THE John Bunyan, Bedford's Community Boat has this summer had its best season ever and has now carried over 22,000 passengers since it first started operating in July 2013.
The boat which was launched by the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust to raise awareness and funds for the proposed new Waterway Park which will link the Great Ouse near Kempston Mill, Bedford to the Grand Union Canal at Campbell Park, Milton Keynes is run by volunteers and provides river cruises along the Great Ouse in Bedford from April to the end of October.
Attractive cruises
Commercial Director, Graham Mabbutt, tells us he attributes the success of the boat to the attractive cruises it operates at very reasonable prices which include public cruises on Sundays, Thursdays and Saturdays with afternoon tea, fish & chip suppers, a monthly live jazz group as well as the boat being available for private hire for groups, parties, wedding cruises, business events and school cruises amongst others.
Seen in the photograph receiving a bottle of bubbly and some flowers is passenger Susan Beaumont who travelled on a Thursday Public Cruise from Sovereigns Quay with Boat Master (captain) Bill Boddington.