Chesterfield Canal Festival - Kiveton Park
23rd to 25th May 2009
(A major national event to mark the start of the push to restore the "missing link".
Over 50 visiting boats, loads of attractions, heritage demonstrations, boat trips etc.)

   Although it was a long way out of our "patch" (Wilts & Berks) it was certainly worth us attending, not least for the friendly reception we received.  It was also a very good example of how to run a Campaign Rally - something we will be doing in the near future.  The weekend weather was wonderful, the only precautions needed were sandbags on the marquee corners in case it got a bit too windy; which it didn't.  Only having three of our Trust members on site over the three days was a bit tiring, but we made sure that we had adequate breaks.
   There were between 40 to 50 visiting boats and enough activity on the site to keep the visitors amused.  Everyone we met, Canal Trust members, IWA and WRG members, exhibitors and, of course, the public were extremely sociable.  We never expected to enrol any new members so far north (although we did in fact get one definite and a couple of probable's), but we spoke to many people who showed a great interest in the Wilts & Berks and several who had boated Jubilee Junction.