Leonard Stanley Wine Circle: A trip up the Avon and Kennett canal

AT LONG last our eagerly awaiting annual outing had arrived and although we did not have the hot balmy weather we would have liked, at least it was dry and reasonably warm.

Nearly 40 members left by coach at 5 pm from the village hall and we reached Bath in good time, in fact sooner than we had planned so had to wait a while before embarking on the narrowboat The Michael Rennie, which took us up the Avon and Kennett canal.

Whilst waiting to get on the boat, we sat in chairs under an awning, which unfortunately decided to let pockets of water from previous rainfall to descend on some of our members, making them wetter outside than inside!

We boarded the boat with a scramble for seats and the Panama jazz band started playing in a corner as we moved to the bar for drinks.

We slowly made our way up the canal, passing people moored on boats, walking the towpath etc and there were lots of waves and smiles.

We then enjoyed an extremely good buffet, more drinks and foot tapping to the Jazz band who were excellent.

Conversation buzzed as we are a very social group, although we were quieter on the coach returning home and I believe a few people may have nodded off.

A very pleasant way to spending an evening and thanks to Chairman, Bob Britton for organising it.

August is a rest month like most organizations, and we meet again on Wednesday evening on September 28, when Deryck Pritchard will give a talk on the Work of Sara (Sharpness Lifeboat and Rescue Station).

New members will be made very welcome.