Batchworth Boat Rally instead of 2024 festival

An update from RDRA ex-Chairman Michael Stimpson

A number of boats who had planned to attend the Rickmansworth Festival, and had planned the route they were taking from Marsworth to Paddington, are still going to come to Batchworth regardless of the Festival being cancelled.

A group of people, many of whom were involved in the Festival, decided that a much smaller event could be held.

They wanted to keep a Canal event in Batchworth following the hard work of the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust over the past 30 years.

Plans are well in hand for a weekend based just on the canal for an event from 10am to 5pm only (i.e. nothing in the evening) which will involve Trade Boats and ex-working boats for the public to visit as well as private pleasure craft.

Boat entries are already coming in and there will be a tug of war and a parade of boats on the Saturday and entertainment on the Sunday.

The Canal and River Trust are supporting the event which is being called the Batchworth Boat Rally. If a profit is made from the event, this will be donated to a Waterways Charity retaining seed funding for another event in 2025.