal narrowboats are arriving at the junction of the Trent & Mersey Canal for the Etruria Jubilee Canals Festival.

An early arrival is Cactus, a narrowboat built in the 1930s to carry cargoes on the canals, which has been decorated to celebrate the Royal Diamond Jubilee. This historic boat has already carried the Queen and the Queen Mother. Malcolm Braine from Weston, who has owned the boat for 50 years, hopes to ‘get the set' by playing host, one day, to Prince Charles.

More than ever before

There are 20 colourful historic boats  being joined by cruising boats moored along the Caldon and the Trent & Mersey canals in all three directions from the junction at Etruria, many more than ever before at this popular, annual free festival in the middle of Stoke-on-Trent.

The Etruria Jubilee Flotilla will process along the canal from Etruria at noon on Sunday, with the Etruria Jubilee Queen on board, accompanied by the drums from Wassassou UK.

The festival is on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd June, from 10.00am until 5.00pm on both days. For details.