A festive thank you.
As the season of good will bounces into full swing we’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support for the Kilsby Boat Project.
We’ve been squirrelling away behind-the-scenes in preparation for 2023, the year in which we will test-drive the artistic ambitions for the boat. Think story-telling, song-writing, perhaps even a play-in-a day, as we pilot the activities that will bring our canal heritage to life.
The good ship Kilsby floats happily in Banbury town centre. We thank Matt and the team at Tooley’s Boatyard for all they do to keep this 60ft chunk of history safe and sound!
(Thanks also to volunteer Jack for sending over photos of Kilsby when he cruises through Banbury!)
Fundraising for the final stage of the restoration of Kilsby’s hull has kicked off!
Sincere thanks go to everyone who attended and performed at the Jericho Singers Christmas Concert last week, raising £425 towards the rebuild of Kilsby’s stern (rear end!).
Steph and the Jericho Singers. Photograph by Jeff Slade.
Donations of any size are always gratefully received.
Click here if you’d like to support the next stage of Kilsby’s transformation, restoring the modern yet deteriorated back deck to its former 1912 glory. (seen below on Butty Kildare, from the same fleet as Kilsby and permanently exhibited at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley)
Things that inspired us in 2022....
Teetering on the brink of 2023, I'd like to close this festive news nugget with a few highlights from the last year, the people and places that have given us food for thought and a zest for the next chapter....
2022 was a legendary year for the return of much-loved local events. The Oxford Canal Festival returned on a sunny Saturday. We spent the day manning the Kilsby stall and chatting to visitors - a great source of inspiration!. There was a giant cardboard boat, a lot of paint and the children spoke - the future is technicolour.
2022 was also the comeback year for Binsey fete. It launched the Kilsby magnet fishing game (a game of skill, a game of chance, a game of magnets, sawdust, murky water and metal moons)….
The real joy of getting back out there to the face-to-face fun of fetes and festivals was registering all the generous offers of support. From trapeze artists to physics professors, we now have over 100 locals who have signed up to volunteer for the project!
(Tall fellas courtesey of electric cabaret)
After performing with Three Idle Women in Tooley's historic dry dock for Banbury's Canal Day, Steph met with the Village Butty duo Anna and Richard. She enjoyed a drink aboard their smashing 'floating village hall'. Their mission is to 'increase the overall jollity of the nation' and judging by the way Steph's eyes lit up like little Christmas trees when she recalled this visit I'd say that they are succeeding.
We've consulted with 13 organisations over the past two years, from small-scale land-based theatre companies, to community passenger boat operations. Anna and Richard at the Village Butty have kindly offered advice and guidance to us this year, and what a treat it was to enjoy the fruit of their labours and experience in real life!
This friendly face is Jim Hutchinson, skippering Butty Hampton, a motorised butty from the same fleet as Kilsby. Jim and his family paid great attention to heritage design detail in the restoration of Hampton, but were bold in certain decisions that made the boat fit for purpose as a liveaboard vessel. Huge thanks go to Jim and Sue Hutchinson for a wonderful cruise down the canal, for treating us to a delicious lunch, letting us try out the handling of this beautiful boat and for their ongoing support.
Our visit to The Puppet Barge in London left us overflowing with inspiration! Thanks to the lovely Stan for answering all our nosy questions, for showing us what was behind the cupboard doors, and for offering to share with us the wisdom they have gained over 40 years of floating puppetry. The Puppet Barge is currently based very near to Paddington Station, a terrific day out on the train.
With great pleasure I can announce that they will be mooring in Abingdon for the summer of 2023. I am going to moor next to them and absorb as much of their puppet magic as I can while they are in our neck of the Thames!
The integration of an electric engine into a traditional butty design on Birdswood (Cromford Canal) is really encouraging, a successful example that galvanises our ambition to reanimate the heritage of Kilsby with the best of sustainable modern technologies.
We haven't made it up for a visit yet, let's go in 2023.
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We wish you a merry Christmas, a happy new year, a manageable fuel bill and a boatload of good cheer!
With thanks for your support, in all its wonderful forms,
Sophie and the Kilsby Boat Project Team
