Worcester, Tuesday 18th August
I had mentioned Henry Powe in connection with Worcester Cathedral. This morning, accompanied by Rosemary, his wife, they joined us aboard for tea and conversation.
We then moved off and took them on a boat trip; it was a lovely morning and also very enjoyable, both of them taking turns to point out various items of interest at Worcester. Just North of the Cathdral is a building that had half of one window blocked off by a wall when additions were made. Henry explained that every Monarch since the time of King John had visited the building. We said goodbye to them at some convenient riverside steps and the two of them stood waving until we were lost to view, some 5 minutes in all. A lovely and very interesting couple.
The title is a word that Henry had seen written on a stall behind the choir in the Cathedral and has been intending for months to find out the what it means.
I was able to give him the answer; a school principal, by using the internet.
As we continued up river to Stourport, we passed a terrace with lovely river access; I wonder how many have trouble renewing their insurance and what the premiums are?
The banks were lower and some good views can be enjoyed. Leaving Bevere lock, we soon passed the entrance lock to the Droitwich canal where construction work was in progress.
We saw a houseboat named VIC 99. This was constructed to the general Clyde Puffer design 'improved' by the Admiralty at John Harker's Knottingley yard in July 1945. The acronym VIC stands for Victualling Inshore Craft; one of the design limitations of the original was that it had to be able to navigate the Forth and Clyde canal. The main advantage was that being flat bottomed, it could be run aground on a high tide, unloaded and refloated on the next; without the need for a convential harbour or slipway. If you would ask Dougie, he would tell you. (Sorry, that last sentence came to mind as I enjoyed reading Para Handy!)
A boat was leaving when we arrived at Stourport, creating a space on the visitor mooring pontoon that we gratefully occupied.
We had a wander around Stourport, which didn’t take long. The former Tontine Hotel is in the process of conversion to housing of the 1,2,3 and 4 bedroom varieties.
We then passed the time chatting to other boaters on the moorings; a quiet evening for our last one on the Severn.
2009 Totals: 425 Locks – 823 miles – 29 Bus pass uses.
