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Steam narrow boat President

In at the Deep End

by Neil Ratcliffe

When the begging letter came through from Richard earlier this year, I was able to volunteer for a couple of trips. The first was the return journey from the FMC gathering at Braunston, and the second was the Calcutt to Museum leg of the return journey from the National, subsequently changed to Braunston for the changeover.

I had just finished filling in the form when the phone rang, it was Richard asking if I would be available this year. He had rung in previous years, but because I was running the Hatton Canal Shop I couldn’t afford to shut the shop to do some crewing (even if I would have preferred to). Now that we had handed the lease back to British Waterways it was a different matter.

I told Richard which dates I would be volunteering for. He then wanted to know whether I was available for the Sunday of the Braunston gathering. When I said yes he replied ‘Oh good, we’ve got a steerer for the parades’, it was a good job I was sitting down. I reminded him that I hadn’t steered ‘President’ for about 12 years and never with a butty, ‘You’ll be alright’, he replied.

I was hoping to meet the boats on their way to Braunston to have a little practice, but because of their schedule it was impossible. The only thing I could do was to visit Braunston on the Saturday to see the route and the way that our Chairman did it.

After watching the boats leave their mooring it was up to the Turn to see the way the triangular island was negotiated ready for the return. Then it was time to walk to the far end of the marina where the boats had to make a 180 degree turn back on to the main line of the Grand Union. It was very interesting watching the proceedings from there, only one boat (no names mentioned, but not towing a butty) made the turn in one go, and he dislodged his front fender when he clipped the boat that was conveniently moored on the off side.

Then it was back to wandering around chatting to various people and waiting for the second parade, again watched from the bridge at the end of the marina. If anybody is attending the event next year, this is a very good vantage point to see the boats being manoeuvred. Then it was time for the journey home and thoughts of how it would go the next day.

After getting a lift to Braunston on the Sunday morning, stowing my stuff on ‘Kildare’, having a coffee etc, it was time to start getting the boats ready for the first parade. The start of which was delayed by the service being held on the grass next to our mooring.

Then it was time to go, the boats were untied and the crew were at their various positions. ‘Don’t forget the butty’ I thought, and if I do fail to pick it up, make it look as if I meant to do it. All went well and one strap was attached, the other could wait until we had made the turn out of the marina. It was a wonderful feeling being back at the tiller again, if you haven’t tried it yet, get volunteering, Richard will be delighted to hear from you.

As ‘President’ was leading the convoy, it was a clear road to the Turn. I couldn’t put the boats where I would have liked as a hire boat was tied up just past the junction, but enough crew made it to the towpath with ropes to reverse the boats round the turn. The return to the marina was a bit slower with all the rest of the boats heading for the Turn. Boats were still leaving the marina, so we had to stop alongside others moored to the towpath and wait for the signal to start the parade itself.

It came and we were off again, in through the main entrance to the marina, we could hear the commentary given by David Blagrove as we passed under the bridge filled with people enjoying the very hot weather. Through the marina and under the bridge in the marina and then it was time to rejoin the main line of the canal. I was glad that I had watched everybody the previous day and remembered where certain boats were moored. You have to start your turn before you can see the bridge, whistle and hope that nothing is entering the marina by this route. Nothing was and we emerged back on the main line, not in one go but we didn’t hit anything.

The next step is to find an empty mooring before the marina entrance, breast the boats up and let other boats go by. ‘President’ & Kildare’s mooring is close to the entrance, so it made sense to let others, who were moored further up the arm, go in first. We then had to keep an eye out for the boats whose mooring that we were occupying, move off before they arrived, stay breasted up, and then reverse into the marina and tie up.

The second parade went as well as the first, with no problems. A day thoroughly enjoyed by me, and one that I shall always remember.