Fund Britain's Waterways - Photo Reports
Thank you to the organisers of FBW events and activities who have kindly sent us some photos, a small selection of which are below. Please send your photos to us at info(at)fundbritainswaterways.org.uk
Fund Britain's Waterways - Photo Reports
Campaign Flotilla Journey 2025
Left – boats descending Stoke Bruerne top lock [photo by Jo Sharples]. Below – boat under bridge [photo by Allyson Marr]
Right – boat under Bridge 53 [by Jo Sharples]. Below – this boat passed an IWA Chiltern Branch trip boat outing on 14th April [by Paula Smith]
River Soar Navigation and Grand Union Canal Leicester Section – 5th to 10th April
Left – Boaters being welcomed by Canal & River Trust volunteers at Kilby Bridge on the Soar Navigation – by Hazel Owen. Below, Banner at Kings Lock, Soar Navigation on 6th April – by Herbert Eppel, and below that, Canal & River Trust removing old lock gates at Birstall Lock on 7th April – by Claudia Jacklin
Right – Fund Britain’s Waterways and Canal & River Trust banners at Birstall Lock by Allyson Marr. Below – Boaters at Soar Boating Club on 7th April – by Claudia Jacklin. Underneath, video by narrowboat Super ‘B’ of the flotilla leaving the Soar Boating Club and continuing onto the Grand Union Canal Leicester section on 7th April.
Left – heading up Foxton Locks on 9th April. Below – awaiting to head up the locks. Both photos by Hazel Owen.
Flotilla on the Trent 1st to 4th April
Right – boats in Hazelford Lock. Above – boats travelling through Gainsborough. Below – boats on the river. And underneath that a video by Narrowboat Super ‘B’ of the combined flotilla cruising through Gainsborough on 1st April
Also, see the photo report on Chesterfield Canals Trust’s website.
Photo left: Early start at Keadby on 1st April – by Allyson Marr.
Below: Waiting in Keadby Lock – by Claudia Jacklin, and below that Boats moored outside Nottinghamshire County Hall on 4th April – by Anne Regan.
There is also some FBW flotilla content on this YouTube ‘followtheboat’ video
Strawberry Island to the Trent – 30th and 31st March
Right and below, the flotilla coming through Vazon Sliding Bridge on 31st March. Sheffield University broadcast journalism student, Josh Herman, filming the flotilla on 31st March, with video underneath. And below that, a video by Lincolnshire Explored & Exposed of the flotilla arriving at Keadby Lock on 31st March.
Setting off from Strawberry Island Boat Club – 29th March
The first boats to set off, as part of the flotilla of boats to the Palace of Westminster and beyond was assembled at Strawberry Island Boat Club, with a grand depart at 2:30pm on 29th March. Further boats will be joining in as the flotilla makes its way south to London.
[Photos by Stephen Busby and Duncan Wright]
There is also a video report on the Flotilla’s Facebook Page.
May Day Bank Holiday Weekend of Action 2024
IWA Lichfield Branch
IWA’s Lichfield Branch’s stand at Fradley Junction (left) proved to be in just the right place to lobby support from many passers by. And not content with one stand, the branch had a second stand at Great Haywood (inset below). The busy canal junctions were prime spots for attracting some attention.
Swarkestone Boat Club
Swarkestone Boat Club’s campaign cruise to Shobnall Fields on the Trent & Mersey Canal made clear their campaign message, with boats appropriately dressed. This event almost had to be cancelled owing to damage to Barrow Bridge 16 on the Canal resulting from a serious vehicle strike, but Canal & River Trust managed to reopen the canal in time for the cruise to go ahead.
Norbury Canal Festival
IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch’s stand at Norbury Canal Festival, on the Shropshire Union Canal, had a clear campaigning message.
Electrika Boat Show
IWA’s stand at the Electrika Boat Show – promoting the environmentally friendly options for boating – also had a clear campaign message.
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
IWA Lancashire & Cumbria Branch’s stand at Johnson’s Hillock Locks, near Chorley, on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, suffered from some poor weather, but the branch team were undaunted and the right message was conveyed to all passers by.
Canalway Cavalcade
Fund Britain’s Waterways was the theme for this year’s Canalway Cavalcade, with boats travelling from across the country, and some went on to participate in the Campaign Cruise past the Houses of Westminster.
Broads Society Rally
The Broads Society held a well-turned-out rally at Acle, demonstrating that the concerns are not just about funding for Canal & River Trust – indeed the Broads Authority gets no funding from Government for its navigation function, and rising costs have led to steep licence fee increases this year.
[Photos by Mike Morcher of The Broads Society]
Ripon Canal
At one of the northernmost outposts of the connected waterway system, members of Ripon Motor Boat Club gathered in the City’s canal basin to inform passers-by of their concerns and to gather support.
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