Wantage Waterway
Supporting the
East Vale Branch
of the

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

 

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Latton Basin

Grand Opening of  "Jubilee Junction".
August 30th. 2006
 
    After months of planning and weeks of work by WRG, East Vale Branch members and a highly skilled contractor, the day finally arrived.  At midday His Worship the Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor Peter Green, and Councillor Bill Hanks, Vice Chairman, Sutton Courtenay Parish Council, cut the ribbon to officially open the Jubilee Cut.  After 29 years of campaigning by WBCT (formerly W&BCAG), and 92 years after abandonment,  the Wilts and Berks Canal was once again connected to the rest of the waterway network.  The weather was good and the excitement great.  Everything went exceptionally well with boats queuing to travel our new canal.  Afterwards at the reception Ken Oliver, David Fletcher and John Laverick thanked everyone  for the help and support, they also spoke of the exciting times to come.
    The funding for the Junction came from IWA, WREN, Vale of White Horse District Council and Thames Water.  At the Official Reception afterwards the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust expressed their thanks to all these organisation for making the first part of their "Dream" Come True.
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Morning, August 30th. 2006


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Bob, East Vale Branch's wizard, performs a secret ritual
to ensure good weather for the day's events. 


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People and Boats start to gather.


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A lot of interest from passing boats.


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Some of the WRGies returning
to the scene of their workcamps.


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"Jubilee" approaches.


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Peter Green and Bill Hanks cut the Ribbon.


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We're back in business!


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EA launch "Windrush".


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Here come the boats.


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Neil Rumbol with David and Audrey Smith.


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You're not going to get stuck today are you Chris?


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No not today!


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Some of the last boats to be used on the W&B canal were Skiffs, so it is appropriate that they are here today.


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After the opening it was back to the official reception.


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Ken Oliver, Chief Executive of WBCT, with John Laverick the Chairman of WBCT.


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Dave Fletcher, President of WBCT.


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Raise your glasses to all the people who made the project possible.


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Martin Buckland, the project manager, with his souvenir plaque.


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Plaques were also presented to all our major supporters.


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Peter Scatchard, centre, W&BCAG (WBCT) chairman during the early years with Neil Rumbol, right, Founder and now a Vice-president of WBCT


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Fleur de Rhe-Phillipe, Chair of the Partnership


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Peter Green


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Jan Flanagan and Keith Walker.


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Jan with Anne.


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David and Audrey Smith.


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Liz Payne.


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Peter Scatchard


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After the speeches there was time to talk.


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Keith with some of the new display material produced by John Minns.


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A very substantial plaque to mark a very historic event.


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Some of the East Vale gang, ready to get on with the next bit.


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The canal will break through into the gravel pit to the left of this picture.


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Boats will then be in here.  (Our very own "Tixall Wide"?).


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This page was last updated on....
January 15, 2009

[This is NOT an Official WBCT website, but is run in support of the work of the East Vale Branch of the Trust.]

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