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"Trips from Litherland to
Eldonian Village coming soon, we will Cruise to the locks that join the canal to
the Liverpool Link, you can eat at the Canalside Cafe or self cater, we will
turn around here, but before we Cruise back to Litherland you will be able to
walk beside the locks and see for yourself this wonderful feat of Engineering,
the locks nestle in the heart of the Eldonian Village, a unique experience to
see the Gateway to the World"
Launch of Pride of Sefton Two canal
barge
Jul 27 2010 by Mark Johnson, Liverpool Daily Post
Launch of Pride of Sefton Two canal barge
A CANAL barge for disabled children was officially launched on
Merseyside. The 60ft long Pride of Sefton Two was christened at a ceremony
at the Carolina Street Basin, Bootle. It replaced The Pride of Sefton One
which served Merseyside children along the Leeds-Liverpool canal for the
last 28 years. Bootle MP Joe Benton said: “Over the years I have always been
very appreciative of the Pride of Sefton and what it does for disabled
children. I have been on the original boat with my daughter when she was a
child – it was a wonderful experience. Now local children can enjoy this new
boat which I’m sure will be just as good as the first.” The vessel’s deck
has been raised so children can see out of windows and it has disabled
toilets and central heating. Cllr Peter Dowd officially launched the
barge by smashing a bottle of champagne against it on Friday. The barge was
made by Aintree firm Skater Marine after £110,000 was raised by The Pride of
Sefton narrowboat committee.
Dave Flynn, committee chairman, said: “We thank all of the sponsors and
people who have given so willingly to the charity.
“We could not have done it without their help.”
 It was in the spring of 1979 that a group Sefton
Councillors, Officers and other interested people decided to acquire a narrow
boat for use on the Leeds to Liverpool canal to serve for the disabled people
living in the borough of Sefton, whether they be disabled by reason of age,
infirmity, physical or mental disability or social deprivation. The Leeds to
Liverpool canal threads its way along the boundary of Sefton, opening up an
avenue to the wild and beautiful moorlands of Lancashire and Yorkshire.
The narrow boat project was in recognition of 1979 as
being the International Year of the Child. Also with the scale of the scheme, it
was agreed that this should be associated with the International Year of the
Disabled.
In the summer of 1980, with the encouragement of the
social services, a voluntary group was established with the sole purpose
of acquiring and managing a narrow boat, and a public appeal was started in
December 1980, Contributions were received from many individuals and
organisations within the Sefton borough. The width of the canal gave the
opportunity of having a boat considerably wider than the traditional narrow boat
and this is especially advantageous for the accommodation of severely physically
handicapped passengers.
In the years following, the Pride of Sefton
travelled in excess of 7,000 miles and carried in excess of 11,000 handicapped
passengers along the scenic route of the Leeds to Liverpool canal free of
charge.
The Pride of Sefton is docked at Haskayne
next to the Teapot Cottage
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