The Saturn Project—the restoration of the Shropshire Union Fly-boat—has received a major grant of £4,000 from the Waterways Trust.
The grant will be mainly used towards the Shropshire Union Fly-boat Restoration Society's (SUFBRS) future educational programme, including visual aids, for which a Heritage Lottery grant application has recently been turned down, Harry Arnold writes.
Special cloths
Funding will also go to the provision of special white cloths—with the dual purpose of being a traditional fitting on cheese fly-boats and will also provide wet weather shelter for school visits. Part of the money will also be used for the future plans by SUFBRS for more horse boating and go towards the cost of Saturn's planned maintenance.
Speaking about the grant, the Waterways Trust Chief Executive Roger Hanbury explained:
"We are delighted to be able to provide this support to Saturn. This project helps open up the story of our waterways, keeping alive the traditions and culture of the canals for future generations to enjoy and learn from. This grant has been made possible due to the generous support of Tony Hales CBE."
Make a difference
SUFBRS Chairman Sue Cawson remarked:
"The Saturn Project would like to say a very big thank you to Tony Hales and The Waterways Trust for this grant. It will make a real difference to our work with schools to improve the activities we provide. It is a real delight spending time with all our visitors young and old passing on our knowledge of the canals and boats of the past especially Saturn."
The overhaul of Saturn on Ellesmere Dock has just been completed and SUFBRS would like the thank Craftmaster Paints for again providing the paint and also our partners.
British Waterways
British Waterways North Wales & Borders Waterways for the use of the dock. Boat builder Adrian Polglase and the project's boat manager, artist Tony Lewery, worked with and guided and directed the volunteers.
Despite the lack of schools' funding the Saturn Project has had another successful year and is planning what looks to be a very interesting programme for 2012.