The weather did not augur well for our trip to Bradford on Avon and the Canal. It was raining heavily on the way there and looked set for the day; not a happy prospect for two hours on the water. The sun came out, however, soon after we got to Bradford on Avon, and after lunch we all boarded the barge and set off through the lock to spend a most enjoyable afternoon cruising slowly along, past the old Tithe barn and narrow boats moored to grassy banks.

46 of us or was it 45? Glen checked that all 46 were on board but the catering staff insisted that there were only 45, a mystery that was never solved! All on board settled down to the music of Ian Anderson on guitar and Brian Heaton on accordion and after about half an hour we arrived at the Avoncliff aqueduct, where we were invited to disembark and walk along the tow path and look down on the river Avon far below. We were then served a delicious cream tea while on our way back to base, again to the accompaniment of Ian and Brian’s music, everyone in high spirits and joining in with the songs.

We have to thank Glen and Brian for a really wonderful afternoon, their organisation was second to none.