Basingstoke Canal anniversary

A FESTIVAL is being organised during August to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Basingstoke Canal Society.

First formed in 1966 as the Surrey & Hampshire Canal Society, it set about restoring the then derelict canal, after enthusiasts realised that the owner was intending to fill in parts of it for development, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Campaign

But a campaign by a dedicated group of enthusiasts backed by a local newspaper persuaded the county councils of Surrey and Hampshire to take the waterway into public ownership, resulting, after 25 years of volunteer restoration work, in the canal being reopened to navigation in 1991—25 years ago.

The festival celebrating the two dates will be held in Woking on the weekend of the 6th and 7th of August with many boats taking part on the water and entertainment and stands alongside Chertsey Road Bridge.

Any boater wanting to attend the festival with his boat should contact the Basingstoke Canal Authority on 01252 370073 or Dick King on 01730 264178.