Community boating charity finally celebrates 40th anniversary
A CANAL boating charity near Daventry has finally managed to celebrate its 40th anniversary after an uncertain time of planning and disruption due to the pandemic.
LNBP Community Boating, which is based with two boats moored at Braunston in Northamptonshire, has endured a challenging two years of operation on and off the water.
Its anniversary has been a long time in the planning and typically not been without several changes of plans and then delays due to Covid restrictions.
However officials and members from the non-profit charity, along with friends and guests, were finally able to get together last month to look back on four decades of operation.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of LNBP Community Boating, although this is not strictly accurate as a preliminary meeting was held at the end of 1980. But nothing actually happened until 1981.
During the past 40 years the project has moved from London to Braunston in Northamptonshire and even the name of the project has changed. It started as The Lewisham Narrowboat Project, which evolved into the London Narrowboat Project as it expanded but now it is called LNBP Community Boating at Braunston to avoid confusion about its location.
Today the non-profit charity continues to offer groups of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to experience canal boating for weekends and midweek short breaks aboard two purpose-built canal boats, Lancelot and Guinevere. The groups they welcome include youth groups, clubs, uniformed organisations and associations, as well as groups working with special needs and organisations working with people who are disadvantaged or unemployed.
To celebrate the occasion a small party was held on September 16 at The Ferry Inn at Alveston near Stratfordupon-Avon. The venue is owned by Martin Tolley, an LNBP project skipper, and was a great central location to which guests from across the country could travel. About 60 members and friends enjoyed an afternoon and evening reminiscing about old times stretching back to those very early days and renewing friendships.
Speaking about the celebration, LNBP co-vicechairman Chris Woodward said: “It was a lovely occasion in a great setting and thanks must be given to all those involved.
“After events of the last two years we were thankful to get together again to see faces currently involved, as well as many old friends whom we haven’t seen for so long.”
There was additional cause for celebration as a cheque for £1000 was presented to LNBP co-vice-chairman Alan Cobbold from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Freemasons of Warwickshire by Geoff Walker, charity steward.
Mr Cobbold added: “We are sincerely grateful to Mr Walker and all at the Freemasons of Warwickshire for this wonderful donation. Their support will provide opportunities for those less fortunate than ourselves to experience the delights and benefits that being on our canals can provide.”