A Terrific Event

Last Friday and Saturday the MCC branch of the Trust organised a terrifically successful event based on the theme of Sharing Heritage Days.

The first part of this event actually took place in February, at Chippenham Museum. 

Children were invited to come into the Museum for a week of activities based on the canal, including making model narrow boats, tying knotted key rings and painting canalware.  This proved very attractive, and many more children came than the Museum had expected.

Val Melville, who master-minded the whole event with the enthusiastic support of the whole branch, then organised two days of activities at Pewsham Locks.  This site is a key part of the Trust's plans, as it has a good deal of industrial archaeological interest, as well as being ideally suited as an education resource centre.

On Friday, Val arranged for parties of children from four schools in the Chippenham area to be taken to the site.  There they had a great day, listening to Trust members playing the roles of people associated with the canal, and telling their stories.  There were also hands-on activities for the children, giving them a taste of a number of the different trades associate with the canal, from brick-making to metalworking.  The sight of small children using a long double-handed saw was something to behold! There were a number of people talking about traditional crafts such as spinning and lace-making, which were important on the canal.

On Saturday the site was open to the general public, and a steady stream of visitors came to see what was happening, as well as the passers-by in the form of walkers and cyclists.  Part of the funding for the activities had come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and we were very pleased to welcome Cherry Ann Knott from  HLF (South West), who came to visit, and stayed three hours!  She was very impressed by a number of aspects of the event, including the strong educational elements, which she saw as very important.  She also thought the collaboration with the Museum was a good thing; I know from talking to Museum staff that they are intending to continue to feature the canal in their displays, and would be willing to work with us again. 

All in all, a very, very successful event. Congratulations and sincere thanks to Val and all the team who  made the day so memorable.

Chris Coyle