Boater has narrowboat coffin

A MAN who spent his life on water, first as a merchant seaman and then as a boater, running canal trips for disadvantaged children and community groups, had his perfect 'send-off' in a narrowboat coffin.

Robert Boothroyd, who died of cancer aged 60, had his last journey on a two hours cruise along the Calder and Hebble Navigation from Brighouse to Park Wood Crematorium at Elland, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Safe Anchor Trust

After leaving the merchant navy he took up a business as a boat engineer, had his own narrowboat and also ran trips and taught volunteers for the Safe Anchor Trust, a charity providing waterway activities for special needs groups.

His coffin was actually decorated the same as his narrowboat, with other boats following along the waterway with the funeral party.

Volunteers of the charity provided a guard of honour at the locks which had to be negotiated along the journey.

The Safe Anchor Trust was founded in 1993 and is run by around 100 volunteers, to provide access to the waterways for special needs groups.