Cressy pilgrimage 2010

'IWA plan Cressy cruise re-enactment', says the press release from the Inland Waterways Association:

2010 will be the Centenary of the birth of Tom Rolt and as part of the IWA’s celebrations, Ron & Mary Heritage from IWA Oxfordshire Branch will attempt to re-enact the iconic “Cressy” cruise, leaving Tooley’s Boatyard in Banbury at mid-day on 24 April 2010 in their narrowboat “Heron”.

Many people have consciously done that very voyage, certainly in the last 20 or 30 years as continuous cruising and the liveaboard lifestyle has become more common. 

"Attempting to re-enact the iconic Cressy cruise" is perhaps missing the point, because what was iconic was not where Rolt went, but his 'design for living', the name he gave to his attempt to  live afloat permanently, become a writer and observe life on and off the waterways.  I get the impression he was the first liveaboard, the first continuous cruiser.

I recently began reading Narrow Boat again, and had forgotten that it's not just about the voyage.  I remember it as the first cruising log published by the first canal 'leisure liveaboard'  - but now it seems to me how much of it is really a discussion on the state of England at the time, and the general culture of the boat people rather than a simple cruising log. 

Indeed, the cruise itself doesn't start until a third of the way through the book, and unlike most continuous cruiser travelogues it roams far away from the canals at times.

Several people have followed L.T.C. Rolt's lead and written books observing England from the tiller.   Steve Haywood's 2004 book Fruit Flies Like A Banana was updated and republished this year as One Man And A Narrowboat to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Cressy voyage, while Nick Corble's 1999 book Walking on Water remains another favourite of mine.

(Another commercially successful one was The Water Road by Paul Gogarty, but I disliked that as much for its newspaper travel supplement style as anything.)

The Heron voyage sounds like it will be more of a hoop-la cruise, raising publicity for the waterways as they are now, rather than quietly trying to observe England as it is now or noticing how the country might have changed since 1939.

“Heron” will be decorated appropriately during her travels, promoting the Rolt story and the IWA.  Any boaters or other enthusiasts who may wish to join Ron & Mary for all, or part of the journey would be most welcome.

'Decorated appropriately during her travels'.  Oh dear.  Does that mean the boats will be painted brightly and traditionally with canal art in the style of the Tooleys and Frank Nurser, or will they have banners and bunting, folk music blaring from loudspeakers and display panels at each stop? 

It's a summer-only affair, running from April to August non-stop, without any of the long pauses, privations (and cosiness) of winter life afloat that was a large part of the appeal of life aboard Cressy.  It's likely to be a pilgrimage or a crusade, rather than quietly emulating Rolt's original quiet path through 'Jerusalem'.

Comments

[Andrew Denny]

Peter,

Well, bunting and banners are the 'appropriate decoration' for a modern waterways festival, but they likely aren't what Tom Rolt would have meant by the term.  Still, as I said, it's likely to be a pilgrimage rather than a recreation of the voyage. 

 

Yes, a bit of celebration never did anyone any harm, any excuse for a party, although it does tend to alter history.  For example, the Crusades were in the name of Christ, a pilgrimage to his Holy Places, although I don't know if Jesus would have recognised the Crusaders.

 

[Eeyore]

Just witnessed the departure. Bunting and banners are the 'appropriate decoration' and the folk music was blaring, not from loud speakers but from the drum and accordian accompaniment to the morris dancers on the quay.

A bit of a celebration never does anyone any harm.

[Fiona]

You know you can.