A NEW RIVER AVON MISSION BLOSSOMS

An old Warwickshire Avon favourite is back… on a new mission thanks to a generous entrepreneur who has been moved by a mighty river project.

Former Avon Leisure Cruise vessel Frederick has been reborn as community trip boat Corsair, and she is now supporting Avon Navigation Trust’s youth volunteering ANT Squad and other river enhancing schemes.

Formerly one of the late Dave Smith’s fleet of three, she was bought from Evesham Marina by business and music maestro Stuart Miller, whose Towpath Productions give musicians a free floating stage on the Oxford Canal.

Now Stuart is letting ANT use Corsair whilst it seeks grant funding to buy her at a cut price, because he’s a new fan of the charity’s work.

“The financial return was less significant to me than what she was going to be used for,” says Stuart, who launched successful technological logistics company ByBox in Silicon Valley in 2000 and sold it 20 years later.

“Getting young people involved with the river and learning in such a lovely environment plus providing training for Volunteers of all ages is such a great project, which I am delighted to support.”

The 38ft canopied 12 berth boat will be moored in Evesham with ANT Squad HQ Neptune, which was also refurbished by Evesham Marina.

“We’re proud to have been the conduit between Stuart and ANT,” says Marina MD Steve Smith. 

“We are so grateful to Stuart for transferring ownership to us now whilst we seek grants to enable us to buy her. Corsair is a very valuable addition to our fleet,” adds ANT Chief Executive Clive Matthews.

Now Captain and Curator at Towpath Productions, Stuart established the moving music venture when venues shut during Covid lockdowns, paying musicians, and poets, to perform at free floating concerts.

They continue to entertain on two boats from April to October each year, either travelling the canal or sitting pretty in Mount Place in Jericho.

“It’s wonderful that I’ve got the financial freedom and more time for music,” says Stuart.

“The music community, like the river community, is a lovely place to be.” 

ANT Squad is the brainchild of Chief Executive Clive Matthews, who loved learning and exploring the Avon as a nipper and has long wanted to give new generations the opportunities and inspiration he had. 

“It made me want to protect the river I grew to love and we’re hoping our young people will feel the same,” he says.

Corsair’s first outing is April 28, 29 and 30 as part of The Valley Evesham and ANT’s Blossom Trail River Cruises, launched by The Valley to mark the Wychavon’s Trail’s 40th anniversary. (Tickets).

They will complement Worcestershire’s Vale and Spa’s 55 mile AA signposted walking, driving and cycle trail that enjoys the glorious fragrant vistas from mid March to mid May and Blossom Trail organiser Angela Taylor has big plans for the 40th anniversary.

“We have welcomed thousands of visitors over the last four decades and this year they are in for an even bigger treat with these first themed boat trips, blossom coach tours, specially created food and drink, including a blossom cider, as well as enjoying glorious Worcestershire countryside at its most scenic,” she says.

“We were eager to support the Vale Blossom bonanza and to mark a special year in a special way,” adds The Valley’s Retail Director Phil Maclean, who came up with the Cruise idea.

“The views from the Avon will add a whole new dimension to the spring spectacular,” adds ANT’s Clive Matthews. 

Corsair is all dressed up for her Avon debut on The Valley Evesham and ANT's April 28, 29 and 30 Blossom Trail River Cruises launched to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Trail.

Towpath Productions Captain & Curator (and entrepreneur) Stuart Miller.

The Vale Blossom Trail boasts more varieties of blossom than anywhere else in the world. Pictures: Stuart Purfield.

Evesham Mayor Councillor Mark Goodge - pictured on board one of the colourful dragons with his children Ellie, aged 15, Abigail, 12 and three-year-old Nathanial - says the initiative is a roaring success.

 A ROAR OF APPROVAL FOR BOATING RETURN

A roar of approval has greeted the colourful dragon-spearheaded return of boat hire and cruises to Evesham.

The green and red dragon pedalos have become particularly popular with DIY boating locals and tourists who have been queuing up to chill out on the beautiful Avon. 

Laid back cruises on board Easy Tiger have also been a big hit thanks to Avon Navigation Trust (ANT) and Wychavon District Council working in partnership to bring back pleasure boating to the town’s crowd-pulling parks.

ANT has engaged delivery partners Bonkers Activities and Severn Leisure to operate from the Abbey Park and Workman Gardens’ moorings.

“The Trust is very happy to support our river users and towns, which are promoting the River for the benefit of both communities and visitors,” says Clive, Chief Executive of ANT, which has launched the William James mobile River Avon Welcome Centre and has sited its youth and volunteering flagship Neptune in Evesham. 

“We have had such a lot of positive feedback from people who are delighted to be able to enjoy being on the river as part of their day out.”

Evesham Mayor and father of three, Councillor Mark Goodge, says his family is amongst those loving being able to mess about on the river.

“As a riverside town, the Avon is a really important part of our leisure industry and economy and it’s great to see people enjoying the river again at weekends and in school holidays,” he says.

Severn Leisure’s 12-seater Easy Tiger offers 45-60 minute trips on a first come first served basis from Hampton Ferry and Abbey Park.

Bonkers’ Evesham Dragon Watersports team is hiring out pedalos, paddleboards and katakanus with more activities planned. Wychavon District Council has also welcomed the success.  

Cllr Mark Ward, Executive Board Member for Economic Growth and Tourism for Wychavon District Council said: “It’s great to see Evesham’s fabulous River Avon being used for leisure activities. 

“This underpins the first strategic objective of the Evesham Town Centre Investment Prospectus which is to develop Evesham as a leisure destination, a great day out and making the most of its picturesque River Avon setting in the Vale of Evesham.”

Alison is Avon Navigation Trust's very first Poet Laureate

The Avon’s sparkling new Poet Laureate admits she was lost for words when the Warwickshire river’s guardians offered her the role of her life. But not for long.

Somerset-based Alison Bergqvist, who’d hardly written before being mightily moved by boating on the beautiful river twixt Tewkesbury and Stratford-upon-Avon, says verses poured out for The little ANT book of River Poems.

She is also poised to craft for the Avon Navigation Trust’s (ANT) special events, kicking off with her own launch, which was disappointingly delayed by the pandemic.

Boxes of the books were delivered in 2020 just before Alison’s birthday… and the first lockdown, which also shut off the Trust’s merchandising outlets.

“Now two years and more/ And water galore/ Under Avon’s ancient bridges,” quoth Alison, right on cue.

“But time stands still/ By river and mill/ And my words as ardent as ever!”

It’s a wonder that the book ever happened at all. A long-time, RYA qualified, sailing enthusiast, Alison wasn’t that keen when partner Chris suggested cruising the Avon on his little Hardy 20 River Pilot Tess. Meanwhile ANT Chief Executive Clive Matthews cheerfully admits he’s a poetry newbie.

But Alison immediately fell in love with the ever-changing Avon, the verses started flowing and Clive was hooked.

“I don’t know a lot about poetry, but even I can appreciate the quality of Alison’s work and the fact that our river inspires her so is very worth celebrating by making her our first Poet Laureate,” he says.

Alison had planned just to share her musing with friends and family and admits that the news that her audience will swell immensely was a life changer.

“It is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me,” adds the retired literacy and dyslexia support worker who inherited a love of poetry and wildlife from her late father John.

“I thought pootling up and down the Avon would be boring, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

“I love every minute, there’s inspiration everywhere and the poetry gushes out,” says Alison, who lives in Wells but also loves her spiritual home on Tess, moored at Barton.

ANT also has a new vehicle to promote The little ANT book of River Poems: Written on and about the Warwickshire Avon.

The Trust has launched former trip boat William James as its River Avon Welcome Centre (RAWC), based predominantly at the Avon gateway at Tewkesbury, which is travelling the river to greet visitors and locals.

The £4 book, which will raise funds for the charity, will be on sale on board as well as via ANT’s website www.avonnavigationtrust.org

The River Avon Poet Laureate Alison Bergqvist feels the muse on board Tess.

Avon Navigation Trust’s The little ANT book of River Poems: Written on and about the Warwickshire Avon by Alison Bergqvist.

THANK HEAVENS FOR A VERY SPECIAL DAY

The heavens finally smiled on Avon Navigation Trust’s long-planned VIP event to celebrate a very special award for both Tewkesbury’s Avon Lock and the town.

Cancelled twice because of floods and then kiboshed by Covid, the flags were flying when the Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Edward Gillespie OBE, unveiled National Transport Trust’s Red Wheel plaque, a heritage honour conferred way back in 2019.

The Lord-Lieutenant marked a double delight for the town, when he also officially cut the ribbon to launch the Trust’s new River Avon Welcome Centre (RAWC) during Tewkesbury’s water-borne BIG Weekend.

The William James, once permanently moored up river as the Stratford Waterways Information Centre, is now based at Tewkesbury and will tour the Avon to support river towns’ events. 

“The RAWC gives us the opportunity to promote the Avon and our towns, who are eager to banner the river to visitors and their communities,” says Trust (ANT) Chief Executive Clive Matthews.

The coveted Red Wheel is the National Transport Trust’s version of buildings’ blue heritage plaques and celebrates Avon Lock’s history, engineering and importance.

The lock, nominated for the award by former Lock Keeper Nicola Lancaster, forms the junction between the Warwickshire Avon and the River Severn.

There has been a lock there since King Charles I granted the charter in 1635, whereupon it was the gateway to attempt to extend the navigation to Coventry and then to a huge 20th century engineering project to restore navigation to Stratford-upon-Avon.

“It’s a historic site of engineering prowess, a once flourishing trade route and now welcomes thousands of visitors and boats every year,” adds Clive.

The VIP party also included Clive, Tewkesbury Town Mayor Cllr Simon Raywood, Vice President of the National Transport Trust  and ANT Patron Tony Hales CBE, plus ANT’s Chairman Jack Hegarty, Director Roger Clay, Deputy Chairman Michael Hodges and Volunteer and BIG Weekend Riverside Organiser Paul Cronin.

ANT & PADDLEBOARDERS PUSH THE BOAT OUT

Paddleboarders are (not literally) pushing the boat out to help to keep the Avon riverbanks litter free and tidy.

Members of Bonkers Activities Paddleboarding School and Avon Navigation Trust’s ANT youth squad are on a plastic and rubbish clearing mission.

As soon as the last lockdown allowed, Bonkers’ Kim Bonk, in partnership with the Trust, organised a big clean up of the Pershore reach.

In May, a flotilla will launch a clear-up of Evesham’s award-winning Abbey Park.

“Paddleboards are the perfect platform for litter picking. You can ram them right into the bushes and get to the litter you can’t reach from the bank or from bigger boats,” explains Kim.

The vanguard of volunteers are a mix of Bonkers’ customers and members of the Trust’s youth squad, whose duties include keeping the Avon tidy.

ANT Squad founder members include Thomas Welland and Kai Mellor, both 18. They have already enjoyed British Canoe Rescue Training, a First Aid Course and Paddlesport Instructor schooling.

“They are a real asset to the Squad and passionate about the river,” says Trust Chief Executive Clive Matthews, who launched the youth group.

“The aim was to get the younger generation interested in the future of the river, and Thomas and Kai lead by example.”

An even younger chap enthusiastically joined in on board ANT’s River Rescue boat during the Pershore litter pick.

Six-year-old Arty Barkley, Bonkers’ mini mascot, is an avid paddleboarder alongside mum Hannah.  

“He already has a good understanding of how important it is that we help to keep our waters clean,” Hannah reports.

“He is always spotting plastics on the river and so was over the moon to be able to ride on a boat and to be able help.”

The Trust invites clubs to adopt sections of the river https://www.avonnavigationtrust.org/environment/.

Bonkers has also notched up a first by adopting the Pershore reach as part of local authority Wychavon’s Adopt a Street anti litter campaign  

Bonkers is part of the national campaign https://planetpatrol.co/ and monitors and records all the litter collected to help with the long term strategies and prevention.

 Let me at that litter. Six-year-old Artey Barkley helped his mum Hannah on the big April Bonkers Paddleboard Club and ANT Squad spring clean in Pershore.