Narrowboats have become increasingly popular as a cheap alternative housing but until now not as an alternative to the traditional showman’s caravan that goes with the circus fraternity.
That was until Finley Guy had the idea of acquiring one after her aunt and uncle had moved on to a narrowboat on the Ashby Canal. She realised that canals for the most part were within easy cycling range of wherever her summer employer, Giffords Circus, was performing.
Before the pandemic, 23-year-old Finley had worked for Giffords in the Cotswolds and the London area as a ‘Jill of all trades’ – front of house, singer, dancer, clown and more – and lived in a shared caravan. Now she is the proud owner of CHIP, an elderly but well-maintained 40ft narrowboat that was built in 1980 but had a major makeover to its hull five years ago. Finley paid £23,500 for the boat, which she purchased at Braunston Marina near Daventry.
“Finley is now working her way northwards assisted by a friend who is teaching her the ropes so in due course she can work CHIP single-handed,” says the marina’s managing director Tim Coghlan.
Looking ahead, Finley is hoping to be back in the Big Top when summers return to normal and will be taking her home with her. Her first port of call will be the marina where her aunt and uncle moor. Then it is on to Stockport where Finley will be appearing in the Easter pantomime Mother Goose at the town’s Plaza Theatre.
In the autumn she will be in Stoke-on-Trent for her fourth season of pantomime at the Regent Theatre. CHIP will be moored in a secure city centre mooring for the duration.
Finley has been walking the boards since she was 16, when she completed her education in music and theatre at Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts in Swindon.
“She also sings with various bands and we are looking at her coming with one of them to perform at the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally in June, when a mooring in the marina could be provided for CHIP,” says Mr Coghlan.
n Braunston Marina narrowboat sales manager Victoria Garfield presents circus performer Finley Guy with a bottle of Prosecco following her purchase of narrowboat CHIP – the marina’s first completed sale of 2022. Seven more boats have gone under offer this year, says marina managing director Tim Coghlan
