trish

Hi Everyone Hope you have all had a good summer (despite the rain). Mr King appeared in court yesterday and the case was postponed again until 10 October 2007. Will let you know more when we can. Trish

Hi Pete Sorry for the delay, holidays etc.... Mr King went back to Chester Crown Court on 25 July and pleaded guilty. He has now been bailed for 'reports' and will be back in court towards the end of September for sentencing. Hopefully that will be the end of the matter!! Trish

Oooh!! Chance would be a fine thing!!!

Hi It was lovely to meet you all yesterday. Glad I was able to tell you a little more about the Holly saga!! As you rightly say - nothing can be put into print at this time. Holly has gone out for the first time - unfortunately without her name. We were let down at the very last minute and the customers had hired her so we had no option but to let her go. We would have preferred her to go with full names and complany logo - but what's another week?? As soon as she is finished, I will try and get a picture to show her in her full glory. If anyone else is passing thru' please come in and introduce yourselves. Trish

Hi Snibble I cant resist having a look on here most days. I was astounded by all the help we received and from people with such a good sense of humour. I feel as though I now have an affinity with people along the canals. (I also know the canal network better than I every did before). If we can help anyone else in any way, then I am sure that I speak for all at MNB in saying that we will pull out all the stops. I am so sorry that another boat appears to have gone missing. I hope it doesnt go on for as long!! Take Care - you may see me popping up in all sorts of places on here!!!! Trish xx

Hi Having been in the same situation just a few weeks back with Holly (although she was a hire boat) I have every sympathy with you. I know how frustrating it can be. We are on the Trent & Mersey and will keep a look out for your boat. As everyone else says, if you have a picture it will help. It is amazing how different a boat looks once it has been painted a different colour, but the members on this forum, I am sure will still be able to recognise her. Best of Luck - hope everything turns out ok for you!! Trish

Hi Just to let you know. Holly will be craned out at 9am from Gunpowder Wharf near Kidlington on Thursday 26 April, and then transported back to Cheshire and put back into the water at Wincham Wharf where she will then be brought back to the boatyard. We will then be able to start work on her restoration. Trish

Hi On a more personal note, I would like to that Jon and Nick for their patience. They have helped me each step of the way with the forum and making posters etc. I still can't get pictures up - I have sent them to Jon, I'm sure he will post them as soon as he can. If anybody on the forums is passing thru Middlewich, please stop in and say 'hello' - the kettle is always on, and it would be lovely to put a name to the faces. I intend to keep reading the forums, you never know I may join in again - it's very addictive!! I will be in touch on this one again, as soon as we have anything to report. I promise we will let you know as and when we can, each step of the way. We will put pictures of Holly on here as soon as she is restored. Take Care - Happy Boating!!!!!! Trish xxxx

FINAL CHAPTER OF HOLLYS' RECOVERY On the morning of Friday 20th March, Paul Foskett received some very credible information, of a possible sighting of a boat believed to be HOLLY, in or around the Banbury area. This reported sighting was no more than 1 or 2 days old. Paul decided that the best course of action was for himself, and Adam, to travel to the Banbury area and cover the whole of the Oxford canal. Adam started at the North end of the Oxford Canal, and Paul at the South end, both handing out posters to all businesses in the area and also to any passing boaters. It was sheer good luck, that a gentleman that had met Paul at 'The Rock of Gibraltar ' public house and was heading North towards Banbury , he spotted a gentleman painting a boat matching the description of Holly, on the towpath at bridge 213 near to Pigeons Lock. He telephoned Trish in the office immediately. Adam and Paul were at this time talking to two BW workers near to Banbury. Once Trish had the news, she relayed it to Paul and Adam who then jumped into their car and drove to Pigeons Lock. They met the gentleman that had passed on the information re Holly at bridge 213, and he pointed out the suspected vessel. Paul and Adam then casually walked past and confirmed that the boat was Holly. Once this was established, Paul telephoned 999, and both Adam and Paul, detained the gentleman on the boat until the police arrived and arrested him. The gentleman arrested at the scene, will be appearing in a Cheshire court this Friday. At this stage, we have to be careful with information pending the court case. Once the court case has been concluded, we will be happy to pass on further information and pictures. Paul Foskett - Managing Director, Adam Foskett - Manager and Trish Labedz - Office Administrator, would like to pass on their thanks and gratitude to everybody in the Canal community. You were our eyes and ears in areas of the canal system that we were unfamiliar with. Without your help, the job would have been much more difficult. So a very big thank you to you all. Paul Foskett Managing Director Middlewich Narrowboats Pictures to follow

Hi Jon I dont have any further info at the moment. It is an unconfirmed sighting that we are taking quite seriously. Adam and Paul are both down on the Oxford, Adam has just seen a single coloured boat with crates on the roof that is definately NOT Holly. Will keep you informed. Trish

Can anybody out there eliminate this boat??? This throws us way out with the sighting in Banbury. Although it does sound a bit worrying. Getting very confused now.... Trish

Hi My Manager is on the Oxford Canal at the moment. If you see him - say hello!!! He has just spoken to a guy who said he saw the news about Holly on TV this morning. He remembers following a boat going North on the Oxford Canal during the last 2 days painted all one colour (not sure whether it was blue) with some crates and logs on the roof. We would like to be able to eliminate this boat. If anybody knows whose it is (or if it is yours) please let us know. Trish

Hi Richard Trying to get confirmation, but probably during the past 24 hours. Trish

Hi We have just heard that there has been a possible sighting of Blue Holly and Mr King around the Banbury area on the Oxford Canal. Can any boaters in this area, please keep an eye out for him and report any sightings immediately. Trish

Hi Mr King left the boatyard with a bike on Holly on March 9th. Trish