Support the FBW Flotilla in Gainsborough on 1st April 2025. The journey begins with a flotilla of boats setting off from Keadby (River Trent) on 1st April 2025 as the start of the major FBW campaign cruise to the heart of government, culminating outside the Palace of Westminster on 7th May. This year’s flotilla is led by Hazel Owen, Chair of the AWCC (Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs) and a member of the FBW steering group. There is still the chance to join the flotilla.

The boats will depart from Keadby on 1st April and progress upstream, aiming to be joined by further boats at West Stockwith and Gainsborough. The flotilla is set to pass through Gainsborough at approximately 10:00 a.m. on 1st April, and this is the chance to show support for Britain’s waterways. 

SUPPORT THE FBW FLOTILLA IN GAINSBOROUGH, 1st APRIL 2025 Come to Gainsborough by 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, 1st April, to support the Fund Britain’s Waterways flotilla as it makes its way towards Westminster. 

The flotilla carries a crucial message: our canals and rivers are both valuable and valued but need adequate funding. The first group of boats will have set off from the Strawberry Island Boat Club in Doncaster at the end of March. They will join the tidal River Trent at Keadby, making their way upstream. At around 8:30 a.m. on 1st April, boats from the Chesterfield Canal at West Stockwith will join the flotilla. The combined flotilla will then pass through Gainsborough around 10:00 a.m., where they will be greeted by more boats and supporters on land. 

Please note: this is a “passing through” event due to tidal schedules, so make sure to be at the river pathways near the bridge in Gainsborough by 9:30 a.m.

You could also visit West Stockwith at 8:00 a.m. to catch the flotilla as it sets out. This event is the first of many leading up to the main Campaign Cruise at Westminster. The FBW flotilla will continue its journey drawing attention to the ongoing need for investment and support for Britain’s inland waterways. 

The FBW campaign was launched in 2023 to highlight the severe underfunding and deteriorating condition of the country’s network of canals and navigable rivers. The campaign continues to seek support of parliamentarians and the general public to secure the necessary resources for the upkeep of these vital waterways. Hazel Owen, who will lead the flotilla, said: “The need for greater investment in our waterways has never been clearer. This flotilla is not just about boats; it represents the voices of everyone who cares about the future of our canals and rivers. We must show Parliament that we are serious about safeguarding these precious resources.” 

To take part in the Cruise on a boat in the flotilla: For details please contact Andrew Phasey on [email protected].