vince t

Hello, Not sure how many of you have been to see 'Life on the Cut' but it has been very sucessful, attracting many visitors. Due to the need to stage another exhibition looking at the effect of the Coventry Blitz on Bedworth, Life on the Cut' will finish tonight but will be restaged in about four weeks time. Thanks to anyone who have been into the Parsonage, there have been some fascinating discussions about life on the working boats. More info regarding dates will be on www.visitnorthernwqarwickshire.com Regards Vince Taylor Hello, Not sure how many of you have been to see 'Life on the Cut' but it has been very sucessful, attracting many visitors. Due to the need to stage another exhibition looking at the effect of the Coventry Blitz on Bedworth, Life on the Cut' will finish tonight but will be restaged in about four weeks time. Thanks to anyone who has been into the Parsonage, there have been some fascinating discussions about life on the working boats. More info regarding dates will be on www.visitnorthernwqarwickshire.com Regards Vince Taylor

I have just heard from the BBC that the interviews made at the opening of the exhibition will be broadcast on Sunday October 10th at 3.00pm and repeated the following Wednesday at 8.00pm. The programme is called Wedge's Warwickshire and the station is BBC Coventry and Warwickshire (94.8FM, 103.7FM and 104FM & DAB)or online at www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/programmes The exhibition is proving very popular, especially with ex working boaters and their families. Regards Vince T

Hello Jeanette, Glad you liked the exhibition. The Parsonage Heritage Centre is run by the Bedworth Society and is a team effort by unpaid volunteers. We have been open for just over ten years and put on three exhibitions each year, mainly looking at Bedworth and its surrounding area. The building is part of the picturesque Victorian Nicholas Chamberlaine Almshouses which were built in 1840. We usually attract around 4000+ visitors every year (ten hours opening each week) and are mainly self funding. If anyone is interested in our small North Warwickshire town, our website is www.bedworth-society.co.uk For my sins I am also Press Officer for the Northern Warwickshire Tourism Association (NWTA). We would like British Waterways to join the association as the Coventry Canal runs from one end of our area to the other and nicely links the various communities together. www.visitnorthernwarwickshire.com Regards Vince T

That's the plan. The lift has been on my must see/do list for years. Do the trips run regularly? Vince T

Next Wednesday, 15th September, a 1968 vintage Bristol coach, owned by Midland Red Coaches will be picking up in Coventry (9.00), Bedworth (9.15), Nuneaton (9.35) and Tamworth (10.10) for a trip to the Anderton Lift. After a visit to the lift the coach will call in at the Antiques and Collectables complex at Dagfields at Nantwich. Return to Midlands approx. 7.00 More details and availability from Ashley Wakelin of Midland Red Coaches on 024 7663 3624

Hello Jeannette, Thank you for coming to the Parsonage yesterday, nice to meet you. I hope that you all enjoyed yourselves. As usual we count our visitors through the door but lost count in the 80s so was probably around 100. In the ten years since we opened the heritage centre there have been some good events but yesterday was one of the best. I know the Mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth enjoyed the day as did Keith Wedgebury from BBC, Coventry and Warwickshire. He will be presenting yesterday's interviews on his weekly Sunday afternoon programme 'Wedge's Warwickshire'. It will probably be a week tomorrow, but I will post the confirmed date. The programme will be available on the BBC website. We are hoping for another good attendance today, Heritage Weekend is usually very busy. Regards and thanks again Vince T

As a support for the exhibition there was a talk in Bedworth last night about 'Canal women'. The talk was given by Michael Miles who I believe used to work for the BBC at Pebble Mill in Birmingham. An excellent speaker, he attracted over 100 people to Bedworth on a dreadfully wet evening and entertained with a set of good photographs of working boats and their families. Several ex boaters came including 90 year old, ex No.1 Joe Carter, whose sister Laura was on the last Jam 'Ole Run in 1970. Official opening of the exhibition is this Friday and also marks the start of Heritage Open Days 2010. For a list of organisations taking part www.visitnorthernwarwickshire.com Regards Vince T

Just to let you all know that this topic has caused a little bit of consternation. I’m the press officer/Webmaster for the Northern Warwickshire Tourism Association and was notified last week by Warwickshire County Council that some boaters were unhappy with their stay in Atherstone and were putting their comments on this excellent website. Not having heard any negative comments like this before I was unsure what to do, as people generally seem to like Atherstone which has its own unique personality. In fact we launched our new tourism guide in early spring at the Red Lion in Long Street with Liz Kershaw (off the wireless) as our guest. She thought that Atherstone was wonderful and full of life and has praised it several times on air. I have contacted one of our members, at nearby Valley Cruises who tell me that they have never had a complaint about the town which is often an overnight stop for their clients. I have also contacted one of the local councillors to put them in the picture. The NWTA was formed in 2004 to promote the north part of our beautiful county, the tourism guide is well worth seeking out and our website is www.visitnortherwarwickshire.com We had a query recently about dog friendly pubs on the Warwickshire Ring, if anyone would like to recommend any it would be appreciated. New members, especially pubs and restaurants, are always welcome to join us in the association (very reasonable membership fee, details on website, or from myself). Regards Vince T

Hello, A new exhibition has just opened at the Parsonage Heritage Centre in Bedworth, North Warwickshire. 'A Life on the Cut' takes a look at different aspects of canal life and is full of photograph, boat models and general canal memorabilia plus an interactive slide show about the history of the Coventry Canal. A lot of the exhibition is based around a collection by the late Tom Bradbury which has been loaned to us by his widow Jan. Although the exhibition has only just opened we have had several ex working boatmen in to visit, Ward’s and Carters, and several boat owners who have all given it their seal of approval. Last Friday we had a very nice couple in who were on their way to next weekend’s Shakerstone event. The Parsonage is in All Saint’s Square in the centre of Bedworth and is part of the picturesque Victorian Almshouses. Admission is free. Opening hours are Tuesday/Friday 10.30-1.00pm Saturday 10.30-3.30 Everyone is welcome, well behaved dogs as well. Regards Vince T