Shropshire Boats head home after Jubillee river pageant
Two Shropshire narrowboats that proudly represented the county at Sunday’s Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in London hace started their journey back to Shropshire.
The Shropshire Lad and Lass carrying wounded and injured servicemen and the charity’s volunteers were not deterred by the rapidly deteriorating weather conditions as the boats sailed past a cheering and flag-waving crowd of over a million lining the Thames.
Shropshire's Lyneal Trust Crew members were delighted to receive a wave from Her Majesty the Queen and Prince William as they processed in formation past the Royal Party a little downstream of Tower Bridge.
“The atmosphere was fantastic,” said Chris Symes, Chairman of the Lyneal Trust that provides canal boat holidays for disabled people and their families from their base at Lyneal Wharf near Ellesmere.
“The enthusiasm of the crowds and the camaraderie of the boat owners kept everyone’s spirits high as the flotilla headed into torrential rain.
“Thank you to everyone in Shropshire who got behind our once-in-a-lifetime adventure,” Chris added. “We have been overwhelmed by the messages of support we have received from across the county.”
Of course, the journey hasn’t ended in London. The boats will be brought back home to Shropshire over the next three weeks by regular customers of the charity making the most of a change of scene.
To see a photographic record of the journey visit www.lynealtrust.org.
