Celebration of Audlem Lass

Crews, friends and supporters gathered last night in the Scout & Guide Hall for a fish & chip supper and to celebrate a hugely successful first season of Audlem Lass.

From an idea that started with Janet Maughan of Overwater Marina and Rod Cottrell, the boat was acquired, fitted out and launched at Easter. Since then, Pam Jones told the hall, almost 4,000 passengers have been carried and donations of £3,875.95 received to date.

After expenses to cover petrol etc, the money is being going to the RNLI and to a new lifeboat at New Brighton on the Wirral, next to one of Britain's busiest shipping lanes.

Other speakers included Roy Plume, Derek Jones and Rod Cottrell who entertained with films and presentations, including a period piece TowPathe News review of the year and film of the 'Man Overboard' training with Anthony Davis being rescued from the water three times by the volunteer coxswains as part of a training day – click on the bottom 'photo' to run this film.

832 crew hours have seen 1,311 trips to date or, as Pam pointed out, the equivalent of sailing to within 27 miles of Rome! Women (1,575 of them), men (1,228), girls (620) and boys (505) have been conveyed so far, not forgetting 78 dogs.

The coxswains – Rodney, Roy, Derek, the two Johns, Phil, Campbell, Dave, Roger, Des, Mike and Bernard were, of course, the stars of the night with invaluable support from Janet, Angus, Alex and Anthony at the marina while Danny and Amy George were also thanked for all their help at Lock 15.

The big revelation of the night was that the Audlem Lass team have applied for Olympic Torch carrying duties on the day next year the torch travels with runners from Chester to Stoke on Trent.

It would, the application said, give the runners a break sitting on the boat. Health & Safety assessments have been carried out and we were told, with a smile, that Lord Coe has responded saying: "Don't call us, we'll call you" – which everyone felt was very encouraging!

The Audlem Lass service between Lock 15 and the Overwater Marina continues to the end of this month and all said they were looking forward to next year's programme. Finally, the whole village and everyone else who has contributed was thanked for their amazing support throughout the sailing season. 

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