National Campaign Rally

May 27^th – 29^th 2006

The Inland Waterways Association will hold a National Campaign Rally at Brookwood over the weekend of May 27^th to 29^th, 2006. Woking Borough Council has now given their blessing to the event, which will promote awareness of the need to safeguard and ensure the long-term future of the Basingstoke Canal.

The venue for the rally is on the north side of the canal between Hermitage Bridge and Brookwood Bridge, just below the Brookwood Locks. There will be a slipway providing access for trainable boats, and a winding hole at each end of the site.

Turnout for this event is expected to be very high, and the organizers are recommending that early applications be made for mooring places. Enclosed with this newsletter will be an application form, for all those subscribers who may possibly be able to attend. It would be great to have a good turnout from the Club, so please apply for a mooring, it promises to be a fantastic weekend!

130 boats of all shapes and sizes from the small 18ft Wilderness boats to 70ft wide beam working boats and a steam boat attended the rally. On Sunday evening an illuminated boat procession took place with 32 boats all decorated and festooned with an array of coloured lights. On the land were many stalls selling canal wares and other canal societies promoting other waterways. The rally was also a 40^th celebration of the Surrey and Hampshire Canal Society whose tremendous efforts along with many other voluntary bodies have brought the canal back to life. They now work alongside the Basingstoke Canal Authority to maintain the canal as an amenity for all.

Past events 2005

The Bridge Barn Rally took place over the Easter weekend over 30 boats attended the rally.