The dangers of no tuition

THE Severn is a river to be respected. Some days it is as calm as a mill pond, others it can be a raging torrent., writes Peter Ponting.

We have travelled from Gloucester to Worcester, up the Birmingham & Worcester Canal, down the Droitwich and are currently moored at Worcester, hoping to be back in Gloucester tomorrow.

Given no tuition

In Droitwich a hire boat was having difficulties reversing onto the pontoons in the basin. In the end another boater boarded the boat and moored it for him. The hirer admitted he didn't have a clue about boating and was given no tuition.

Next morning the same boater hit the water point pontoon with such a force that it split the wooden defender, and broke the metal plate above.

Sideways in the lock

Joining the Severn from Droitwich, a hire boat was in the bottom lock sideways, with the bottom gates open. All the occupants were sitting in the boat.

After securing our boat we went to assist.

We established that helpers had guided them through the Diglis Basin locks, the lock keeper had given them instructions at Bevere Lock, with another boat also helping them.

No idea how a lock works

They had no tuition also, and not a clue as to how a lock works.

We spent the next 3/4 of an hour teaching them how to do locks, and guiding them through the two locks.

Arriving at Worcester and mooring up, we took the dog for a walk at 7.00 in the evening only to find a hire boat preparing the lock to enter the Severn. We enquired his destination. He replied, "Droitwich" We informed him that he would not make it tonight as the lock at Bevere was now closed.

Accident waiting to happen

With no floating pontoons from Worcester to Bevere lock and with heavy rain expected tonight, I can see an accident waiting to happen.

At 8.00pm three hire boats came down the Severn and breasted up to open the locks to enter the basin. All the occupants got off their respective boat's to look at the locks. However the boat moored on the pontoon, supporting the other two, was not tied correctly, and with the flow of the river, the bows of all three boats turned and continued to turn.

Stern rope held

Another boater saw the scene unfolding and ran to the lock to tell them. No engines were running so he could not take immediate action. Luckily the stern rope held, otherwise the hire boats could have drifted towards the weir opposite.

The hire boat company in question is ABC Leisure based at Lowesmoor Basin.

We have hired from Alvechurch Marina in the past and were given very good tuition on every occasion. Perhaps Alvechurch should teach Lowesmoor how to teach their clients.