T V’s ‘Hairy Biker’ Dave Myers is backing a fund-raising appeal by the Canal & River Trust (C R T) to help volunteers conserve the historic motor narrowboat Ferret.
The boat was built in 1926 by W.J. Yarwoods at Northwich, Cheshire, on the River Weaver, for the famous fleet of Fellows, Morton & Clayton (FMC). Later she became a part of British Waterway’s (BW) Anderton based carrying fleet.
Ferret was bought from BW in the early 1960s by canal carrier Jack Taylor and sold for conversion to north-west waterway enthusiasts the Clark family who cruised aboard her for many years.
They sold the boat and with the setting up of the Nottingham Canal Museum Ferret was deconverted and fully restored in FMC colours to her historic working condition by boatbuilder Malcolm Braine as an exhibit with the butty Ilkeston.
Photo on left shows her on her way to Nottingham after the restoration.
With the closure of the Nottingham museum both boats were transferred to the collection at Ellesmere Port.
Ferret is now in need of another complete overhaul to give her a new lease of life. Public donations will help trainees and volunteers at the Museum’s Heritage Boat Yard restore the boat and put her back on the water where she belongs.
Every penny received will be spent directly and entirely on the Ferret project. For more details about how to give and what your money will be used for visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/restore-a-boat
Thanks to Harry Arnold and Waterway Images for report and images.
