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IWA members plan historic ‘Cressy’ cruise

17th Nov 2009

In August 1939 newly married couple, Tom and Angela Rolt, left Banbury to cruise the inland waterways with their narrowboat Cressy. Tom’s book, ‘Narrowboat’, chronicled their experiences and its publication in 1945 received so much popular acclaim that it led to the formation of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) in 1946. Its aims were to campaign for proper management, conservation, funding and restoration of the inland waterways.

2010 will be the centenary of the birth of Tom Rolt and to mark these celebrations, Ron and Mary Heritage from IWA Oxfordshire Branch will attempt to re-enact the iconic Cressy cruise. Their journey will begin when they leave Tooley’s Boatyard in Banbury at midday on 24 April 2010, in their narrowboat Heron.

Tom Rolt was also a founding member of the Talyllyn Steam Railway and the Vintage Sports Car Club and it is hoped that representatives from the latter, as well as local dignitaries, will help to give Heron a good send-off.

Pupils from the North Oxford Academy are planning to track the cruise route and produce displays, carry out interviews and design publicity materials for the event as part of their International Baccalaureate studies.

So where will the cruise take them?

From Banbury the cruise will head north towards Braunston – the heart of the inland waterways system. Then on to the Grand Union Canal Leicester Line where the route will descend through Foxton Locks to Market Harborough; site of the IWA’s first National Rally in 1950.

From Market Harborough Heron will travel north through Loughborough and along the River Soar, to join the Trent & Mersey Canal near Trent Bridge. Following the line northwards, Heron will reach Middlewich in time for the Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival (18 – 20 June 2010). From there she will cruise to Chester to join in the celebrations that IWA Chester Branch is planning for the weekend of 25 and 27 June 2010. As Tom was born in Chester it is fitting that a Centenary Celebration Dinner is also planned for that weekend in the historic Chester Guildhall.

Heron will then rejoin the original Cressy route and cruise down the Shropshire Union Canal, up the Staffordshire & Worcestershire before rejoining the Trent & Mersey. From there the route will take her along the Coventry Canal, down the Oxford Canal passing again through Banbury and on towards the Thames. Heron’s cruise will finish at the IWA’s National Festival & Boat Show at Beale Park, taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Heron will be decorated appropriately during her travels, promoting the Rolt story and the IWA. Any boaters or other canal enthusiasts who may wish to join Ron and Mary for all, or part of, the journey would be most welcome. For further information about details of the cruise please email ronmary.heritage@btinternet.com.

Last updated: 18/11/2009