sinep

My Dad is the dark haired guy with glasses and a rust coloured top, not sure of any others,

Thanks Alan, I'm pretty sure that Harry came to Dad's funeral, though so many came from the boating world, I cant be sure. Many thanks.

Hi Alan I am somewhat gob smacked at all the photos, some including Dad - and in colour too !!! They are fantastic, where did they come from ? Where are you headed for in Birmingham ? We have family staying over Easter, but we might be able to meet up with you and Cath at some point

Thanks Pete. That would make a lot of sense. Dad had a number of boats moored at the Guns Mouth, the junction of the Wey and the Wey and Arun canal, including Margaret and Firebrand, a broad beamed boat during the 60s. We lived a couple of miles away, so this was the nearest mooring to home. I mostly remember Firebrand post 64 -65, so maybe Margaret sank around about then. Dad would have been a bit strapped for cash and moved to Worcestershire in 1966, so would have had less time and resources to do much to any of the boats. Many thanks

Hi Pete, Yes, my Dad was Pat Saunders. I have found out a few bits and bobs about Margaret's history, but would love to know what you have found out. But, in particular, I am very curious as to if she is still around somewhere, or if not, what happened to her after Dad had her.

Does anyone know anything about my Dad's old boat, Margaret ? We had her in the late 50s early 60s, when Dad used her as a hostel boat. I have found a few pics of her on the net, but know nothing of what happened to her. The first pic is of me and Dad, with Margaret in the back ground Margaret as a hostel boat, probably on the LLangollen canal Margaret at the northern portal of the Harecastle tunnel Margaret long before we had any contact with her

Friends of our's, Olly and Jeff are going to be running a trip boat from Frogall Wharf, through the tunnel to Consall Forge, in conjunction with the cafe, from mid April 2017 onwards. From what I understand, they will be running the trip boat at weekends, and Wednesdays in high season (school holidays),

Hoping to join you all, by water this year. Hoping NOT to get the lurgy this time round

Thanks, I fully intend to enjoy the Caldon, especially at Consall Forge, which I have visited via car 3 - 4 times. I'll be on Reiki Sanctuary, a 57' navy blue Cruiser, with a great friend of 25 years. I'll keep my eyes open for you, and say hello if I see you passing. Dad was quite an amazing guy, though I didn't really appreciate it at the time, coz he was just Dad to me. But in his time, he must have introduced 100s to the canals, recruiting them to restoration campaigns etc etc. But all of these memories and childhood experiences form a terrific legacy for me, one which is far better than material goods. - Wil

Looking forward to seeing section on Hostel Boats on the Llangollen Canal features my Dad, Pat Saunders, who owned the boat(s), and founded the holiday company, Hostel Boats Ltd and Waterway Projects Ltd. Mum was the "galley slave". Dad told me that I was conceived on the Llangollen Canal a couple of years before the film was made, and showed me the spot, when I was a teenager. The Horse was George, who I remember. Dad had three other boats I remember, Firebrand, a widebeam, Fellowship, and Mistress Mine. There were pothers, but I don't remember their names. He had them moored at the Guns Mouth, at the junction of the River Wey and the Wey Arun canal, at Shalford, just outside Guildford, during most of the 1960's. I would love to chat / message with anyone who remembers my Dad.

Hi Jeanette I didn't set out to walk the entire tow path, I just went for a canal side walk at Cowley, but I kept going back for more and more. I'm not sure how far I'll get, as I am planning to move to Staffordshire before too long, but I've really enjoyed it so far, though the Slough Arm could do with something to liven it up! This part of Middlesex aint too bad for road signs and inspection chamber covers (not allowed to be sexist!), its South London Penge and Croydon, (or Croinge as it is known, though that sounds like a fungal medical complaint) that the lack of signs is really bad. KNowing my luck, the council will send out replacement covers to every household in the post, and being a postman, humping 600 of those buggers about would not be any fun. Having 600 SAGA mags or Sky mags is bad enough !! Posties are never happier than when they are winging about their jobs !!

HI there Looking forward to Tring, and the Wendover and Aylesbury arms. They have gotta be a bit more interesting than the Slough Arm ! "Come friendly bombs..." Hey, if I keep on in that vein, I'll find my way onto the board of the new waterway charity ! Dad was active on the canals right upto his death in '93/94, so its possible you may have encountered him at some point after 1980. While sorting out his estate, we found another boat of his, and I dare say there may have been one or two more moored in out of the way places. They were like mistresses, only that gave him a lot more pleasure.

A mate recommended I might like to join after mentioning the BBC FOUR "Golden age of Canals", where I saw a clip of my (late) Dad, with George, our horse, pulling Margaret, one of our boats, along the Llangollen Canal, circa 1962. I may have been in the boat at the time, but with firm reins on, coz I would have been a Toddler at that point in time, and getting myself into everything. My Dad was Pat Saunders, and I am Wil (William) his eldest son. I would be delighted to chat with anyone who knew my Dad. Although he appeared on the BBC FOUR show, he was not mentioned. I for one remember him being very very very involved with all sorts of restoration projects, and being part of a huge canal activist network, from the early 1950's until his death in the early 1990's. He always had a boat or two or three or four hidden away somewhere, and always seemed to be fighting some British Waterways plot ! As for me, Dad once pointed out the point on the Llangollen Canal where I was conceived ! And much of my childhood included mucking about in boats, or with steam railway restoration projects, or other forms of industrial archeology, courtesy of Dad. And that childhood has lingered in my psyche for years, so I quite understand why I have an incredible urge to get my own boat and get back on the canals. I've had a couple of weeks back on water, and my appetite had become ravenous ! I've also been walking the towpath on the grand Union, from Brentford northwards. My last jaunt got be to just short of the port of Berkhampstead. Check out my facebook page if you want pics of my towpath wanderings I am cruising the Trent and Mersey next week, from around Fradley Junction up to Stoke, then onto the Caldon and thence to beautiful Consall Forge, and the return journey. So Hi there one and all Wil

Hi there Just joined seconds ago, and finding my way around. Its a bit like driving around South London, no one seems to have told them that the War is over, and they can put back all the road signs, especially at major junctions !!!! Oh goody, there's a spell checker lurking in the back ground, protecting you from my spelling creativity. A mate recommended I might like to join after mentioning the BBC FOUR "Golden age of Canals", where I saw a clip of my (late) Dad, with George, our horse, pulling Margaret, one of out boats, along the Llangollen Canal, circa 1962. I may have been in the boat at the time, but with firm reins on, coz I would have been a Toddler at that point in time, and getting myself into everything. My Dad was Pat Saunders, and I am Wil (William) his eldest son. I would be delighted to chat with anyone who knew my Dad. Although he appeared on the BBC FOUR show, he was not mentioned. I for one remember him being very very very involved with all sorts of restoration projects, and being part of a huge canal activist network, from the early 1950's until his death in the early 1990's. He always had a boat or two or three or four hidden away somewhere, and always seemed to be fighting some British Waterways plot ! As for me, Dad once pointed out the point on the Llangollen Canal where I was conceived ! And much of my childhood included mucking about in boats, or with steam railway restoration projects, or other forms of industrial archeology, courtesy of Dad. And that childhood has lingered in my psyche for years, so I quite understand why I have an incredible urge to get my own boat and get back on the canals. I've had a couple of weeks back on water, and my appetite had become ravenous ! I've also been walking the towpath on the grand Union, from Brentford northwards. My last jaunt got be to just short of the port of Berkhampstead. Check out my facebook page if you want pics of my towpath wanderings I am cruising the Trent and Mersey next week, from around Fradley Junction up to Stoke, then onto the Caldon and thence to beautiful Consall Forge, and the return journey. So Hi there one and all Wil