Charity began at home

THE Cam Conservators believe that an undergraduate who claimed his tours were to raise money for charity, was running the tours for gain.

Chris Newlove was also breaching river bye-laws, using the 'charity' excuse to run a commercial operation, as there was a notice clearly stating his charges, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Doubtful

At Cambridge Magistrates Court he was fined £150 for each of the two bylaw offences, and ordered to pay £1,242 compensation to the Conservators and must also pay £958. for breaching river bye-laws. The river manager told that she was 'doubtful' that all the money from the trips raised money for SOS Childrens' Villages and Cancer Research UK.

It was estimated that the student must have been bringing in a 'four figure sum every trading day' from his venture during July and August, using neither a recognised punt station nor the correct registration.

He was using a slipway that had previously been banned under health and safety rules.