Boat show makes waves!

Rose Harland • Published 11 Jun 2009 08:15 0 Comments

RAIN was unable to dampen spirits at the annual Beale Park Boat Show in Lower Basildon.

Toad from Kenneth Graham"s novel The Wind In The Willows was on hand to welcome the thousands of visitors and remind them that: 'There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.'

The show was held next to the park"s seven-acre lake from Friday until Sunday and unusual exhibits included a replica of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton"s lifeboat the James Caird.

After his ship the Endurance was crushed by ice crossing the Antarctic, Shackleton sailed 800 miles to South Georgia, climbed a mountain range and found a whaling station to get help.

The replica is being built by the International Boat-building Training College at the request of Shackleton"s granddaughter, Alexandra, and explorer Tim Jarvis for a repeat voyage.

The college"s managing director Nat Wilson said: 'It is about preserving Britain"s sailing heritage and all sorts of transferable skills.'

D-Day patrol boat Garth was also due to attend but its gearbox failed and attempts to bring it by other means were unsuccessful.

Other unusual boats included an electric-powered wheelchair-accessible boat from the Thames Electric Launch Company at Goring.

Director Emrhys Barrell said: 'Electric boats are quiet, there is no pollution or smoke and it is just a nicer way to enjoy the river.'

He has been coming to the show since it started a decade ago and said: 'This show is fantastic. It is unique in England, unique in Europe, it has such a friendly atmosphere. We just couldn"t have a better location than this particular stretch of the river.

'It has got everything. It"s got stuff for the kids, boats for the enthusiast, big boats, little boats, it is wonderful.' Other attractions included dancing displays, live music, a classic car show, food and Newfoundland dogs.

Kirk Anderson and Tina Collier from Wokingham visited the show with Hannah Collier, nine.

Mr Anderson said: 'I think it"s absolutely brilliant. There are lots of interesting things to look at. It"s fabulous. The rain"s not put anybody off.'

See more photos in this week's Reading Chronicle and Woodley and Earley Chronicle (Thursday, June 11) and order them on this website or call 0118 950 3030.

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