Click on a picure to see a larger version.
All pictures by Captain Beeky
One of the protesting arrivals at the docks, in front
of the "Press Boat" Edward Elgar kindly made available for the occasion
by English Holiday Cruises. Victory's skipper supervises while his
steerer negotiates a mooring near a convenient tree !
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At the end of the speeches the show Clive Field had
choreographed included a rainbow and a cloudscape in the form of the a map of
SW England and Wales.
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Protester's MC confirms it's time for the rainbow and orders
3 pizzas for the "Edward Elgar"
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Local MP David Drew (left) has arrived to address the throng
at the Gloucester protest rally. After locking up his bicycle (ho ho ho) he
pauses for a quick chat with BW Soutwests's chief lock keeper (right) and one
of the shortlisted applicants to take control at DEFRA (centre).
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Local organiser Julia Hones writes:-
A fantastic turn out in difficult conditions.
Over 50 boats gathered in Gloucester Docks along with and
lots of public.
Campaigner Sonia Rolt - widow of Tom Rolt, one of the
founders of The Inland Waterways Association - attended and addressed the crowd
and 2 TV crews.
Sadly another 30 boats expected from the Severn upstream of
Gloucester were unable to reach the Docks due to the river being closed because
of high water flows
Andrew Goodland adds :-
We were unable to take Uncle Mort to the gathering
today but we attended by road.
Weather not too bad but recent rain had resulted in closure
of the Severn so that 30 or so boats intending to attend from
Tewkesbury/Upton/Worcester/Stourport were excluded. There were about 50
(mainly) nbs from the G&S canal in the docks.
Speeches by the various dignatories representing IWA,
Cotswold Canals, MP, Council etc PLUS some special encouragement from Sonia
Rolt. All speakers based on the holiday cruiser - Edward Elgar, with the
programme welded together by Mr Mike Rowfone himself, aka Clive Field.
Originally
posted to canals-list@yahoogroups.com |
