The fact is, that aside from the hugely successful annual Newbury Waterfest that is run by a very small band of dedicated Newbury Branch volunteers, the K&A Canal Trust is actually offering nothing of note to the celebrations.
This glorious sunny Saturday (May 22nd) was to have been the Trust's show case event on Devizes Wharf but sadly, as is so often the case in this organisation bereft of leadership, they were unable to get enough enthusiasm from their dwindling membership and they had to cancel the event. They blamed a problem over a licence from Wiltshire Council — but it is very strange that none of the many other events along the canal have the same problems and they are able to go ahead as planned.
There will be a major celebration at Great Bedwyn on June 5th where the village will re-enact the ceremony held in 1799 when the canal was opened as far as the village.
In Widcombe, Bath, a huge family fun day takes place on June 13th. This year visitors to Widcombe Rising are being asked to come in nautical costume and there will be canal-side picnics and a floating stage.
The Trust's piss-poor organising ability is renowned — and they have shown that they could not even organise a piss-up on their new tripboat, the Kenavon Venture, that operates from Devizes Wharf, more often than not, with more crew than paying passengers!
On a recent occasion when they had a fully booked charter for a local boat club's booze and jazz cruise — the music and beer-loving boaters arrived to find that not only was there none of the special Wadworth K&A 200 celebration beer that they had been promised — but there was no beer at all on the boat because the Trust had not thought to stock the boat's bar.
Luckily the owner of the boat, who now leases it to the Trust for them to operate with volunteers, had some beer at home that was left over from when he operated the boat — and he delivered it to the boat so that the cruise could go ahead. The cruise was enjoyed by all of the jazz-loving tipplers — but no thanks to management of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust.
There is no parking near the event so visitors are being encouraged to walk to the party or come by boat.
The village has created a canal history trail and there will be a treasure hunt. A street theatre project with a water theme has involved young people and they will give a promenade performance on the day.
The internationally famous Natural Theatre are based in Widcombe and are keen supporters of the Rising. They will be very much in evidence at the event and there will be wandering musicians, top local bands, a camera obscura, women’s Morris, a punt on wheels, children’s creative activities, the forty ladies of the Handbags of Harmony in full voice, Chinese, Indian and Western foods and even a miniature cinema.
The night before there is an evening musical picnic at the stunning Palladian Bridge in nearby National Trust Prior Park.
On Saturday July 17th the villagers of Bathampton and the boating community are joining together to celebrate 200 years of the K&A on Bathampton Wharf. This all day event will have loads of activities for the kids in the daytime and bands and films in the evening.
The event is being funded by the Parish Council and Bathampton residents have organised it with the help of members of the boating community.
KevThePipe is stage-managing the music event and he needs performers to get in touch soon so that they can be scheduled in. Contact him in person on 'Stanley', by email: kevaitch@hotmail.com or by phone: 07796 560476.
This promises to be the event of the year — so come on foot, by boat, on a bicycle ... or by car — but be there — you will not want to miss this event.
The organisers of these events have not allowed the K&A Canal Trust administrators to have anything at all to do with them. As a consequence they are all, undoubtedly, destined to be hugely successful.
The Trust's piss-poor organising ability is renowned — and they have shown that they could not even organise a piss-up on their new tripboat, the Kenavon Venture, that operates from Devizes Wharf, more often than not, with more crew than paying passengers!
On a recent occasion when they had a fully booked charter for a local boat club's booze and jazz cruise — the music and beer-loving boaters arrived to find that not only was there none of the special Wadworth K&A 200 celebration beer that they had been promised — but there was no beer at all on the boat because the Trust had not thought to stock the boat's bar.
Luckily the owner of the boat, who now leases it to the Trust for them to operate with volunteers, had some beer at home that was left over from when he operated the boat — and he delivered it to the boat so that the cruise could go ahead. The cruise was enjoyed by all of the jazz-loving tipplers — but no thanks to management of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust.
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