Canal Trust floats its boat for Swindon Canal Fest

'Dragonfly' on the K&A Canal at Semington 

this week before being taken by road to Swindon.

Picture by Bob Naylor

By Bob Naylor


The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust's new trip boat has been craned into a restored section of canal in Swindon in time to be used this weekend to carry passengers at the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Canal Fest at Wichelstowe on Sunday.


The 36ft narrowboat was named Dragonfly by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at a ceremony at Semington on the K&A Canal on Wednesday.

The boat was taken by road from the K&A Canal after being used in a ceremony to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Wilts & Berks Canal by marking the start point of the planned link from the K&A Canal to the River Avon in Melksham. On the eastern side of Melksham there will be a link from the river to the canal that, when restored, will form a link to the River Thames at Abingdon.

The Wichelstowe Canal Festival is on from 11am to 4pm on Sunday.

There will be a demonstration by local canoe clubs, Swindon Angling Club will be there to teach youngsters how to fish. Children's entertainment will include a bouncy castle, trampolines, hopper races and an inflatable obstacle course.

There will also be face painting, glitter bugs and henna art.

The trust stand will be there to with information about the canal, its industrial heritage and the techniques being used to restore the canal.

For more information visit:  www.wbct.org.uk/canalfest

How to get there

BY CAR

Recommended route,
Redposts Drive
(off Wootton Bassett Road, Swindon)

ON FOOT

Recommended route,
The canal towpath from the rear
of the Esso Garage, Kingshill Road

Or

The footpath from Old Town to Mannington
that crosses the canal then use the towpath south

Royal start to Wilts & Berks link to the K&A canal

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, wearing her dragonfly brooch with pride: Picture by Bob Naylor

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Trust celebrated its 200th anniversary in royal style when Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall took part in the ceremony to mark the start of the new link from the K&A Canal at Semington to the River Avon in Melksham.


She arrived at Semington proudly wearing a dragonfly broach — the W&B emblem... and the Duchess who is patron of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust then performed the naming ceremony for the very vessel she arrived on. 

She poured a bottle of Wadworths K&A 200 celebration beer over the bow —and named the boat "Dragonfly".  

After naming the boat she then went on to cut the first 'sod' to mark the official start of the link from the K&A Canal to the Wilts & Berks Canal.

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.