Narrowboat used by Princess Diana has new home

THE NARROWBOAT that played host to Princess Diana has a new home.

It was in June 1990 that Diana, Princess of Wales, boarded the Judith Mary II narrowboat in Whaley Bridge and was treated to a grand buffet, Janet Friend reports.

The narrowboat had been used as a restaurant boat in Whaley Bridge on the Peak Forest Canal, but has now been purchased by Jessica Loach who spent five days cruising Judith Mary II to its new home at Georgie's Canal Cruises at Penkridge, where she will join her sister boat Judith Mary.

Built at Whaley Bridge

This cruise was the first time Judith Mary II had left the Whaley Bridge area since being built there. The original Judith Mary was built in Whaley Bridge in 1983, and Judith Mary II was built in 1988.

The two boats were originally owned by Roger Sharp who operated them as restaurants by chef  Allen Kelsall.

His daughter, Suzy Kelsall, remembers Princess Diana coming aboard in 1990 telling that she came aboard the Judith Mary II where a grand buffet had been made for her.