Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society invites people to help 200th anniversary celebrations

Community groups, schools, boaters and brass bands are all encouraged to get into the party mood for October and the culmination of a year of festivities.

Harold Bond, from the Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society, hopes people will turn out and give a hearty welcome to historic short boat, Kennet, when it recreates the first ever boat passage along the canal in 1816. It will pass through the locks at Apperley Bridge, Bingley and Skipton as it makes its way from Leeds on Saturday, October 15 to Liverpool, arriving nine days later.

The inaugural ceremonial journey covering 127 miles across the Pennines took five days, but the Canal Society crew, which runs Kennet as an educational boat, will take a more leisurely pace so more people can celebrate in daylight hours.

Mr Bond said: "Back in 1816, press reports state that the ceremonial first boat was greeted by peeling church bells, brass bands and cheering crowds, and canal barges were be-decked in flags and streamers.

"We would love to create that spirit of celebration and achievement again. We are calling on heritage boats, boat clubs and boaters to create a flotilla of decorated boats to join Kennet along the way."

Sarah Knight, bicentenary coordinator for the Canal & River Trust, added: "Get in touch with us to be part of the greatest long distance, waterside party Yorkshire, Lancashire and Merseyside have ever staged.”

All boats who spend at least a day with the ceremonial flotilla will be eligible for a free 200th anniversary plaque. Email friendsofkennet@gmail.com.

Meanwhile, the Campaign to Protect Rural England's (CPRE) Yorkshire and Humber regional group has donated £200 to the Canal & River Trust’s EveryMileCounts campaign, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Trust, which cares for the canal, is marking the anniversary with a major fundraising appeal to restore or replace missing mileposts along the route.