Members of Leighton Buzzard NWR returned from their narrow boat trip on the Grand Union canal in May loaded with a cargo of compliments.
The group of 10 were in the best possible hands for the outing from a marina near Berkhamsted to Wendover via Tring and back again: they were captained by Gwyn Grout, a former narrow boat owner, while first mate Karen Cowley is a qualified lock keeper.
There was applause from a group of workmen on the towpath for the way Gwyn deftly reversed into a very restricted space to moor the narrow boat for lunch at a canalside pub at Tring.
When they returned to the marina at the end of the trip the owner said: “I have never had a narrow boat brought back in such a pristine condition!” He was so impressed that on the spot he offered them a 25% discount on their next booking.
This was promptly accepted, and enough members have put their names down, within 24 hours, for the group to book two narrow boats for another outing in August.
By chance, at a lock on the Grand Union in Leighton Buzzard, Karen met a family whose narrow boat they had passed on the previous day. The mother asked: “Were you with the group of ladies who were having so much fun?”
Said Karen: “This led to a talk about NWR and finished with her saying that it was something her mother would enjoy, and she’d encourage her to join her local group.”