1st June 2016
Our Festival proved to be a fantastic hit with around 10,000 people attending over the two days.
To see a beautiful video of the whole site on the Friday evening before the Festival by JKD, click here.
To see a superb video of Day 1 of the Festival by David Morris, click here.
To see an amazing video of the Parade of Illuminated boats by Simon Edge, click here.
On Saturday morning, Cllr Anne Western, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, cut the tape to open the new Staveley Town Lock. (Photo © John Lower)
The new John Varley II then went down the lock carrying some of our V.I.P. guests.
The old John Varley shared the lock with more V.I.P.s.
Previously, our Chair, Robin Stonebridge, had addressed the V.I.P.s. (Photo © John Lower)
Pretty soon, people were queuing up to get in.
Staveley Lower Basin was crammed with tripboats, all filled with happy cruisers.
The trailboats were moored along the towpath.
Every few minutes, a tripboat cruised past – here it was Seth Ellis …..
….. and this time it was John Varley II. (Photo by Margaret Edge)
Canoeing (organised by Pleasley Vale Canoe Club) is always very popular …..
….. and they get up to all sorts of tricks. (Photo © John Lower)
In the marquee, there was lots of music including Identity Crisis …..
….. The New Orleans Strollers (Photo © John Lower) …..
….. and Murphy’s Marbles.
Outside entertainment included the Urban Gypsies …..
….. Black Pig Border Morris ….. (Photo by Doug Small)
….. and the Brimington Air Cadets Band. (Photo by Doug Small)
Having the outside entertainment next to the lock proved a great success.
Where else can you see a fire eater whilst passing through a lock?
The whole place was a hive of activity.
There was plenty of food …..
….. and drink …..
….. including Brindley Bitter, specially brewed for our Festival by Brampton Brewery.
It was lovely just sitting out in the sun.
Learn to Drive a Digger, organised by the Waterway Recovery Group, is always popular. We are very grateful to JCB/TCH for providing the diggers.
Children’s activities included Bubbles of Fun …..
….. Bumper Boats …..
….. and more traditional sideshows.
Our Dawn Rose team was advertising their Boat Pull. (Photo © John Lower)
Kev’s Birds of Prey were magnificent.
The local Fire Service always support us.
The Austin 7 Club showed their machines …..
….. as did lots of other owners of old cars …..
….. and the Armed Forces Bikers.
As you would expect, there were lots of stalls ….. (Photo by Doug Small)
….. selling all kinds of goods ….. (Photo by Doug Small)
….. including canal ware. (Photo by Doug Small)
The Friends of the Cromford Canal’s boat trailer always catches the eye. (Photo by Doug Small)
We brought Python over with our tripboats. (Photo by Margaret Edge)
On Saturday night, we held a Parade of Illuminated Boats. (Photo by Simon Edge)
They cruised up and down between Staveley Town Basin and Mill Green.
This was an amazing spectacle.
Especially when they returned to the basin …..
….. where it got very busy.
All too soon, it was time to pack up, with the WRGies taking photos to remember the weekend.
By Sunday night, much of the site had already been cleared.
On the following day, we held a flotilla up to Chesterfield. Click here to see the photos and videos.
The next section shows how the Festival was set up and taken down.
On the Monday, the scaffolders arrived to set up the pontoon.
By Wednesday, Dave and John were setting up the water pipes – nearly half a mile in total.
The Lower Basin was still not full on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Work Party put concrete down on one of the balance beam quadrants.
The arrival of the boats and crane from Shireoaks is always exciting.
Here, Python is being lifted into the basin.
The marquee erecting crew had a great view.
No your eyes are not deceiving you – it’s 9 o’clock on Friday night and the Work Party are scrubbing the coping stones. Nothing but the best will do.
Almost ready for the influx on Saturday.
Tuesday now and John Varley is being craned out to start its new career at Excellence Afloat.
Then came the exodus, here’s Python going back to Shireoaks.
One of the trailboaters says au revoir.
The crane’s departure is always a sad moment.
Finally, just in case anyone wonders whether all this restoration is worth it, please see the following.
A view from Hall Lane back to Mill Green in 2011 …..
….. and at our Festival.
A view of the basin under construction in 2011 …..
….. and at our Festival.
A view from Staveley Library in 2011 …..
….. and at our Festival.