Duchess of Cornwall to mark the start of Melksham Link and the 200th Anniversary of the Wilts & Berks Canal

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall will travel aboard a narrowboat on the Kennet & Avon Canal on Wednesday 8th September 2010 when she cruises from from Hilperton to Semington for a ceremony to mark the start of the work on the proposed link from the K&A Canal at Semington to the River Avon in Melksham as well as the 200th Anniversary of the opening of the Wilts & Berks Canal.

Before setting off from Hilperton the Duchess, who is the Patron of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust  will officially name their new trip boat.

Wilts & Berks 
Canal Trust Chairman,
John Laverick: 

Picture by Bob Naylor

W&B Canal Trust Chairman, John Laverick, said, "We are delighted that The Duchess of Cornwall has been able to help us mark the 200th anniversary of the opening of the canal.

"It is a wonderful way for us to thank key supporters as well as marking the milestone of commissioning our first trip boat which will give a real sense of what a fully-restored waterway will bring to local communities.

"We are steadily making progress on restoring the canal and its linkages. " he said, " And they will provide a significant wildlife corridor, cycleway and long distance footpath through Wiltshire, Swindon and Oxfordshire".