A joint weekend event with Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust

On 21 / 22 September 2013, the Huddlesford Junction site was thrown open to the public for a major festival to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the formation of the L&HCRT trust.

A selection of Doug Swain's pictures from the weekend.

A selection of Bob Smythe's photographs of the heritage boats taken over the weekend event.

Bryan and Janet's membership actually pre-dates the current name of the Club, but they have had a boat at this site since 1963.

Over the weekend of 13 / 14 July 2013, at the height of the much awaited heat wave, a string of events was planned. Guests from other local boat clubs, Towpath Talk and RNLI were invited to join in and many camped on site for the duration.

On Saturday, a midday barbecue was organised with Sangria and a special real ale available extra to the normal bar. A 25 strong ukelele band (Go Ukulele Crazy) provided entertainment with lots of audience participation, followed by a full barbecue meal, a performance in two sessions by Chase Mist, a five piece band, followed by a fireworks display. On Sunday, members and guests enjoyed a full English breakfast, and the usual opening of the bar.

After helping out a neighbouring farmer with his irrigation, the Club had the offer of a tour of his 3,000 acres plus as much strawberries and cream as we could eat. Our Commodore fixed it up for Friday evening, 26th July.

We were picked up from our gate, entertained, educated and fed, with the help of several million potatoes, acres of wheat, a herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle, poly-tunnels full of strawberries, fields of asparagus, rotating solar cells, a fishery and too many other features to remember.