Report date : Tuesday 2nd July.
On Friday 28th June a host of walkers, cyclists, canoeists and schoolchildren joined in the celebration at the official opening of the Wendover to Halton towpath upgrade, with TV presenter and Wendover Canal Trust (WCT) patron Robbie Cumming cutting the ribbon.
The event, held at Walnut Tree Meadow, Wendover, attracted large crowds, with 220 schoolchildren from John Colet walking in groups down the towpath to Halton.
While they were walking, more than 30 primary age schoolchildren from Wendover Church of England Junior School took part in a nature trail.
The Cracklewick Morris dancers put on two performances and there was a call to attention fanfare sounded by Kathy Gifford.
She also played a fanfare after Robbie Cumming, presenter of TV’s ‘Canal Boat Diaries’ cut the ribbon to formally open the towpath.
Schoolchildren from Wendover Church of England Junior School enjoyed a Teddy Bear’s picnic – thanks to EKFB*.
EKFB also produced a nature trail worksheet and gave out ‘passports’ for children to complete on the day, reflecting their experiences.
There were talks on geology and the environment by experts from EKFB for pupils from John Colet school who were also given a quiz by their geography teacher.
In a speech to the assembled, on Friday, June 28, Clive Johnson, Chairman of the WCT welcomed everyone to the occasion.
He thanked Robbie and Dr Elaine King from Chilterns National Landscape, whose organisation played a major role in securing funding to make the event happen.
He also thanked Ros Daniels of the Canal & River Trust, Councillor Steve Broadbent of Buckinghamshire Council and Peter Elwin, WCT Partnerships Director, who led the funding and the organisation of the event.
“Funded by five organisations, the towpath upgrading took six months to complete, cost £750,000 and runs for 1.7 miles.
It is part of the Wendover Canal Trust’s and Canal & River Trust’s wider ambition to see the entire seven-mile Wendover to Grand Union canal towpath upgraded”, said Clive.
“The work carried out by Rothen Group and Kier plc has hugely improved the former muddy towpath. For the first time we have made it accessible to the entire community all year round.
I know it is, and will be, enjoyed by those out for a stroll, ramblers, joggers, cyclists, the mobility-impaired and birdwatchers.”
The towpath funders were HS2 Chilterns National Landscapes Review Group, Wendover Parish Council, Lionel Abel-Smith Trust, Wendover Community Board and Halton Parish Council.
EKFB, FCC Environment, Rothen Group, Wendover Parish Council and Fairhive Homes between them sponsored the new railings at Wharf Road, the signage along the towpath and the event itself.
It was organised by John Colet School, Wendover News, EKFB, Wendover & Halton Parish Councils and Wendover Canal Trust.
( EKFB* – Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall )
