Audlem Lass – another great year

Extracts from Chairman Rod Cottrell's report on the 2013 season for the Audlem Lass at the AGM held yesterday, Monday 17th February, at the Overwater Marina Café.

Passengers

After a very cold start to the season, a warm spell in mid-Summer led to a total of 4542 passengers, including 1038 children.

Parsun engines

The Parsun engines which were introduced by Roy Plume two years ago have worked so well that one of them has been started about 3800 times during the two years. This means that we have travelled around 3400 miles on the canal (equivalent to crossing the Atlantic) with no serious incidents apart from two narrow boat rescues.

Crew

We now have 17 volunteers, almost all with RYA Inland Waterways certificates – super chaps to a man and a pleasure to work with whatever the weather.

Advertising

The advertising has been a great success – we are seeking to offer the same deal again this year – a bargain at £25 for an A4 laminated sheet for the whole six months sailing season.

The Santa Run

This gives much pleasure to the village and especially the children – lots of work is involved and my special thanks go to the twenty-plus crew and wives without which it simply could not happen.

Thanks to...

Alex and Anthony Davies for publicity and promotion help.
My committee for their support – not least Campbell Ward and my wife Christine.
Everybody else who has contributed to the success of the Audlem Lass project.

The Festival

This produced well over £3000 for the RNLI. So many folk were involved – besides the Audlem Lass with 370 passengers – it would be impossible to mention them all.
I must tell you that I have booked sunshine for June the First and lots of new attractions are under way.

RNLI contributions

So altogether during 2013 the Lass generated over £3000 from its normal activities and a further £3000-plus from the Festival.

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