Preston Millennium Boat Rally - 1st & 2nd July 2000

Last year The Ribble Link Trust announced that the 1999 campaign rally would be the final one and that it intended to hold the grand opening this year. However as we all know that has not been the case and a joint event between The Lancaster Canal Boat Club, Association of Cruising Enthusiasts, The Ribble Link Trust and The Lancaster Canal Trust was organised in it's place. The event took place in Haslam Park, Preston and was officially opened by the Mayor. It had been hoped that the official 'sod-cutting' ceremony would have taken place at the same time, but this had to be cancelled at the last moment.

The weather was fine on the Saturday and attendance at the event was good with fifty-eight boats joining the rally. The majority of which moored on the Lancaster Canal, although a number of boats had sailed along the River Ribble to Preston dock from Tarleton.

Boats moored on the Lancaster Canal, looking south towards Preston from near the winding hole.

Both the Mayor and Denis Lang of Hi-Tech Plastics the main sponsor of the event, enjoyed a cruise along the canal to view all the participating boat entries.

Looking back northwards from the Haslam Park Bridge with Water Witch in the foreground.

In the evening everyone was invited into the magnificent marquee which had been erected for the event. The entertainment for the evening was provided by The Brindle Brass Band followed later by a Country & Western duo.

The Sunday was unfortunately very wet and the event was wound up early but everyone agreed that the rally had been a success.

Congratulation must go to Ken Hudson and Peter Lang and their team for all the hard work they put into setting up and the dismantling the site. The organising committee would also like to thank all those who assisted in making the event go so well (and this year we won't forget to include the escort boats).

Ken Hudson's boat Marie Celeste prominently displaying the Ribble Link logo.

Because the Ribble Link Trust are confident that work on the Link will start shortly, they have taken the decision to commission a plaque to mark the Start of Construction 2000. The brass plaques, which follows the format of previous years, are on sale at £5.00 + 95p package & posting, (cheques made payable to the Ribble Link Trust). To order telephone Cliff Fazackerley on 01772 433273 or e-mail RLT@aaug.net