A belated Update

Mike, Steve and Rob before
leaving Cosgrove (Photo: Rob)

There's been quite a bit going on which I have been remiss in not adding to the blog.

Mike Gardner has been beavering away at the electrics and is nearly there with his work.  We will be able to run the bilge pump and operate the tunnel light from the steering position shortly.

Sculptor spent the last weekend of June at the Braunston Historic Boats gathering.  Tom, David B and David's grandson (also Tom) took Sculptor through the tunnel to Gayton where the boat spent the evening.  Steve D and Tom took Sculptor to Braunston on the Friday where she joined some 70 or so other historic boats for the weekend.  Richard Parry was a guest on one of the parades that Sculptor took part in.  Steve D and Tom brought Sculptor home in the company of Stanton; to Norton junction on the Sunday night (to avoid widebeams at Braunston tunnel) and then on to Stoke Bruerne the following day.  It is important here to acknowledge the extremely kind and generous donation of £1,000 by Tim Coghlin of Braunston Marina to go towards Sculptor's maintenance in the coming year.  Any suggestions as to how we should spend it.

We ran a trip through the tunnel the following Tuesday to collect the two Blisworth tunnel signs which were at the Gayton BW buildings.  Rob Westlake is kindly going to refurbish them; the one from the north portal in time for the Blisworth Festival and the one from the southern portal in time for the unveiling of the Transport Trust 'Red Wheel' commemorating the engineering excellence of Blisworth Tunnel.  Kathryn and Mike G were on board along with Joe (a work experience pupil from Towcester) together with our volunteer coordinators Miriam and John.

Sculptor was taken to the festival at Cosgrove last Friday (18-July) by Rob and Lorna.  Kathryn and Rob took her on a short trip across the Iron Trunk Aqueduct in the company of Nutfield on the Saturday and that was repeated by Kathryn and Steve D on the Sunday. On Monday last we were mob-handed when Mike, Steve and Rob brought Sculptor safely back to Stoke Bruerne.

Volunteer hours 30 (total 328 to date).