Pulling a 21 ton, 72 foot canal boat from Fairfield Junction, Droylsden to Portland Basis, Ashton may sound impossible but not for a team made up of Tameside Rotarians and volunteers.

On Saturday 9 July, this plucky volunteer crew successfully pulled the canal boat ‘Still Waters’, two and half miles to raise funds for a Tameside-based charity.
No crew members were made to walk the gangplank when the boat came to a temporary halt just shortly after setting off and following a determined team effort and a lot of pulling and tugging, the journey continued without any further glitches.

On-board ‘Still Waters’ were 20 Tameside young carers who enjoyed the spectacle of both the ‘pull’ and the scenery on this historic section of canal. On arrival at Portland Basin, each young person received a picnic bag donated by the Bridge View Café.

Tameside Rotary’s new President, Mohammed Shamsul Karim, part of the team pulling the boat, said “We’re thrilled that we have risen to the challenge of the canal boat pull. It’s been hard work but a lot of fun. It’s good to see the young people on-board have enjoyed it also. We are very grateful to our sponsors who have helped make this charity event possible”.

The event was organised in conjunction with the Tameside Canal Boat Trust and was sponsored by local businesses Autotech Services, Bonut Engineering Ltd and Murray Steel Products.

The proceeds will go to ‘The Lemonade Project’ for young people run by Ashton-based charity, Anthony Seddon Trust.