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Barge Week 2023

Newbury Rotary District 1090 skipper a barge and take guests from local charities for a day trip down the Kennet & Avon Canal


 

Newbury Rotary Barge Week 2023

 
As a part of our aim to serve the community, each year we seek to hire a ‘Bruce Boat’, part of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, for a week in the Autumn. They have a fleet of four wide-beam canal boats providing access for wheelchair users and people with mobility issues. This provides us with the opportunity to take out a variety of community groups who would not ordinarily be able to access the Kennet & Avon canal and enjoy all that brings.  

We provide this service in the community free of charge with our guests just having to arrange and pay for their own transport and food for the day.
 
We hope to run our next trips during Autumn 2024 but to give you an idea of what we get up to please see below Re Autumn trips 2023:
 
“What a scorcher of a week it was, and a great success with wonderful guests and a terrific crew!
 
We believe that all the groups enjoyed their days out with us, 4th – 8th September, and these included:
 
Monday – Eight Bells Mental Health; Gt Bedwyn to Hungerford

Tuesday –   AM Kintbury Volunteer Group; Hungerford to Kintbury.
                   PM 2nd Kintbury Volunteer Group; Kintbury to Newbury

Wednesday – Project Salama; Newbury to Hungerford


Thursday – Fair Close Centre; Hungerford to Gt. Bedwyn

Friday – WB Fibromyalgia; Gt. Bedwyn to Crofton and return

While our guests are with us, it is so nice to find out more about their organisation and also inform them more about what we do. A group representative is subsequently given an opportunity to visit and talk to our Club at a later date. This helps to foster goodwill and friendship which is beneficial to all concerned and at the heart of Rotary and its ideals."

Our aim is to make a positive difference in the community and an extract from a testimonial received from Kintbury Volunteer Group helps to demonstrate the value that our service brings:
 
"Dear Rotarians, ‘Tuesday was a special day for us the ‘Oldies’ of Kintbury on the barge, Rebecca. Many of us have visitors but to be taken out and returned door to door was a treat much appreciated.. We were privileged to be on the receiving end of kindness and consideration for disabilities, which would have deterred any thought of an independent outing. The day was sunny, the canal was bordered in lush green meadows, hedges and trees, the water reflected a cloudless sky. We moved slowly along until the locks, which needed skill and muscle, to open and close the gates. A reminder of the skill and labours of our forebears……I cannot find words to thank all those who gave so much happiness and a lot to think about for a long time ahead.’”

Afterwards, Graeme Leech said: “A big thank you to all the crew that assisted during the week. Janet has already provided thanks to myself, my co-Skipper Nick, Tim, Les, Eddie, Chris, John, Irene and Jacqui. On behalf of myself and my co-Skipper, Nick. I would also like to thank President Janet who turned out in four days and became very efficient on Bow rope! I would also very much like to give a huge thank you to ‘Friend of’, and former Newbury Rotarian, Kevin Mosely, who stood in for Julian on Friday and also not to forget my wife Gill who also stood in and exercised her muscles operating the stiff locks going up to Crofton and back.”
 
The Rotary Club of Newbury currently have two Certificated Skippers and along with our Crew are able to take out community groups of 12 people but for operational reasons this is sometimes reduced to 10 people.
 
If you are a member of a local community group and would like to apply for a day trip please contact Graeme Leech via the form below for more information.


 
 

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