The sun shines on Fenny Stratford Canal Festival
TWELVE trading boats and 14 land- based stalls, as well as the Milton Keynes community boat Electra, drew the crowds to the canal towpath south of Watling Street, where the Fenny Stratford Canal Festival took place in August.
This event was organised chiefly by IWA Milton Keynes Branch for the second year running and has become an important fund-raiser for the branch.
The IWA stall included sales of its merchandise, a raffle, and IWA’s usual publicity and information point. The big waterway map forming the back of the gazebo was a very useful talking point, sparking many comments and reminiscences from passers-by. Alongside IWA, the Buckingham Canal Society offered its ‘ retro recycling centre’, society merchandise and beautiful rag rugs. Other stalls and traders had, it seemed, every conceivable item on offer, including clothing, jewellery, fancy goods, food and drink.
Each day, Electra provided 50-minute trips to Water Eaton and back; three trips on Saturday, five on Sunday. All places were sold out on both days. On Sunday, another electric boat arrived – James Griffin’s radio- controlled model narrowboat, complete with authentic engine noise. A tug- of-war between it and Electra was suggested, but James was afraid that Electra’s wash might sink it! Also on Sunday, members of the IWA branch were pleased to have a visit from Jonathan Smith, its interim chief executive officer, who congratulated the branch on a successful event.
It was pleasant to welcome some formerly active branch members. Roy Cleverly, Rodney and
Wendy Evans, Dave and Annie Roberts all stopped by to chat. Accommodating the trading boats was hindered somewhat because some stretches of the towpath are quite eroded behind the piling or overgrown in front of it, meaning uncertain footing at the water’s edge.
A big thank you to Diane Witts and all branch members who took part in organising the event or turned up to help on the day and to the traders who attended. Special thanks are due to Lorraine Andrews and Penny Holloway for much behind- the-scenes work liaising with the traders. The branch is grateful also to Bletchley & Fenny Stratford Town Council for a grant for essential expenses. An early calculation of the profit from the event gives a figure of more than £900.