Sea Otter boats goes under
ALUMINIUM BOAT BUILDER Sea Otter Workboats Ltd became the third high-profile narrowboat based business to cease trading in recent months, when it followed Severn Valley Boats and Challenger Syndicateships into Administration in May. Managing Director Paul Hobson said that if the company continued "this would be seen as fraudulent trading and none of us at Sea Otter want to jeopardise our reputation and that of the product".
Wild 'n' wet Crick!
FOR THE FIRST time in its nine-year history, Crick Boat Show succumbed to bad weather when winds gusting to 50mph led to fears for the security of the marquees, and the organisers called the event off in the interests of public safety.
BW Chairman stays at helm
BRITISH WATERWAYS CHAIRMAN Tony Hales will remain in post until July 2011 following his reappointment for a second three-year term. Waterways Minister Jonathan Shaw said: "I look forward to continuing our work with Tony Hales to build on the Government's and BW's shared commitment to a vibrant waterways network and provide strong public benefits through a living heritage landscape which enhances healthy recreation opportunities for a wide range of users and delivers regeneration to many communities".
BW to sell off lock houses too?
JUST WEEKS AFTER the Environment Agency courted controversy by announcing the sell-off of some Thames lock houses, British Waterways is considering the future of its residential properties – and may follow suit. BW has 400 residential properties – such as lock keepers' cottages –which generate little income, and will look at options including sale or transfer to a part-owned company.
Wolverhampton Wanderings
OVER 300 BOATS have already booked in for the Inland Waterways Association's National Festival, which this year is being held at Pendeford Park on the edge of Wolverhampton, close to where the Shropshire Union meets the Staffs and Worcs Canal at Autherley Junction.
BW puts pressure on evaders
THE BRITISH WATERWAYS clampdown on evasion continues, with action to seize and crush unlicensed craft spreading across the BW regions. A number of boats without licences in the London area have already been destroyed. In the South-East, BW's enforcement team has doubled in size.
Jack Skinner 1919 - 2008
JOHN THOMAS (JACK) Skinner was born into the close-knit community of boatpeople transporting freight along the canals of the south Midlands. At his funeral, tribute was paid to the 'dapper man in the trilby hat, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things concerning canals... a man not to be trifled with, who would do anything for his family'. He is survived by his wife Rose and their four children.
For more on all these stories and other news stories, see the July issue of Canal Boat
