Historic Boat Gathering

Ed: we received this from Peter and Christine Silvester of Audlem Mill in Chatbox but thought it better as an article. Peter and Christine deserve a great thank you for their efforts over many years.

The very enjoyable annual Gathering of Historic Boats was held on the canal last weekend, with 27 colourful old ex-working boats converging on Audlem from the Midlands and North – with Emu having come from near London (though the boat attended a few other events on the way!).

The boats ranged in age from over 125 years to the youngest at nearly 90 years. The Gathering was started by Peter and Christine Silvester of Audlem Mill in 2009, and was until last year completely organised and financed by them.

With their business up for sale, they handed organisation of the event to the Historic Narrow Boat Club, who have run similar events before in other parts of the country. This year's gathering was in the hands of Audlem residents Sue Cawson and Nick & Liz Grundy, whose historic boats were here in Audlem.