Paul Iverson has provided a quick review of how it all went.

The organisers worked hard to provide an August Crick Boat Show and made a conscious decision to make this more of a “boaters” show rather than the previous “family” day out. For that reason there were no trip boats, fairground rides, face painters and less general stalls in the marketplace. However, they were very accommodating to us and provided a good mooring on the marina – our usual spot – at the same price as previous years.

We talked and showed the boat Guinevere to lots of generous people throughout the days and promoted the project to the local boating community, including the historic boat owners.  The donations were gratefully received but this wasn’t really a big fundraiser as we weren’t running the day boats.

Nigel was once again admirable and essential in his role as Booking Officer. It is always great to have a real person who you can speak to when you phone with any enquiries.

It would be fair to say we had a couple of very interested leads and would hope this convert into bookings at some stage in the future. We also had at least two serious volunteers who are keen to join the project which is also great news. Socially it was also good to catch up with Chris, Di, Mike and Nigel. Julie and Brian Tidbury also dropped in for a cup of tea.

From my personal perspective it was good to attend the Show, support the organisers during a difficult time for them and to continue to promote the Project in the local boating community. We did generate some booking interest but it’s probably too early to say if these have converted to actual bookings. Our relationship with the Organisers has developed and I’m confident we will be back and be running the day trips boats next year as we have done in previous years.

A note for your diary in that regard. The 2022 Crick Boat Show will be held once again at Crick Marina but not at the end of May and Whitsun but from Friday 2nd to Monday 5th June 2022 given the change in bank holidays due to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

My thanks specifically to Chris, Di and Mike who not only gave up their time but also had a massive job getting the boat “Showboat” clean.

See more pictures from Crick 2021 HERE

* If you and your community group and organisation are looking for ideas and inspiration on what to do and where to go in 2022 or 2023, we can help!

There is a saying that life is better by water, and we can show you just what that means and some of the great experiences that can be had on our inland waterways here in central England.

Our boats are full-length, modern vessels that are designed, fully-equipped and maintained to the highest possible standards, meaning they are suitable for all year round cruising.

They can be hired – with qualified skippers from LNBP – by a wide range of groups to explore the waterways of central England, and to enjoy and experience so many different activities.

And hiring for residential trips can be for a weekend, midweek or a combination of both depending on your preferred length of trip.

Sound interesting?  Why not get in touch and see how we can help your group just like we have done with so many others for 40 years.

Call us on 07783 002073 to find out more, to discuss your requirements, check availability and make a booking. Or head check availability on our online booking page HERE

The post Great to be back – Review of LNBP at 2021 Crick Boat Show appeared first on LNBP Community Boating.

 
In addition to the regular news items you can see on our website, we also produce a periodic online Newsletter to keep our members, supporters and clients up-to-date with our latest news and activities.
 
Our Summer 2017 E-Newsletter is now in circulation, so if you have not seen it or read it, why not take a look now.
 
Click here for details 
 
 

If you do not currently receive our Newsletter but would like to, email us at marketing@lnbp.co.uk.

The post Summer 2017 Newsletter appeared first on LNBP Community Boating.

What another great weekend at Crick!

 
Once again the LNBP Community Boating team were present over the Whitsun bank holiday weekend at the annual Crick Boat Show and Waterways Festival, held at Crick Marina in Northamptonshire.
 
Our team started to assemble at Braunston on Wednesday before making their way to Crick on Thursday. Friday was ‘set-up day’ with the main LNBP ‘booking tent’ – with food stocks and face painting – readied for the busy weekend ahead, along with Guinevere being given its final touches inside and out, the camp site set up and the trip boats brought in, positioned and checked in.
 
 

 
As ever the free boat trips – which once again LNBP Community Boating operated – were fully booked each day. We handed out all 830 tickets for the trip boats over the weekend, including an extra boat on Sunday which made up for the BBC boat on Saturday.   In addition 21 dogs were also on the boats!
 
 
It is thought with these figures that this is the first year that we have hit 100% utilisation.  Even then, a record was kept on Sunday of the number of people who asked for tickets after they had all been taken, which came to over 200. So once again it is fair to say that the trip boats are a hugely popular attraction at the Show.
 
The same goes for our face painting with our small army of artistic face painters creating a whole myriad of designs and looks, for children and adults alike, right across the weekend.
 
 

 
And of course one of the reasons we are also in attendance at Crick is to showcase and promote who we are, what we do and can offer. It was great to see so many show visitors once again come by our tent and Guinevere take a real interest in us, asking many questions as they did and take our promotional literature away with them. We hope that the large number of enquiries we have received will prove fruitful for this and next year, and that many more of those people who we talked to will also come and join us for a trip in the not-too-distant future.
 
The Show’s Organisers reported that 2017 saw the highest attendance for many years with the official attendance being a whopping 27,167 across the 3 days.
 

 
The weather behaved itself (almost anyway!) with Saturday and Sunday enjoying great fine conditions, even if there was a little rainfall on Monday afternoon on an otherwise muggy and cloudy day.
 
Once again there was a record number of exhibitors and the number of boating related exhibitors was also up on 2016.
 
As ever in addition to the boat trips being fully booked each day as mentioned, the boat handling taster sessions were again sold out months ahead of the show. The seminars proved as popular as ever with almost 2,000 people attending, almost all sessions had standing room only. Online moorings were also sold out well in advance of the Show and the campsite was also fully booked in advance for the Saturday night.
 
All in all there was a real air of excitement and vibrancy at this year’s Show and we can wait for next year’s renewal of the Crick Boat Show, which takes place on 26^th to 28^th May 2018.
 

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We have been building up to it with excitement and anticipation, but the Whitsun bank holiday weekend is here which means one thing – the 2017 Crick Boat Show and Waterways Festival!

 

 
Held at Crick Marina – on the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire – over the Whitsun Bank Holiday Weekend of Saturday 27th to Monday 29th May, we are once again proud to be the Show’s official Charity Partner for what promises to be another great and busy weekend.
 
Organised by Waterways World in partnership with the Canal & River Trust and Crick Marina, the three day Show offers a great day out by the water and showcases 300 exhibitors from across the canal world.
 
Plus there is opportunity to take a boat trip with us!
 
Visitors to Crick can enjoy a boat trip along the Grand Union Canal aboard canal boats run by our volunteer team of skippers. The half-hour trips are free (but we welcome donations!) and run every 10 minutes from 10.10am each day of the show.
 

And here is a useful tip – book early and as you come into the show as these trips do get booked out very quickly each day!

 
Our team will be present throughout the three day duration of the Crick Boat Show. In addition to running the trip boats, we will have one of our boats – Guinevere  – on show for visitors to look around and see the boat and its facilities for themselves, and find out what we do and can offer community groups and organisations, and schools. Come below deck and see for yourself.
 
You will find the LNBP at Braunston Community Team at Stand Q50 where the team will be able to take your booking for the trip boats. Also, you will find Guinevere a few metres away down the hill where you can come aboard and see inside our full-length narrowboat, and find out more about what we can offer.
 

About The Crick Boat Show and Waterways Festival

 
It is Britain’s biggest inland waterways festival, showcasing the very best of the canal world.  So, whether you are a boat owner or just a dreamer, let your imagination roam free with dozens of new boats to look round, all the latest products, gadgets and space-saving solutions to admire, and outdoor clothing, jewellery, hats and hand bags to revitalize your wardrobe.
 

 
There is chance to listen to live music as live bands will be performing throughout the Show in the Wheatsheaf Bar Marquee, with the ‘T-Rextasy’ tribute band headlining on the Saturday evening, and the ‘Fleetwood Bac’ Tribute Show and ‘Murphy’s Marbles’ on Sunday evening.
 
There is chance to try artisan food in the show’s Food & Craft Marquee which will host a wide selection of independent food specialists, offering tasty samples, great gift ideas and live demonstrations of culinary delights.
 
Enjoy some waterway-themed children’s activities as children aged 16 and under can visit the show for free where they will find a variety of special activities, including a treasure hunt, ‘build a canal’ challenge, and Roses & Castles painting in the Canal & River Trust Marquee.
 
Plus there is opportunity to step back in time on a historic boat for as well as dozens of new boats to look around, a number of historic boats will also be on show, offering visitors the chance to find out how working boat families lived in such a tiny cabin, and the journeys they made to make their living.
 
Crick Boat Show will be open from 10.00am till 6.00pm every day except Monday 29 May, when it closes at 5.00pm.  Evening entertainment runs from 7.30pm to 11.30pm.
Ticket prices start at £12 per adult if booked in advance, £15 on the day.  All children aged 16 and under go free.  Senior Citizens and concessions are £10.80 in advance, £13.50 on the day.
For more information and to book tickets, visit www.crickboatshow.com or call 01283 742970

The post Come and see us at the Crick Boat Show this weekend appeared first on LNBP Community Boating.

 
Held at the impressive setting of Crick Marina in Northamptonshire over the Whitsun Bank Holiday Weekend of Saturday 27th to Monday 29th May, once again we are proud to be the Show’s official Charity Partner for what promises to be another great busy weekend.
 

Organised by Waterways World in partnership with the Canal & River Trust and Crick Marina, the three day Show offers a great day out by the water and showcases 300 exhibitors from across the canal world.
 
Plus there is opportunity to take a boat trip with us!
 
Visitors to Crick can enjoy a boat trip with us along the Grand Union Canal aboard canal boats run by our volunteer team of skippers. The half-hour trips are free (but we welcome donations!) and run every 10 minutes from 10.10am each day of the show.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And here is a useful tip – book early as you come into the show as these trips get booked out very quickly each day!
 
Our team will be present throughout the three day duration of the Crick Boat Show. In addition to running the trip boats, we will have one of our boats Guinevere on show for visitors to look around and see the boat and its facilities for themselves, and find out what we do and can offer community groups and organisations, and schools.
 

• You can find the LNBP at Braunston Community Team at Stand Q50 where the team will be able to take your booking for the trip boats. Also, you will find one of our boats on display a few metres away down the hill where you can come aboard and see inside our full-length narrowboat, and find out more about what we can offer.

About The Crick Boat Show and Waterways Festival

 
Crick is Britain’s biggest inland waterways festival, showcasing the very best of the canal world.  So, whether you are a boat owner or just a dreamer, let your imagination roam free with dozens of new boats to look round, all the latest products, gadgets and space-saving solutions to admire, and outdoor clothing, jewellery, hats and hand bags to revitalize your wardrobe.
 
There is chance to listen to live music as live bands will be performing throughout the Show in the Wheatsheaf Bar Marquee, with the ‘T-Rextasy’ tribute band headlining on the Saturday evening, and the ‘Fleetwood Bac’ Tribute Show and ‘Murphy’s Marbles’ on Sunday evening.
 
There is chance to try artisan food in the show’s Food & Craft Marquee which will host a wide selection of independent food specialists, offering tasty samples, great gift ideas and live demonstrations of culinary delights.
 
Enjoy some waterway-themed children’s activities as children aged 16 and under can visit the show for free where they will find a variety of special activities, including a treasure hunt, ‘build a canal’ challenge, and Roses & Castles painting in the Canal & River Trust Marquee.
 
Plus there is opportunity to step back in time on a historic boat for as well as dozens of new boats to look around, a number of historic boats will also be on show, offering visitors the chance to find out how working boat families lived in such a tiny cabin, and the journeys they made to make their living.
 
Crick Boat Show will be open from 10.00am till 6.00pm every day except Monday 29 May, when it closes at 5.00pm.  Evening entertainment runs from 7.30pm to 11.30pm.
 
Ticket prices start at £12 per adult if booked in advance, £15 on the day.  All children aged 16 and under go free.  Senior Citizens and concessions are £10.80 in advance, £13.50 on the day. 
 
For more information and to book tickets, visit www.crickboatshow.com or call 01283 742970

The post Counting the days down to Crick Boat Show appeared first on LNBP Community Boating.

Hello everyone
It is fair to say 2016 has been another successful year for LNBP at Braunston.
With 50 bookings slots taken up and 20 Community Days filled, we have taken over 600 people from a wide diversified range of groups out on the canals in and around Warwickshire and Northamptonshire this year and welcomed new guests to our client list.
 

 
Our annual attendance at the Crick Boat Show over the Spring Bank Holiday was another great success and supported by a strong team of LNBP staff. Once again we were privileged to be the show’s official Charity Partner and ran the trip boats during the course of the weekend. The Crick venue for our AGM has also proved to be popular and will again be the location for next year.

Equally our presence at the Moira Canal Festival (in May) and Kent Scouting’s Inspire event (in November) were successful and productive with meeting potential new clients and introducing them to what we do and can offer to community groups, uniformed organisations and schools.
 
This year also saw the 35^th anniversary since LNBP at Braunston was first formed. Our celebrations in October were not only marked by a special birthday cake but also rather aptly with the donation of new £5 notes…just how the project all started back in 1981!  Read more here.

 

 
As always, our sincere thanks go to the all our skippers, our face painting team and support team members for giving their time and expertise throughout the year.
 
 
 
Although it is officially the ‘close season’ for our boating season, preparations are already well in advance for next year. As always our advice to all groups that are interested in trips with us is to book ahead well in advance. Booking forms and full details of current availability are available on our website www.lnbp.co.uk, or you are welcome to contact Nigel Smith, our Bookings Officer, by e-mail at bookings@lnbp.co.uk or by telephone on 07967 406 875.
 
 
 
With a new year also comes the chance for new opportunities and beginnings. Many members of the LNBP at Braunston team have been dedicated to the project’s aims now for over 25 years…and some of us are not getting any younger!
To ensure that we can continue to provide opportunities for young people, community groups and those who are disadvantaged with the enjoyment of canal boating, we are currently seeking new members to join the Executive Team. If you would like to join us or explore and find out more how you can become involved, please contact us here. We would love to hear from you and have you involved.
 
 
 
In signing off for 2016, I would like to offer a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed in any way to the project during the last 12 months.
 
 
 
On behalf of everyone at LNBP at Braunston, may we extend our very best wishes to you and your families for a happy Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year.
 
 
 
 
Derek Edwards
Chairman
LNBP at Braunston

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Doing it all again 35 years on!

“The timing of our birthday celebrations and the release of the new £5 note could not have been any better.
“We have always been conscious to remember our beginnings all those years ago, and it seems ironic that 35 years on from our first founders donating their ‘first fiver’, history with the help of social media has repeated itself again. It is as if it was meant to happen”.

 
LNBP at Braunston, who were once again Charity Partner’s at this year’s Crick Boat Show and Waterways Festival, set up a Bursary Fund over 30 years ago to help those groups interested in a canal boating holiday experience but may not necessarily be in a position to afford it. The Fund is financed by membership to the organisation, a variety of fundraising activities throughout the year and through the kind generosity of donors.
Edwards added:

“Whilst many of us running the project are now getting older, we hope our donations and others will continue to see the LNBP at Braunston welcome even more groups and schools in years to come, as well as potential new volunteers to its operation.”

For more information about the groups, organisations and schools LNBP at Braunston welcome for short breaks holidays and trips on the Oxford and Grand Union Canals, click here.
To check rates and availability for 2017, click here, 

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Moira Canal Festival

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