BOAT TRIP Blind listeners to the West Shropshire Talking Newspaper (WSTN) enjoyed a relaxing canal boat trip hosted by the Rotary Club of Shrewsbury on 6 September 2010.
The waterways day out was the idea of Rotary Club of Shrewsbury president Alan Wilding who said: “The day brought together three of my interests, waterways, talking newspapers and Rotary. I booked with the Heulwen Trust last February and more recently included an invitation to listeners on the weekly WSTN recorded programme."
“The boat is limited to a total of 12 passengers and our party comprised two other Rotarians, Tony McLoughlin and Alan Bramley, together with nine listeners including one lady who was using a wheelchair and others with mobility problems.”
The three Rotarians collected listeners by car from their homes in Shrewsbury and drove to Welshpool where they all embarked on the Heulwen Trust narrow boat at Gungrog Wharf. Easy access to the boat’s cabin was gained by means of a built-in hydraulic platform. The group then enjoyed several hours relaxing cruising along the peaceful Montgomery Canal.
The Rotary hosts served coffee and biscuits while describing the passing scenery to their blind passengers who were able to sit either in the enclosed cabin or out on the open front deck. The boat passed under canopies of trees and alongside open fields where pheasants were feeding. After it had manoeuvred under a farm lift bridge one passenger commented: “We all had to duck as we went through that lift bridge to make sure we didn’t hit our heads.”
A skilful three-point turn by the Trust’s captain at a wide canal winding hole allowed the boat to cruise back past the wharf towards Welshpool and beneath the main A 483 Oswestry road and this gave passengers a brief experience of a short canal tunnel. The countryside scenery then gave way to urban gardens before the boat arrived at the mooring basin adjacent to the main Welshpool town car park. Lots of excited ducks made a noisy background while passengers enjoyed their picnic lunches with a glass of wine.
Alan Wilding said: “Everyone seemed to really enjoy the cruise and we all had a good chat. The comfortable seating and the easy wheelchair access were much appreciated. One listener who had never been on a canal boat previously said he would happily volunteer to come again. Other comments included: “It’s been absolutely marvellous,” “You can be inside or outside and it’s all very spacious,” “out of this world!”
