We had torrential rain in the night, but no thunder. Hazel
went for her hair appointment, but found a notice on the door saying, “closed
today due to illness”. Of the two other hairdressers, one was closed on
Tuesdays, and the other was full of appointments.
We ran through our songs for the two farewell services that
we have this week, before leaving the moorings, and moving slowly through March
to Fox Marina.
Seven large cygnets – a good score
Private moorings in March
Water lilies
We managed to plug into electric and use the laundrette
while we waited for our Enterprise car to arrive.
The hire base was in Kings Lynn, and we we were driven via
Wisbech, and saw the channel we will have to use to go out to the Wash in
August.
The car was a Nissan Qashqai, and it had cruise control and
a Satnav. We drove back to the marina, and loaded in our PA equipment,
instruments and overnight bags, to save time in the morning. We had an early
night.
0 locks, 1 mile.
Wed 26th June
March to Trowbridge by car
We woke early and were away in the car by 8am. Our satnav
took us a slow route through Huntingdon, where we were severely held up with
rush hour traffic. The arrival time at the Church in Yarnton was intended to be
1030, giving us time to set up our PA and have a sound check with time to spare
before the service at 1200.
The ETA on the satnav went up and up, showing 1110 at one
point. We changed route twice due to traffic reports. We prayed for a clear
path through the traffic, and from that moment on, the ETA started coming down,
and in the end we arrived at the church at about 1040, managing to park in one
of the few remaining spaces.
We unloaded our gear, and took it all into the lovely old
church, where we had been allocated a space beside the pulpit. We barely had time for our sound check before
other guests were allowed in at 1130. The church was packed, as David had been
a popular figure and had many friends.
The order of service for David Clark
There were two organ-led hymns, and we led three songs.
There were many eulogies and tributes. Afterwards we packed our gear again, and
we all went to the Boat Inn at Thrupp, which had been reserved exclusively for
the funeral party. It was a good send-off for David, whom we had known for 22
years.
In the church after the service
We drove from there to Trowbridge, passing some lovely
countryside, and seeing some wonderful fields of poppies. We found the Premier
Inn, where we had booked along with David and Carole Brennand.
We went for a meal with them at Prezzo, where the food was
fine, but the place was very noisy.
No boating today
Thu 27th June
Local car journeys in Trowbridge
We had a continental breakfast at the hotel before driving
to the church to set up our PA and have a run through with the keyboard player,
whom we had never previously met. We were delighted to find that there was PA
already in the church, and after a phone call with Stuart the sound man, we
established that we only needed our instruments – he would do the rest. The
keyboard player did not appear.
We helped to put out the chairs before going to the crematorium,
where a short service was held for Lin. A man on a keyboard led us in Thine Be
The Glory, and the congregational singing was amazing.
The service booklet for the crematorium
We were the first away from the crematorium to get to the
church to be ready. As we arrived, there were a lot of people there already,
who had not been to the first stage. The keyboard player was in full swing,
playing some well known hymn tunes. We had to ask her to stop so that we could
have a sound check. We never had time to talk to her before the service to
establish arrangements such as joins between verses. However, it all went very
well, with well over 200 people there, and a great sense of celebration for the
life of Lin. We felt very privileged to be taking part, and we had many
favourable comments after the service.
The order of service booklet
There were sandwiches and nibbles in the church afterwards.
Many of the Canal Ministries team and Boaters Christian Fellowship members
convened later in what we jokingly call “The Office”, i.e. Wetherspoons.
The gathering in the Office
We returned to the Premier Inn for a second night.
No boating today
Fri 28th Jun
Trowbridge to March by car
We had breakfast in “The Office” with some of the team,
before driving back to March via a supermarket.
James left Hazel unpacking while he returned the car to Enterprise in
Kings Lynn, filling the diesel tank at Morrisons first. The Satnav tried to
take him the wrong way down a one-way street twice. Luckily, he saw the
no-entry signs. He was driven back to the marina by Enterprise staff.
There were a few jobs to be done before we left. Hazel had
managed to fill the water tank. James emptied two cassettes (not a very nice
facility for this, and they charged extra), and we reversed out of the marina
and cruised for a mile to claim the last space on the town moorings, where we were
on a bend, so the bows stuck out.
In the marina
Reversing from the marina
March town bridge
March town moorings
The boat behind us was Daizy V, owned by David Venn.
We knew David when he was commodore of the Basingstoke Canal Cruising Club, and
he used to organise the event at Easter at Bridge Barn. It was good to chat to
him. He’s the one in pink in the photo above.
We had a meal in the Acre, a pleasant pub nearby.
0 locks, 1 mile
Sat 29th Jun March
David left, bound for Ramsay where he has arranged a
mooring.
Farewell to David Venn
Today was the hottest day so far this year, and thankfully
we were able to move the boat to the far end of the moorings, where the pontoon
was straight, and there was an oak tree providing lovely shade.
We didn’t do much. James bought some shoes. We visited
Sainsburys. We sat in the shade. Hazel cooked a meal on board.
No boating today
Sun 30th Jun March
We found the community centre, where March Elim Church hold
their meeting. There were about 15 people altogether, and the meeting was led
by Kim. The worship was led by Daniel on an accordion. No new songs – in fact “How
deep the Father’s love” was new to many. However, people were enthusiastic with
their singing, and it was all very informal, with people taking part willingly.
Elim Church sign
The Community Centre
After chatting over a coffee, we left to go to a Nepalese
restaurant where we had good service and good food.
March is quite well equipped for a small town, with useful
shops and facilities. In a conspicuous position is a recently repainted ornate
fountain, erected in 1911.
Memorial fountain
The mooring is noisy, with lots of people shouting across
the waterway, and young lads revving up their cars and screeching round the
streets.
We took a picture of our bow cover which needs improving,
so that the boat cover firm can know what needs doing.
Our bow cover
We had a chat with Sandy from a boat called Belle,
and he gave us some advice concerning our keel-cooled system. It was too hot to
attempt even to look.
No boating today
Next: To Upwell and Outwell tomorrow,
and Salters Lode on Tuesday evening, ready for an early cruise up the tidal New
Bedford River to Earith.
