Winter has seen the branch and boat crews provided marshals
for the Devizes Lantern Festival, with Santa being escorted from his grotto on
the Wharf to the Market Square by hundreds people with home-made paper
lanterns. Our Carol Service was led by
Sue Rodd and accompanied by the Town Band, and the branch’s usual “We survived
Christmas” party was a great success, held in the Café on the Wharf.
A new event ‘Canals and Coffee’, an informal meeting in the
Café on the first Sunday each month, has brought together a few friends, but
more would be very welcome. The branch needs a few more active members if we
are to make an impact – volunteers with trades or admin experience, for
example, or simply willing workers! Do make contact if you’d be interested in
helping. We particularly will need a new Branch Secretary as Val is stepping
down.
Winter maintenance is well underway on Kenavon Venture, and hard-working volunteers will soon be putting
everything back together ready for the first cruise on Mothers Day.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
There is a skittles match against the Wilts and Berks on Saturday 16th
February in Melksham. All welcome. Details on the events
calendar. Dates for a quiz
night and on-board cheese and wine party will be circulated as soon as
finalised.
We hope to improve our e-mail communications, so please
ensure we have your up to date address.
We will duplicate all this information onto the branch notice board
outside the office in the hope of maximising the number of members able to
access it. Postal mailings are simply
not economic these days..
Finally, please note Bank Holiday Monday May 6th
in your diary. Devizes Branch will have
a stand in the Corn Exchange at the Lions May Fair, with a focus on recruitment
and fund raising. We have been offered a remarkably generous gift as a raffle
prize – a week in a canal-side holiday. If you have canal-related books,
memorabilia or small objects that could also be used as prizes, or sold on the
stand, these would be very welcome.
Paul Jakeman
Chairman, Devizes Branch
