River Canal Rescue 25th Anniversary Celebration

Published: Friday, 23 May 2025

RIVER CANAL RESCUE is celebrating its 25th anniversary in style.

Holding a free family-friendly party from 1am to 7pm on Sunday 8th June.

BillBaileyBand2Everyone welcome

This to be held at the Stafford Riverway Link Grounds, Baswich, Stafford, (ST17 4FR) near to its headquarters on the Staffs & Worcs Canal at Bridge 101, bringing together the local community, boaters, past and current RCR members, staff and families, everyone is welcome to this fun day out.

There’s live music from traditional and Dixieland jazz quartet, the Bill Bailey band; country/folk and Irish traditional songs from Kevin O’Regan; Country & Western and rock-n-roll covers from Johnny Flinton.

A high-octane rock/indie performance from Blitz, and pop/rock/country /indie sessions from the Oss Road band (their name is the black country/Birmingham slang for the canal towpath—the Oss Road/Horse Road).

Pictures of Bill Bailey Band (above) and Kevin O'Regan (below) by Living Heritage Events.

KevinOReganFood and drink

Food & drink options include: Indian and Caribbean, BBQ, pizza, crepes, toasties, donuts, candyfloss and ice-cream, plus cocktails, real ale/cider, wine, iced/bubble tea and frappes.

Crafts, wood carving, art, books, antiques, confectionery, raffles, prize draws, tombolas, holistic head spas & facials and honey tasting are on offer courtesy of roving traders and stalls.

Childrens' activities include: fairground games, a bouncy castle/slide, face painting and a chance to meet the local police.

Keen sponge throwers have an opportunity to give some RCR engineers a soaking while they’re in the stocks and RCR’s Key Diesels team will be providing short engine familiarisation courses. Look out for the ABC marinas, Penkridge Chandlery, Canal & River Trust, River Canal Rescue, Fund Britain’s Waterways and Stafford Riverway Link stands.

Proceeds to Stafford Riverway Link

All proceeds from the day will go to the Stafford Riverway Link—a charity working to connect the Staffs & Worcs Canal with the rivers Penk/Sow, enabling navigation onto Stafford town centre. The SRL is running a buy a brick campaign, to help pay for a towpath and farm traffic bridge over what will eventually be the connection between the Staffs & Worcs Canal and Baswich mooring basin.

The winner and runners-up of RCR’s national story-telling competition will also be announced. Deadline the end of May, first prize is £700 towards a CRT licence, runner-up £300 in chandlery vouchers and third-place £200.

Mooring is available on the Staffs & Worcs Canal and parking at RCR's Baswich HQ. If you’d like to party with RCR, please register your interest by clicking here, so the team has an idea of numbers.