A TOTAL of 94 historic narrowboats attended the 15th Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally, which remains by far and away the largest rally of historic narrowboats anywhere on the inland waterways.
The number of boats attending was also a significant improvement on last year’s 67 boats, and this was despite the growing popularity of similar events around the waterways going head to head with it.
As David Daines, owner of the 1935 Yarwoods narrowboat Cyprus said: “Braunston remains the premier event, and it is the first we put in our diary every year.”
The rally has come a long way since the first one in 2003, when 29 boats attended – which seemed a lot at the time. The event also attracted about 7,000 visitors, some travelling from afar afield as Canada and Australia to attend it, providing an important visitor-spend for the local economy.
The rally was formally opened by veteran actor Timothy West and his actress wife Prunella Scales of Fawlty Towers fame. They were back by popular demand, having previously opened the 2013 Rally. Since then their canal TV series Great Canal Journeys has gone from strength to strength, now with a worldwide audience of waterways enthusiasts.
With a little help from members of the Narrow Boat Trust, Timothy West and Prunella Scales respectably helmed the 1936 Grand Union Canal Carrying Company’s motor and butty, Nuneaton & Brighton, from the Grand Union Canal into the marina. As they passed under its famous 1834 Horseley Ironworks Bridge, they declared the 2017 Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally open to the sounds of Daventry Brass and the bells of Braunston church – the Cathedral of the Canals.
Shore-side attractions included a trade marquee, and also a number of exhibitors and canal societies. Other entertainments included the canal-travelling Alarum Theatre, with their new play, Idle Women of the Wartime Waterways. There were also morris dancers, and the famous beer tent, with music provided by a number of groups.
Tim Coghlan of Braunston Marina said: “For me what was most pleasing was the number of boats that came that had never been before, and the comments from so many owners that it is events like the Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally, which inspires them to restore and maintain their boats which are such an important living and moving part of our canal heritage. Each year I hear the same gratifying story, which makes organising the rally so worthwhile.”
All profits, which exceeded £6,000, were donated as usual, to canal causes.
The Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally is sponsored by Braunston Marina and Towpath Talk, and is supported by the Canal & River Trust. Braunston Marina will be hosting the event again next year on the last weekend in June.