Grand Union and Thames circa 1989

I was tidying my home office just after Christmas when a packet of photographs fell from a shelf and spilled onto my desk. The photos consisted of some boating pictures so I took the opportunity of scanning them.

The first set of photos were from a trip we took on the Grand Union in a friend's Springer Waterbug from Cosgrove to Fenny Stratford and back. We remember it well although the date is hazy. We suspect it is Autumn 1988. Our daughters Lucy and Emily thoroughly enjoyed the trip. They particularly enjoyed staying on board overnight. I remember how much fun it was but also how often we had to stop to remove weeds from the outboard's prop. You can see some of the weeds in the image below.


Water Bug Little Pegasus at Fenny Stratford (c 1988)



Passing through Fenny Stratford Lock


Steering Little Pegasus

Included in the packet was a second set of photos taken on a day-out to Oxford on May Bank Holiday (Whitsun), 1989. We visited Eynsham Lock. Lucy and Emily, now used to opening locks after our trips on the Grand Union, helped operate the locks.


Opening the paddles at Eynsham Lock, Thames


Closing the gates at Eynsham Lock


Watching a boat leave Eynsham Lock

Happy Days!

Steve Parkin