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Lifestory Showcase - Chappell
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During the summer of l989 I was able to spend a few days on an adapted Canal boat with a group of disabled people. It was the first time I had had the opportunity to take part in this type of holiday. Five of us, four in wheelchairs, the fifth on sticks with a leg iron following a stroke spent five very happy days on board the narrow boat ‘The Life Enabler’.
We left Neath Hill at 9.30 am with our helpers, well packed into the rnini-bus and a car with Barry and Mike G. driving, up the motorway, stopping at 11.30 for lunch before continuing on to Claysmore Boat Yard at Preston Brook, Runcorn in Cheshire at 1 45 pm. where the good ship ‘The Life Enabler’ was waiting for us with Alan and Ken.
We found Ken who had come to help us, resting On his bunk, as he had fallen off of the boat and hurt his hip. He had a pair of crutches for when he felt able to use them but he had been advised to rest for a couple of days. We were soon all aboard and had left Preston Brook by 2 o'clock. Wendy and Julia began finding the food, and sorting out die baggage and bedding and Mike G. made the first of many cups of tea.
Everyone else was getting the feel of being on the Bridgewater Canal finding their own special spots to sit and enjoy the holiday. The others were able to get to the front of the boat outside but I was quite happy to sit on the ramp that is used to get wheel chairs on and off the boat. I had it raised up to look out of the open doors where there was a little ledge just in the right place for my cups of tea.
Wednesday morning, after a very quiet peaceful night, we were off again at 9am. We had woken tip to sunshine so we settled down to enjoy the trip to the new Salford Quays where the old Manchester Shipping Docks used to be. I found the journey very interesting watching the flora and fauna along the canal but I did not see many birds or fish, although there were a lot of men and very young boys fishing from the towpath enjoying themselves.
It was nice to see all those lads so peaceful and quietly sitting on their own enjoying themselves not wanting to vandalise anything. what I did not enjoy seeing was all the horrible graffiti on every bridge and wall; nor all the tons of litter and rubbish all floating about for miles, some of it will be there forever.
I don't think anyone else saw what I did. While we were waiting to enter Huline Lock, the only lock we went through, I saw what first appeared to be a ‘mans hand’ floating towards us. It was a rubber glove standing upright and full of water and it floated right up to the boat where I was sat. I could have fished it out easily and it was rather eerie at first. It was a perfect morning for the trip and we pulled into Castlefield and waited there for quite a time. We had understood that we were to be taken by bus part of the way and I thought this was what was to happen here but it didn't.
We had just passed through Manchester's Industrial Area, not very interesting, just walls with many bricked up windows and doors facing the canal. These must have been used when the canals with the barges were used for transporting cargo straight from the factories to their destination. But we were finally on our way again and reached Salford about 2 pm.
Here was a new complex9 still being constructed and was to be officially opened by Prince Andrew the next day and that is why we were there to join the Rainbow Boats Trust Rally. The Rainbow Boats Trust was formed in 1970 to promote canal holidays for Physically Handicapped people and this Rally was to publicise and promote boats providing this type of facility.
The Life Enabler had recently been fitted with two lifts to enable people in wheel chairs to be able to get on. I would however like to stress here that one really needs to be able to walk a few steps with or without help to use this boat. It is too narrow between the bunk beds to get an open wheel chair between them and Mike and I had to be lifted to our beds.
We were having dinner on Wednesday when two of my friends, whom I had arranged to meet there, arrived, When I had moved everyone else to get off I spent an interesting hour with them as they pushed me right along the Quay where there were about 24 boats tied tip. All the boats had handicapped people on them from all over the British Isles1 Wales, Liverpool and Milton Keynes to name but a few and we were to get to know a lot of faces over the next 24 hours.
We all got off in the evening to walk along the boats and look at the very expensive looking new houses right along the canal before we went to a Variety Show. This proved to be just a magic show for the children, so we did not stay there for very long. When we got back to the boat Mike and Jenny Freeman and Towpath Ted had arrived and were to join us again after the special breakfast the next morning. Mike organises these trips and Towpath Ted had gone on sponsored walks, had many blisters to show for his splendid efforts, to raise funds for "The Enabler" that summer. He hoped to reach his target of £11000 or more, and was already well on the way.
After finally getting to bed that night; it was soon time to start getting up early, and breakfast was served for everyone that Thursday in the marquee between 7.30 and 9.30 am. It was a good full course breakfast, with waitress service, enjoyed by all. The Rainbow Rally procession of all the narrow boats took place at 11 am. in front of the Duke of York.
All the boats had been washed, polished and spruced up the evening before, some with bunting and flags. We had got hold of a few flags to wave and the Milton Keynes Narrow Boats sign was proudly showing on the top of the boat. We sailed pass cheering and waving people. Ray got a special wave from the Duke.
While we were turning round, the Duke unveiled a Plaque to commemorate opening this huge leisure complex and which will eventually be displayed on one of the bridges. He also named two of the Narrow Boats for the Rainbow Trust. ‘The St. Claire’ and ‘The City of Salford’. Three of my friends were in the crowd taking photographs of me waving my little flag. We were all wearing our V.I.P passes as well as our Milton Keynes Narrow Boat badges.
After all this excitement and we had docked again, we went to the very large marquee for lunch, and how grand it looked with the tables loaded with flowers and food. There was a table for every crew with the name of the boat and a very elaborate Menu Card in front of each place. Fruit Juice, Wine, Melon, Wild cold Scotch Salmon with garnish, Green Mayonnaise Sauce, Parsleyed New Potatoes, chilled Strawberries Romanoff., Cheese Board and a Bowl of Fresh Fruits formed the meal.
While we were all busy eating Prince Andrew came round to every table and spoke to all of us. Crystal and I were either side of him so when he put his hands on the table we could have put our hands on top of his. “Oh! yes.” he said, “Milton Keynes is that little village, way out in the country somewhere where they have lost their little cow”.
I could have hit him, but I told him the cow was now safely home again. He said, “We have a chap on board ship whom we tease, who comes from a place called Milton Keynes.” and he went off laughing. When Prince Andrew had been to every table, he and the other dignitaries sat at another table only a few yards from us for their lunch. He left us soon afterwards to go on to Old Trafford for the Test Match, Before we left the lunch we were all given a commemorative tile with the inscription ‘Rainbow Trust Rally Royal Review, 27th July 1989’ as a souvenir.
After lunch, I spent some time with my friends near the Enabler and Alan made cups of teas for us. Ted took photographs of us, so I had an extra treat to remember. We all had a lot to talk about for the rest of the afternoon. At 7.30 pm. there was a very good Jazz Concert and a very nice time was had by all until after dark for we were talking and drinking with other people by now. There was dancing and wheel chair dancing and everyone was happy. The weather had been perfect, not hot, but very pleasant with none of the famous Manchester rain until next morning just before we left Salford Quays.
We were singing ‘Sailing’ as we left to travel back leisurely still enjoying ourselves. We had all got to know each other better and nick-names were found for everyone. Mike B. had a hat which reminded us of ‘Popeye’, he only needed a clay pipe and some spinach, so Jane his wife had to become ‘Olive oil’ while the young girl helpers called me ’Granny Marg’.
I thought ‘Granny Butter’ would have sounded much nicer. Crystal who kept talking from 6 am. to 11 pm. and never stopped became ‘Alarm clock’. Our Captain (Ray) became the ‘Quiet Man’. He listened, took everything in and kept us all in order with his beaded eyes. We had ‘Windy Wendy’, that is how she named herself, but she was a great help and fun to be with, and ‘Jobbing Julia’.
Both girls had done everything to help us all and were getting very tired by the end of the trip but without them we would have been lost and we could really have done with another helper between the five of us. Then there was Singing Ken who sang everything he could think of during those five days from Ballads to Christmas Carols, while his leg was getting better all the time.
Mike G became ‘Jack of all Trades’ sometimes driving the boat, emptying the bucket, or making the hundreds of cups of tea that he reckons he made for ‘me’ alone. There was also someone called Alan whom we only saw very occasionally when he wasn't driving the boat. He only appeared to get himself a meal and I hope he slept somewhere. He became ‘The Invisible Man’ but I don't think any of us would have got there and back to Preston Brook without him.
Friday evening we travelled on towards Runcorn and found a pub after a lot of searching at Stockton Heath where we could have a meal together. We were able to sit outside for this until very late. We had almost finished our meal, when the landlord appeared with a £20 note, saying “A customer has left this with me to pay for your suppers.” What an ending to a perfect holiday.
While we were getting to bed the Invisible Man took us on to a suitable mooring place for the night. Next morning we got up very gradually and had some toast. I had been the first to bed and the last up while the girls were packing up for us. We were still singing when we arrived back at Preston Brook far too early for our transport which was to pick us up there. So, not having had enough of the boat, we set off again, this time along the Trent and Mersey Canal and through a very dark tunnel which was over a mile long.
We could hear very weird noises from above and below us as we called out to one another. We went quite a long way before turning around and heading for the quay for the last dine. Brian arrived with the Community Transport coach to pick us up and we travelled back all the afternoon stopping at about 5 pm. for a meal using the £20 that was given to us the night before.
We reached Milton Keynes about 8 o'clock all glad to be home and hoping that we may do something similar another time. It was the first holiday of this type that I have ever had and yet something else to show how life has changed for me since leaving Dorset.
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