AWCC 50th rally

OVER 100 boats attended a rally to celebrate 50 years of the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs (AWCC) at Knowle on the northern Grand Union canal last weekend, writes Allan Richards.

The event, which was well attended by the general public, was hosted by the Black Buoy Cruising Club which also hosted the 40th celebrations ten years ago.

Roving canal traders

One of the highlights of the rally was the attendance of the Roving Canal Traders Association floating market with its boats stretching from the Black Boy Pub almost the full length of the Black Buoy Cruising Club towpath moorings. Allan's picture shows the floating market on the right and part of the club house on the left.

Canal & River Trust (CaRT) chief executive, Richard Parry, accompanied by his wife, opened the event on Friday evening by cutting a celebration cake. He also returned on the Saturday making a presentation in the marquee.

However, perhaps of more importance bearing in mind CaRT's reorganisation, was the attendance of West Midlands Regional Manager, Ian Lane, together with a significant contingent of customer service staff on both the Saturday and Sunday.

Friendly

Many present, including boaters, public and CaRT staff,commented on how happy and friendly everyone was.

One young boy, accompanied by his father, had walked several miles across the fields from Dorridge simply for a ride on the Water Taxi, but was devastated to find that it had stopped running late on Sunday afternoon. However, volunteers restarted the service specially for him, even allowing him an opportunity to steer the boat under supervision.

Perhaps he will be steering a water taxi at the AWCC 100th Anniversary Rally!

(Over its first 50 years the AWCC has grown from just four to over 100 clubs and now has over 6,000 members.)