Boat rally 2012: Russell Newbery Register

The 2012 rally took place between Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th June at Alvecote Marina on the Coventry Canal near Tamworth. Mooring facilities were courtesy of Narrowcraft in the marina and BW on the towing path, meeting and bar facilites were courtesy of the Samuel Barlow pub.

Due to the wet and windy weather conditions, all events took place inside the pub. The excellent food and hospitality provided by Paul the landlord of the pub were enjoyed by all rally attendees. The rally bar featured real ales from Church End Brewery, Slaughterhouse Brewery and The Old Pie Factory Brewery. All of these breweries are located inside the Warwickshire Canal Ring. The real cider cames from Warwickshire's only cider producer, Hogan's Cider and from Somerset, Harry's Cider. Wine lovers enjoyed a selection of French wines supplied by Underwood Wine Warehouse of Warwick (who are also located adjacent to Grand Union Canal).

Fifty one boats, including two butties, attended.

The main rally activities included:

Chalkboard Workshop
Ropework Workshops
Scumbling Workshops
Rag Rug Workshops
RN Cylinder Head workshop - lead by former RN apprentice Jamie Mason
Presentation on Chasewater Reservoir and water supply to the midlands canals from Will Burnish of British Waterways
Technical Forum - engine and boat items
Barbershop Choir - another Register musical achivement
Canal and River Trust update - from Clive Henderson (C&RT Council member and IWA National Chairman) and Steve Burt (C&RT West Midlands Partnership member
Annual General Meetings of the Register and the property company (RNR Property Ltd)

The evening entertainments were entirely ‘home grown’. Trish Pink, Jamie Mason and David Lowe on Saturday evening. On Sunday evening it was a RNR variery show with contributions from Dave & Nessa Martin, Tony Grattan, Ken Nelson, Roger McKinder, Kevin McNiff and Rob Davies. The newly formed RNR Barbershop Choir peformed on Sunday afternoon.

Motor and butty pair outside of the pub

Both pairs from the pub balcony

Visting RNR boats in the marina

Visting RNR boats moored on the marina bank and the towing path

Lay-by full of RN and National engined boats

More pictures on Canon Image Gateway album. Photos by Bob Scott, Ken Nelson, Andrew Laycock.

Mass start up

At six o'clock on the Friday and Saturday evenings, all rally boats took part in a synchronised mass engine start. The sound of over 50 RN and National engines with a combined horse-power of around 1,000hp starting together was a memorable sight and sound.

2013 Rally | 2011 Rally