Ware Boat Festival 2014 – Boaters first letter
May 2014
Thank you for booking in for Ware Boat Festival. We are looking forward to a weekend of fun and frolics, and hopefully the weather will be as good as last year. This email contains some advance information which we hope you will find useful both before and during the weekend. Remember our theme for this year is CARTOONS & SUPERHEROES so please try to fit in with this theme for the various events. MOORINGS Bob Dunkley is doing his best to meet everyone’s requirements, but please remember that it’s always difficult packing boats into Ware so please be patient. Bob and his team plan to be in Ware from Wednesday 2nd to direct you to your allocated mooring; if you arrive before Wednesday please find somewhere to moor temporarily until Bob is ready to move you as required. Bob will be keeping a listening watch on VHF Ch 6 so if you have a VHF radio feel free to call him up as you approach Ware, or you can phone him on 07977 778947. WATERSPACE OFFICE We plan to have the Boaters Pack available from Thursday 3rd, which can be collected from the Waterspace Office, located on the towpath opposite the Town Wharf. This will contain full information for the weekend, your barbecue tickets, tickets to the Town Fair, your commemorative plaque, and any other goodies we can offer. If you’ve not already done so you can also enter the Boat Handling Competition and the Parade of Decorated Boats at the Waterspace Office. FRIDAY The weekend kicks off on Friday evening at 6:30 pm with our barbecue, on the towpath opposite Town Wharf, with background music. As this is on Friday 4th July we are planning an American Theme to the evening (although probably not American-sized portions). We will have paper plates and plastic cutlery available, but you may wish to bring your own. Bring your table and chairs, find a comfortable spot, and enjoy the evening. There will be a Vegetarian option available, but please make sure we know in advance that you require this so that you can be catered for. SATURDAY The Parade of Decorated Boats will start downstream of Ware Town Bridge at 12:45 heading upstream, with the lead boat close to the bridge facing upstream. Please check your place in the Parade with the Waterspace Office, and when the parade starts please try to keep formation, keep fairly tightly behind the boat in front, and do make it a real spectacle for your audience. Craig will be commentating from The Saracens Head so any information you can give Craig about your boat, yourself, your journey etc will be most useful. A Boat Jumble will be held at our Waterspace gazebo starting from 2:30 pm. Bring any unwanted items, sell them, then pocket the profits – although we request a donation of 10% of the sale price to our Branch funds.
The Boat Handling Competition starts at 3:00 pm. This year our judges will be Craig Haslam (nb Nimrod) and Tony Plunkett, so please book your place with Craig or Tony, if you haven’t already done so. The Quiz Night will once again be at the Drill Hall from 7:30 pm. There is no bar, so please bring your own and have fun. Please also bag up all your rubbish and take it with you. There will be our usual array of stalls in our “Gazebo Village” which will include: Middlesex Branch IWA with gifts, books, maps etc Mick and Hazel selling rope fenders and rag rugs (tip – if you need new fenders why not contact Mick in advance, and he’ll make them to your requirements and bring them along – mbfenders@hotmail.co.uk) Stanstead Abbotts Chandlery selling all the usual chandlery stuff Beverly selling her painted canalware, and demonstrating how it’s done Stephanie with her Willow Weaving, with demonstrations, instructions etc Herts Boat Rescue – pop along and see how they keep us safe on the water River Canal Rescue will be on hand answering questions, giving advice and assistance Canalability – celebrating 25 years this year, so do go along to see what they’re up to, and support this local charity Don’t forget that as well as the above the Town will be having its annual Carnival Parade and Town Fair – well worth a visit. SUNDAY The Open Air Service will be hosted by the Boaters Christian Fellowship on the Town Wharf at 10:30 am, accompanied by the Salvation Army Band. Everyone is invited for an informal Sunday Morning with a friendly chat afterwards, with perhaps a cup of tea and some cake. The Teddy Bears Picnic starts at 12:00 in the Priory Gardens (Teddies obligatory!) so please bring your picnic and teddy and have a relaxing lunchtime with friends in the delightful surroundings of the Priory Gardens. Ware Brass on Priory Island concludes the weekend; what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than by listening to a Brass Band whilst relaxing in the sun? VOLUNTEERING As with all such events we rely heavily on Volunteers to help in various ways throughout the weekend. If you can spare a few minutes please let us know when you collect your Boaters Pack. KEEPING IN TOUCH This year, for the first time, we have a Facebook page, where we’ll be posting any late-breaking news, information etc. Feel free to post your own comments, photos etc – search Facebook for Ware Boat Festival. ANYTHING ELSE We look forward to seeing you over the weekend, but if you have any questions please contact us on 07801 260579 email les.hunt@waterways.org.uk The Festival Team (Les, Bob, Craig, Banny, Carole, Terry, Mike, Monica, Tony)