Volunteers needed

The River Stour Trust is a charity formed in 1968 with the aim of keeping as much as the river as possible open for navigation from Cattawade to Sudbury for everybody to enjoyed. From Easter to the end of October we have boats at various locations along the river. Boats are kept at the Granary in Sudbury and do trips through Cornard lock to Henny. A boat is positioned at the Talbooth restaurant for pre or after lunch charters, to bring the bride to her wedding by water or the couple to their reception after the marriage ceremony. The boat at the Talbooth is also available on a Sunday for those having lunch to take a short trip on the river.

The other part of our operation is at Flatford where we offer walk on half hour trips from Flatford to Fen bridge and back. The Trust has only one full time and one part time paid member of staff and the other people that do work for the Trust are all volunteers. The volunteers skipper the boats, help clear the river of over hanging tree branches, reed clearance, maintain the jetties, and carry out boat maintenance in the winter.

The Trust’s present project is to get the Dedham lock back into operation. The new lock gates are made all that is required now is the funds to fit them. Like most organisations the River Stour Trust is always looking for volunteers either for skippering the boats or undertaking the other jobs that need to be done.

If you would like to volunteer have any questions and would like more information please contact me on email boac707@btinternet.com and I can either put you in contact with the right people in the Trust or answer your question.

Graham Gardner skipper for RST.