Surprise for supporters of historic narrowboats
THE Friends of the Canal Museum, Friends of Raymond and the Narrow Boat Trust recently arranged a line-up of historic working boats Sculptor, Nutfield and Brighton at Stoke Bruerne so they could each receive a donation of £1000 from Tim Coghlan of Braunston Marina.
Historically Tim has supported all three charities from the proceeds of the annual Historic Narrowboat Rally & Canal Festival held in Braunston at the end of June.
However, as with most events, Covid-19 had intervened causing it to be cancelled this year, so it was quite a surprise to all three recipients when Tim called them to say he still intended to go ahead with the donations.
Standing on the canalside outside the canal museum, where all three boats were tied up together, Tim said: “In making these three donations, Braunston Marina is proud to give its support to preserving these ‘precious cargoes’ of former working narrowboats. And also to supporting the good people who volunteer their services to do so, especially in these difficult times.”
Friends of the Canal Museum chairman, Lynda Payton, standing on the stern of museum boat Sculptor, said: “We have been totally in awe of Tim’s continued generosity to the Friends and Sculptor over the entire life of our charity, but we are especially thankful this year when our own fundraising has been halted by the virus.”
Kirk Martin and Alison Cannon on the Narrow Boat Trust’s butty Brighton were on their way back to Braunston after a coal run down the Oxford Canal to Reading and Newbury on the Kennet & Avon Canal, returning via the Thames to the River Wey and Brentford.
Friends of Raymond’s Nutfield was on loan to the Narrow Boat Trust while their own motor, Nuneaton, was undergoing extensive repairs. Nick Lake from the Friends of Raymond joined Kirk and Alison at Stoke Bruerne.
Kirk Martin, NBT’s crewing co-ordinator on board Brighton, said: “This donation comes at a time when we are completing major hull work on our motor boat Nuneaton and may have work to do on our butty Brighton in the near future.
“As far as we know we are the only charity which allows anyone joining us to learn the skill of working loaded narrowboats along the waterways of Britain.”
Nick Lake added on behalf of the Friends of Raymond: “Tim was a founder member of the Friends of Raymond in 1996 and a prime mover in the effort to save Raymond, the last wooden working boat, and have her rebuilt in 2000.
“In a year in which our income has been severely reduced, this donation will go a long way towards helping us continue the never-ending work of keeping both Nutfield and Raymond afloat and we are indebted to him for his generosity.”