Want historic boat as classroom

THE Etruria Boat Group has launched a scheme to restore the historic 54 years old narrowboat Keppel into a floating classroom, but need £16,000 to do the job.

This was buoyed by the anonymous donation of £5,000, plus other lesser donations, but still leaving a long way to go, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Complete overhaul

The boat needs a complete overhaul. but is being helped by local businesses giving both materials and expertise.

The group have experience at restoring such boats, as it restored Keppel's sister boat, Lindsay, that was use to carry Prince Charles from Etruria to Middleport, when he visited the area.

Chairman of the Group, Andrew Watts, told Stoke Sentinel:

"We are sure we can do this with the help of people interested in the canals, education and heritage."

"We have a very generous mystery friend, who wants us to match his donation to complete this project.