The Bicentenary Celebrations recalling the 2005 Tunnel opening , Blisworth, Northamptonshire, UK.

   All pictures are presented at relatively low resolution to ease download.   Printed alongside each image is the local photographer's name.

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Carrying guests and officials, the veteran trip-boat "Kingfisher" finally arrived at the north portal around midday Saturday - only a little late due to congestion on the canal.

There followed a short speech from Robin Evans, Chief Executive of British Waterways, prior to the unveiling of a small plaque which now records the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Blisworth Tunnel.

Actually it opened in March 1805 not June.  A lower key celebration was held at Stoke Bruerne on 21st march 2005.

Lord Charles Fitzroy, a descendent of the Dukes of Grafton was invited to unveil the plaque.  Thousands of acres in south Northamptonshire were once part of the "Honour of Grafton" and it was necessary for the original canal company to negotiate with the Duke the route of the canal and tunnel.  The fellow slightly to the left is Andrew Woodward, Chairman of the organising committee for the bicentenary event.

Once the ceremony was over, a procession of boats, following the "Kingfisher", entered the tunnel proceeding south to Stoke Bruerne.

This lady seemed well prepared for the well-known leakiness of the tunnel roof!

A nine or ten piece band played classical music for the enjoyment of onlookers - they kept it up for while after disappearing into the tunnel with the result that they created some curious acoustic effects.

The Barlow butty, Raymond, has the unfortunate distinction of being the last wooden narrow boat to be constructed at Braunston and was launched on the 2nd June1958.   Used on the coal contract until Barlows ceased to carry by canal, the fleet was taken over by Michael Streat who had been operating pleasure craft out of an adjacent building in the boatyard since 1952.
The new carrying company was called Blue Line Canal Carriers Ltd., and the early boats carried, as part of their decoration, a ships wheel on an obvious blue background as well as all the usual decoration.  The wheel was later discontinued.  When commercial carrying virtually ceased in 1970 the last boat captain continued to live on the butty Raymond on the main line at Braunston, after his death the boat eventually came into the ownership of the charity "The
Friends of Raymond" who returned it to its original Barlow livery and it is now based at Braunston marina.

Later in the weekend there were more relaxed passages of classic boats through the tunnel.

At the turn before the mill, going north, this is the famous "President" steam-powered narrow boat which spends much of its time exploring the canal system, to the great pleasure of enthusiasts.  It is maintained by donations and some dedicated practical people.

The "President" was drawing a full length butty.

As part of the same procession, here is steam-powered "Adamant", replica tug, emerging from the north portal, letting off steam and blowing its hooter.

And this is the "President" again.

The village, meanwhile, was enjoying the garden parties and the displays in the Village Hall put on by a combination of village societies.  On the Eastfield Playground, a jazz band entertained us for hours with only a few liquid pauses.

In the Royal Oak Pub garden there was country dancing put on by a Morris Dance group . . .

. . .with them there were musicians who provided pleasant interludes.  Late on Saturday evening there was a well attended pig roast at the pub.

Alongside everything else that was organised, many people were spontaneous in deciding to make a little money for a charity.

Along with the canal-side and village celebrations there were held a few showings of Richard Conlon's play, which  he both wrote and produced, entitled "Echoes".  It was a lyrical recall of George Freeston, our late village historian.  The mystical finale, pictured here in rehearsal, saw the character of George contemplating what may lie among the secrets of the tunnel.

The play was organized by the Blisworth Heritage Society as part of a community project.  The Chapel room was packed for each showing - unfortunately many villagers said they were not successful in seeing it or, perhaps more likely, had spent too much of their time in a siesta encouraged by the Mediterranean weather.

That's all - the photographers thank you for your attention and hope you enjoyed the show.

In December the Community Play "ECHOES" was presented from a DVD which had been compiled by R Henessy from his own 'footage' and that of G Digby.

The year of the Bicentenary was rounded off by the planting by the Blisworth Heritage Society of an oak tree on the canal bank opposite Westley Mill to commemorate the bicentenary.  A mulberry tree was planted at Stoke Bruerne; both these trees funded out of the proceeds of the entertainments laid on by both villages in June.

The picture to the left shows the oak tree
on Christmas Eve 2005.

It has faired badly since planting, reluctant to come into leaf and hit by the draught of 2006.