On this page – FMC Rally 2007 – 2006 – FMC Rally 2005 – Braunston Historic Boat Festival(2004) – OwnerShips(2003) – Braunston Boat Gathering (2003)

Events planned for 2008 2 & 3 February – The eleventh Official OwnerShips Show at the Marina. Free enrtry and car parking. The Daystar Theatre will present "What's all the Fuss about" in the marquee at 6pm on Saturday, tickets £5 (donated to the Friends of Raymond). 28 & 29 June – The sixth Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally. This year the theme will be GUCC / Barlows / Blue Line boats, with a special celebration of the 50th anniversary of the launching (just here) of Raymond in 1958. This is now THE historic narrowboat rally with a record attendance last year of 80 historic narrowboats.

FMC Rally 2007
23 & 24 June

This Rally coincided with "Glastonbury" and the weather did its usual best to spoil things. Heavy rain had fallen for days beforehand but this only made it a bit harder for visitors to get their cars into and out of the field since there were helpers to push, straw to mop up the mud and, when required, a tractor to do some towing! Showers during the Show went almost unnoticed.

President enters the Marina with the opening party aboard.

Cameraman, Tim Coghlan, Chris Cattrall, David Powell & Sonia Rolt.

The show was opened by Sonia Rolt, travelling aboard the steamer President, who gave a short welcoming speech. All profits from the Show go to charity and (large) cheques were presented by Marina MD Tim Coghlan.

79 old working narrowboats - a record - attended (many Fellows, Morton & Clayton) and their steerers thoroughly enjoyed the two processions each day, as did all the spectators.

The many stands and attractions were much the same as in previous years (see below) and were enjoyed by all in spite of the English weather!

What was on in 2006?

4th & 5th February – The OwnerShips Show
was much the same as in previous years! Lots of boats, lots of people and even a bit of Morris Dancing!

And then --

Report on the . . .  . . . Rally 2005

Nb President steams under the bridge at Braunston Marina with a hold full of dignitaries.

As they enter the Marina, Casualty star Zita Sattar declares the Rally "open". This signals the start of the first of four boat parades.

This year a record number of 56 working boats attended the show and, with the rain holding off, it was declared a great success.

A short time earlier, Tim Coghlan, left, (MD of Braunston Marina) presented a cheque for £2000 to "The Friends of President". Zita Sattar (holding the baby) was present making four generations of one family descended from those who used to work the boats.

Raymond and Nutfield were just two of the many boats taking part in the parade and are seen here doing the slightly tricky manoeuvre of winding at Braunston Turn.

Many of the other festivities were the same (or similar) to last year -- see below.

The OwnerShips Show was held on 1st & 2nd February when, as usual, the OwnerShips fleet was well represented and there were plenty of Shares on offer. With a big marquee housing various stands, refreshments, and seating, there is no excuse to stay at home even if the weather looked inclement.

The original plan for David Suchet O.B.E. to do the honours was thwarted by changed filming schedules in America; however, others stepped into the breach and on a dry and sunny day three different events were celebrated.

First. Mr John Williams, County Councillor for Braunston, cut the ribbon (right) to open the Marina Extension (below) which       they had fought so long to obtain. Second. Tim Coghlan (Marina MD) handed a large cheque to the Friends of Braunston School towards their mini-Raymond project (details in next item). Some of the school children were there aboard the real Raymond to receive the cheque along with their teacher.

The ribbon being cut and the children receiving their cheque.

Third. Brian Kingshott (Chairman of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canal Society) opened the OwnerShips Show and launched their latest boat, a Dutch Barge, called the Hercule Heave. He was then presented with two cheques, one from the Marina and the other from OwnerShips, towards the David Suchet appeal. The appeal was launched at this show 2 years ago to save the L&H Canal by providing the money for the two crossings of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. It has already raised £150K of the £250K needed.