Saturn helps to commemorate Cressie at Frankton Locks

Saturn took part in a notable event on 17 January 2009 when the IWA Shrewsbury, District & North Wales Branch installed a plaque to commemorate the conversion of her fellow Shropshire Union fly-boat Cressy at Welsh Frankton in 1929; subsequently made famous by the voyages of L.T.C. Rolt and his book Narrow Boat.

When the Shropshire Union company finished carrying in 1921 Cressy was bought from them – among a number of boats - by millers A & A Peate of Maesbury on the Montgomery Canal, who continued using narrowboats until February 1934. Before this however Cressy was bought by John Beech, the boatbuilder who owned the Frankton dock, as a change-boat. Beech then sold and converted her – fitting a steam engine – to Tom Rolt’s Uncle Kyrle Willens.

In 1939 she passed into Rolt’s hands and his famous and well-documented life aboard her led to the writing of Narrow Boat; the book that was largely responsible for creating the post World War II revival of interest in our waterways and the founding of the Inland Waterways Association.

The plaque – mounted on the towpath side tail wing wall of Lock 3 – was unveiled by Tom Rolt’s widow Sonia, who is a vice-president of IWA and was also one of the ‘Idle Women’ of wartime service fame on the canals. Sonia gave one of her usual interesting and spirited speeches and later – despite her age – wanted to get aboard Saturn and into what were to her the familiar surroundings of a back cabin.

With the kind help of Sue and Mike Lambourne, who now own the original boatyard site, we were able to moor and photograph Saturn in exactly the same location as Cressy was pictured when she came off the dock 80 years ago. (pp 16 & 17 of The Montgomery Canal and its Restoration).

This has resulted in at least one half-page news picture – in Canal Boat magazine – to date. Apart from the fine weather the ambiance of the day was enhanced by the gathering of old friends such as guests Crick and Hope Grundy. The Grundy family were pioneer IWA campaigners and kept their original cruiser at Frankton and Crick and his brother Martin were among very last people to navigate Frankton Lock before they became derelict.

Hope not only worked on Saturn in hotel boat days but was at times a member of our editor, Judith, and husband Norman’s crew; so there were many connections and a lot of reminiscences.

Many thanks for the tow from Stephen Rees-Jones’ Bywater Holiday Cruises motor hotel boat, to everyone who helped with crewing, and to other members who turned out to support the event. Thanks also to IWA Shrewsbury, District & North Wales Branch for inviting us to take part. Images courtesy of Waterway Images.