On Thu, 12 Jul 2007 22:30:28 +0100, "Brian Holt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>: > >I understand its open again but I have not checked the EA web site. We >have had to delay our trip due to a family illness or we would be locking >down from the GU tomorrow. President gave up a long while ago. If two weeks is a long time - then maybe, but they didn't just "give up". I wasn't in the loop in the discussions between the Museum, the Friends of President and the EA, so I can only postulate on the reasons. But the boats were not just going to St Ives, they had a programme of visits to several Fen towns and events - such an event at the Nene Valley railway at Wansford, Ely, March, Cambridge at of course the IWA National at St Ives. And also taking a butty with them. With the delays, crew arrangements were thrown into disarray, and crew holidays for about six people cannot always be rearranged at short notice, so maintaining the planned schedule would have been an additional difficulty that no doubt contributed to the decision. I'm not suggesting that private boats or their crews are any less important, but with a historic pair of boats - due regard has to be taken of possible risks - and obviously it was decided that it would be wiser to postpone the visit to the Fens to another year when hopefully we may have better weather. -- Malcolm
