Stoke Bruerne's 50th birthday

THERE will be a fun-packed programme at Stoke Bruerne in June as the waterway museum celebrates its 50th birthday.

People visiting on its Gala Weekend of the 15th and 16th June are promised a fun packed programme with boats, food, drink, live music and entertainment.

Demonstrations

The museum will be host to a large number of canal craft demonstrations including Roses and Castles painting, rag rug making, quilting, crochet lace and crochet, pottery, wood turning, rope splicing and decorative rope-work.

Working or historic boats will be there in abundance, we are told, with trade boats and stalls, theatre, dance, children's activities, guided heritage walks and of course, a chance to take a boat trip on Indian Chief or Charlie into the famous 1¾ mile long Blisworth Tunnel.

Resident blacksmith

Stoke Bruerne's resident blacksmith, Bob Nightingale, will be giving regular demonstrations in his forge at the tunnel entrance. And for the first time this year, the Navigation pub will be holding a beer festival all weekend with the festival beer being delivered by narrowboat from Burton-upon-Trent.

One-woman theatre

Kate Saffin joins the celebrations again this year with her one-woman theatre shows and children's theatre workshops and The Kevin O'Regan Band will be performing on Saturday night. Popular Braunston based duo Ramshackle will be entertaining all weekend.

As usual the weekend starts with an evening musical jam session and fish & chip supper on the canal side at 7.30pm on Friday 14th June, accompanied by a real ale bar on the Museum Green run by local pub the Boat Inn. And perhaps the pirates will return.

Admission to the event is free. Car Parking in the village car parks £3 (subject to agreement of operators).