SallyLou

Hi there! Yes, that was my Dad you bought the boat from. I arranged to get her to Warwickshire Fly - closer to home for me. It had come to the point when it needed a complete refit, or had to be sold. By that time my Mum, who had arthritis, clearly wasn't going to be able to manage on the boat any longer and Dad reluctantly parted with it. He couldn't bear to do it himself though, hence my involvement. It was a strange hobby for a man who lived in an area without canals! Made maintaining the boat almost impossible when you had to drive down from Newcastle to do it. Really glad you went back to the original name and gave her a new lease of life. I have many happy memories - and some fairly scary ones! I doubt if we went to a Christmas rally - that would not have fitted in with the family pattern, but we did go on several NBOC rallies. They always seemed to be in places where the cut was in danger of silting up and I remember standing on the roof and rocking the boat to get through. First time I ever came to Coventry was by boat for a rally. Thank you everyone for bringing me up to date. It is good to know that Sutton goes on That is kind, but I am just happy to know that she is still around.

My dad had this boat in the 60's. It was converted at Aylesbury in about 1967, I think. The name was changed to Laidley Worm. Eventually it was sold - at Long Itchington - and reverted to Sutton. Since then it has been sold on 2 or 3 times I believe. I would love to have news of it, if anyone has seen it around. I have lovely memories of NBOC rallies - first time I came to Coventry, where I now live, was by boat. I remember Pearl (owned by Binky Bush) and Rufus being at the rallies too.