The containers are to be painted by Volunteers from Loughborough 3M4Good in the next few days.

Huge thanks to EVERYONE involved – wonderful community partnerships

Thanks to Loughborough Jubilee for all their input

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It remains on March 8th at 6.30pm but the address is now changed to:

Wheatcroft Garden Centre,
Landmere Lane,
Edwalton
Nottingham NG12 4DE

Tel: 0115 921 6061
Email: info@wheatcroftgc.co.uk
Website: http://www.notcutts.co.uk/wheatcroft/

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As the boats move gently along the still waters of our canals you experience a new world, separate from the noise and bustle of to-day. We have been serving the needs of the disabled for 35 years so we know the benefits that these holidays and trips provide.

In 2013 we are changing the way you can book Melody, our family narrow-boat available for ‘self-drive’ hire. Specially adapted for wheelchair access she provides a unique holiday experience for families living with disability. For many who are restricted by illness or disability she enables a holiday where you can do just as you want, in your own time.
Get up at leisure having breakfast on board watching the swans, coots and moorhens go by; then start off leisurely along the canals, mooring by a pub with disabled access enjoy in your own time a delicious lunch, before continuing through the tranquil countryside where cows and horses graze lazily in the summer sun.

It will now be possible to hire Melody for a long week-end, a midweek break as well as full weeks. It is even possible, subject to availability, to hire her for a day trip to get a taster of life on our inland waterways. Training in boat handling, knots and locks is also available.

We are already getting bookings for 2013 so don’t leave it too long before you make your bookings. We should hate for you to be disappointed to find your preferred date has been taken.

Prices on application to Lynn Smith our administrator on 01509 265590 or lynnsmith@peterlemarchanttrust.co.uk

Do get in touch to find out what we have to offer you.

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At the same occasion Michael and Margaret Mart returned from their Great Trek with Phoebe their 1930 Model “A” Class Ford which they undertook to raise funds for the Trust.

The new Friends Association was also launched, so all in all, it was a joyous and busy evening.

Maureen, a volunteer for more than thirty years remembers
“One day we had a group of severely disabled children on board and suddenly in the afternoon one of the nurses came to me in tears. I thought something awful had happened; someone had been injured perhaps and my heart was in my mouth. A little girl had elbowed her in the ribs and said, ‘I like this boat I do’. She had never uttered a word before then and the nurse was overwhelmed with emotion about what had happened on the boat that day.”

The beautiful crystal glass award was received by Ann Rossell, the longest standing volunteer who has been volunteering for the Trust since it started in 1978.

She told the Lord-Lieutenant , “I love helping out, and though many of the trips can be quite demanding; there is something special about getting to know our disabled visitors. I get as much out of volunteering as I put in and have made so many friends over the years, both volunteers and guests. Its lovely to be able to put something back into society and the canals are a wonderful place to do just that.”

Many friends and supporters were there, none more important than those groups who represented the Trusts visitors.

There were representatives from Rainbows Hospice for life-limited children and young people, Ash Lea school, Holme Lodge a Leonard Cheshire Home, Loughborough Breatheasy and Loughborough MS Society

Everyone left feeling inspired by all the work of the Trust with its disabled and seriously ill and the effect it has on their lives

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Crew members Vic, Charles, Margaret, Catherine and Phil.

Well, if I want to keep myself fit and busy once I retire, this is the way to do it. Didn’t stop today.  25 elderly but ambulant passengers on board – all absolutely delightful company. We volunteers worked six locks, took 25 lunch orders and phoned them through to the pub, made more than 50 cups of tea and sold loads of pens and tea towels. Then vacuumed and tidied for tomorrow’s trip.  Aching and slightly surprised that I only had ten minutes to see the canal and riverside go by.  Rest of the crew were charming and interesting  – old hands who said it had been one of their busiest days.  Mind you, they didn’t look phased.   And they are all at least 20 years older than me! They even had time to quote Shakespeare to me – thank goodness it was my O Level text and I recognised it.  Otherwise, feeling slightly inadequate.  Will sleep like a log.

Skipper – Charles, retired manager for a bank.
Crew – Catherine, retired from bank. Colin, retired salesman and trainer and quoter of Shakespeare and poems.
Boat – Serenade
Trip – Loughborough to Zouch
Weather – Warm, muggy and mostly overcast
Wildlife – Dragonflies, nesting swan, duck and ducklings (Mallard), coot, moorhen, heron

Second day’s volunteering

It can be wet…

Awful weather. I was wet from cycling to the boat, despite full waterproofs.  Transferred from Serenade to Symphony after volunteer Louise banged her head rather too hard on a closed hatch over a stairway. Everything in different places o this boat – but soon got the hang of it.  Much more time to see the waterways, gardens, livestock and wildlife this time, but always through the raindrops and the mist of our breath in the cold June air.

Passengers were a group of very elderly, two in wheelchairs.  Oldest 96 and still living independently.  Youngest 61, but disabled from birth.  All up for a good time despite weather!  The group has been coming each year for a long time. One lady passenger used to be a farmer and said she really loves seeing the cattle and horses on the banks.  She misses her livestock. The group had picnic on board and their helpers were amazing – had been up at 4am making trifle for the picnic. I felt guilty that they wouldn’t let us help them more. They even offered us strawberries and trifle – of course we said yes please!.  Not nearly so tired as last time.  Perhaps that was a baptism of fire.

Skipper – Colin, retired airline pilot.  6 years volunteering.
Crew – Shakespeare Colin, from last time.  John.
Boat – Symphony
Trip – Loughborough to Barrow
Weather – Persistent, heavy, sometimes torrential rain – really needed my waterproof leggings!
Wildlife – Mayflies, four nesting swans, duck and ducklings (Mallard), coot, moorhen, heron, and cormorant.

When we moored up back at base, Phil – a volunteer from the other boat – came to tell us two things.  They’d had no rain – it really must be me!  More importantly,  they had taken 14 severely disabled children out.  He came to tell us that one of the boys, who has not been known to respond to any stimuli before, had definitely reacted to the trip.  Phil was absolutely made up. Seeing such milestones in other people’s lives is obviously one of the joys of volunteering here.

Third Days Volunteering

Colin the skipper in waterproofs at Barrow.

Spoke to some really interesting passengers today. A multiple sclerosis support group who had a really good time on the boat.  I asked some of them about their lives and what the boat trips mean to them.  Got some amazing answers.  And one passenger, who had worried she would be badly affected by the boat’s motion, has decided all is OK, and to take up her husband’s offer of going on a family canal boat trip with their two young daughters.  We gave them a leaflet for Melody our adapted holiday boat for families!

Skipper – Colin
Crew –  Robert (retired ship’s captain), Maureen (retired nanny), Ann (retired maker of bridal headdresses), Julia (retired teacher)
Boat – Symphony
Trip –  Loughborough to Mountsorrel
Weather – Cold and overcast, but no rain – hurrah.
Wildlife –  Swans on nests, Aylesbury ducks, Mallards with young, moorhen with chicks, heron

Fourth day’s volunteering

Ron entertaining the passengers.

Hot enough for sun hats.   A class from a special school was on board for a lesson today.  Many in wheelchairs.  Some blind. Some more physically able, but with learning difficulties.  They ranged from 6 to 11 years old and were great to be with.  Someone who lives in Barrow has built a ‘castle wall’ at the bottom of their garden.  Huge, white, crenellated, and with four large black cannon pointing towards the water.  It looks impressive. The children were delighted, and slightly scared.  They asked if they should duck!

Obviously we don’t take the children for a pub lunch!  They stopped for a long picnic under the shade of a willow tree instead, with all the catkin fluff flying around like confetti in the light breeze . It was great.  Their carers say their journey really calmed them.

Skipper – Trevor
Crew –  Pat, Ron (musician), John (retired editor), Laurie (retired company manager), Julia (retired teacher)
Boat –  Symphony
Trip –  Loughborough to Barrow marina for a picnic
Weather – Some sunshine at last.
Wildlife –  Didn’t notice much – too entertained by the children.

END OF THE DIARY FOR NOW

No more entries! Sorry, but I’m off to enjoy the outdoors and the company of the passengers, carers and other volunteers, and not tie myself to my computer.   There are locks to work and cups of tea to make.  I hope this has given you a flavour of what it’s like to volunteer for the Peter Le Marchant Trust.  If you’ve got this far, you are probably interested, so why not try it out?

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The Peter Le Marchant Trust was founded in 1977 and is the longest-running organisation of its kind in the country. In the thirty five years since it was established – in the year of The Queen’s Silver Jubilee – the Trust has helped over 120,000 people enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the waterways with their families and carers.

The charity organises day trips and four-night holidays on the local canals and the Rivers Soar and Trent for disability and care groups from the Midlands and beyond. It also enables families with seriously disabled children to enjoy week-long self-drive trips, helping them to take an interesting and unusual holiday away together. Each year over 4,000 people use the Trust’s boats.

The Trust relies upon donations to carry out its work and uses a team of over sixty volunteers to skipper and crew its boats. All are trained to Maritime & Coastguard Agency standards.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is an annual award made to recognise and reward excellence in voluntary activities carried out by groups in the community. The Award was introduced in 2002 as part of celebrations for The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. It is given for outstanding achievement by groups of volunteers who regularly devote their time to helping others in the community, improving quality of life and opportunity for others and providing an outstanding service. The Award enables the Peter Le Marchant Trust to use an exclusive logo.

Chief Executive of the Peter Le Marchant Trust, Charles Grace, said:

“Everyone at the Trust is delighted and honoured to receive this Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. It is an amazing recognition of the hard work of the Trust and its volunteers over the last 35 years, and for the contribution they have made to the lives of others in our community. To receive it in this Jubilee year will make our celebrations all the more special.“

Volunteer skipper and Trustee Charles Moore said:

“My involvement with Peter Le Marchant Trust has been some of the most rewarding time I have ever spent. I am sure I speak for all the volunteer team in saying that it is a fantastic organisation which provides much pleasure to 4,000 deserving people of all age groups every year. The Queen’s Award means a great deal to all of us.”

Derek Gee, Chairman of the Keyworth and District Community Concern Trust, which runs two community buses and a Day Centre for elderly and disabled residents, said:.

“Each year our group enjoys an annual trip on Peter Le Marchant Trust’s wonderful boat “Symphony”.  Each year the trip becomes more popular and we are often oversubscribed.  Our members particularly enjoy being able to get out and see the local spectacular scenery.  The work of the Trust is incredibly valuable and everyone is thrilled that it has won recognition with a deserved Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.”

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On board with the Peter Le Marchant Trust

“We’ve had 14 severely disabled children and their carers on board today.  One boy has never reacted to anything before.  But he started to respond for the first time ever when he was on the boat.  It was just wonderful.”A very pleased and excited Phil, a volunteer with the trust. He waited for the other boat to come back to tell this good news.

“I remember one day we had a group of severely disabled children on board and suddenly in the afternoon one of the nurses came to me in tears.  I thought something awful had happened; someone had been injured perhaps and my heart was in my mouth.  A little girl had elbowed her in the ribs and  said, ‘I like this boat I do’.  She had never uttered a word before then and the nurse was overwhelmed with emotion about what had happened on the boat that day.” Maureen, volunteer for more than thirty years

“They have been much better behaved than normal on the boat.  Three of the boys usually really wind each other up, but they’ve been a lot calmer than normal today.  We thought they’d be bored, but they haven’t been;  there’s lots to see.” Carer with school trip

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Mick, Treetops

“This is my first trip on the boats.  I’d like to come back . Some people might find it boring, just the changing scenery going by all the time, but that’s them.  I like sitting here, watching, and relaxing.

I used to do five mile runs with bricks in my hands and then do weights in the garage….just for training.  I also used to take the dog for a walk and see foxes. And we don’t do holidays much any more.

At home now I sometimes sit with the television off and look at the garden.  On this trip I can look at the water and the banks and hedges.  That’s my favourite bit; it’s always changing.”

June 2010

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James

James Munro Callan
Thorpe Acre Church Wednesday group
Talks about his trip on Symphony on his way for a pub lunch at Zouch

“I’m registered blind.  I can see a little bit but I have to wear my special St Dunstan’s  glasses to rest my eyes. I’ll be 86 in July.

I was an able seaman in the navy.  I was called up and served three years.  I helped the shipping convoys across the Atlantic. Then I worked in iron foundries for the railways, making parts for locomotives.

I love swimming.  I learned to swim in a canal up north you know, when I was six.  And I loved dancing, but my legs won’t let me any more.

What do I like about the trip on Symphony?  I can see the swans;  they go past slowly enough – not like the traffic on the roads.  I have to be careful of the cars now.   And I like the fact that I’ve nothing to do!”

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