On Saturday 16th September, whilst we have our boat moored on the River Wey we took part in an illuminated boat procession held at Dapdune Wharf, in Guildford with a mirror ball as part of the illumination. Dapdune Wharf is the National Trust Office from which they manage the River Wey and has a very historic link to boating as it is the oldest navigable canal in England having been made navigable to Guildford in the 17th century. The Wey barges, made at Dapdune Wharf, worked the waterways from Guildford to the Port of London.
Prior to the illuminated display there was a Family Fun Day in the grounds which we took part in it during the morning and our colleagues Dianne and David Pickford took over in the afternoon. During this time we made contact with a number of National Trust staff and volunteers.
We were surprised two days later when we were cruising back from Guildford and enjoying a meal in the New Inn at Send when we were joined by a couple who had seen us at the Festival as Waterways Chaplains and asked if they could join us. One was employed as a relief wier keeper and the other as a volunteer relief wier keeper. They both live on their boats on the River Wey. National staff and volunteers are the only people who are allowed to live on a boat on the river.
Richard & Elizabeth Martin