Royal Wootton Bassett Events
Boat Trips in narrow-boat 'Nonsuch'
Earlier in 2024, the Trust purchased a former day-hire boat which is known as 'Nonsuch' after the late Vic Miller's boat. The first public trips took place on Saturday 25th May, and other followed every fortnight on 8th and 22nd June and 6th and 20th July. August has started with Saturday trips on 3rd and 17th.
We now have sufficient crews to consider running weekly trips to the end of the season at the October half-term holidays. Trips will be subject to crew availability on the day (see Facebook pages a few days before for updates) and water depth (we do need some rain during the week!).
There will be trip-boat days on 24th and 31st August, then 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th September, followed by 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th October. The first trip leaves the landing-stage on the towpath near the Templar's Firs slipway at 10am, and trips continue hourly until the last departure at 4pm, Trips take around 45 minutes.
'Nonsuch' is licensed to carry up to 8 passengers and 2 crew. Because the boat is shorter than its cousin 'Dragonfly' (which operates from Wichelstowe), there’s no room for a lift, but if those with a mobility problem can manage three steps with a handrail for support, then they can access the boat from the landing stage.
There is car parking just off Marlborough Road at SN4 7SE, then a walk along the farm track. Please remember that we require a minimum ratio of 1 adult to 3 children. You can just turn up on the day, but if you want to be certain, please book using this telephone number: 07586 667118. Those with a wheelchair can bring their car closer to the canal if they phone the dedicated phone number, 07586 667118.
Trips last approximately 45 mins. Suggested donations are £6 for 14+ years, £3 for children and under 2s are FREE (max 3 children per adult). Well-behaved dogs welcome.
We have now held our first 'charter', where we carried Royal Wootton Bassett Scouts and their leaders on Monday evening, 22nd July. If you would like to plan a charter, please call us on the Nonsuch Bookings phone, 07586 667118, and we shall see if we have the crew available to do so.
We have gradually been building up a roster of trained local skippers, so we now have enough to increase the frequency of boat trips. As soon as we do, we shall make an announcement here.
Christmas Lights and Shopping Events
Once again, we have booked a stall for the Christmas Lights switch-on, which in 2024 is on Friday 29th November. Please come and join us on this fantastic evening of family fun !
Other Events
In a normal year, the Branch would have a series of public talks in the winter months and Trip-boat weekends in the summer, plus socials for members and a stall at the Christmas Lights event. Our monthly branch meetings are held at the Angel Hotel in the High Street at 7:30pm, usually on the first Monday of the month, but if that Monday is a Bank Holiday, we meet on the second Monday instead.
Fishing
The RWB Angling Club has the fishing rights for the Templar's Firs section from the slipway for about half a mile. There is no fishing at the east end of this stretch, nor at Chaddington or Studley Grange, The Secretary is Terry Strange, tel: 01793 201276 (more details in Community magazine), and can issue annual memberships and day passes. In addition, day passes can be bought at Jubilee Lake or at the Cobbler's shop in the arcade in the High Street (21, Apsley House, 50 High Street; half-day closing on Thursday afternoons).
