Young people and Youth Leaders in Walsall start to
raise funds to build a boat for the ‘Youth of the town’
1968
-
HF Truman narrowboat purpose built at Keays
boatyard in Walsall.
1968
-
Weekend trips for youth clubs and schools started
1980
-
Second boat Usk joins the Trust
1992
-
AJ Felgate launched to replace the Usk
1997
HF Truman Narrowboat Trust becan a
rejistered charity.
1997
-
Old HF Truman sold and a new boat given the
name HF Truman launched
2005
-
Walsall Enterprise narrowboat joins the Trust
2006
Trust renamed Truman Enterprise
Narrowboat Trust
2008
-
40 years of Community boating
2011
-
Walsall Council withdraws funding for the Senior Boat
Warden salary, so severing the Trust’s link with WMBC.
2013
-
HF Truman sold to maintain Trust
efficiency
2018
50 years of
Community boating.
AJ Felgate sold to maintain Trust Efficiency
2020
No boat trips due to Corona Virus {covid
19}
2020
Walsall Enterprise re named Enterprise.
H F TRUMAN NARROWBOAT COMMITTEE
The project began in 1965, under the auspices of
the Walsall Youth Leaders Council, who set out to raise money
to build a narrowboat for the young people of the town.
Through many successful sponsored events by youth clubs and
other organisations sufficient money was raised. The original
wooden 'H.F. Truman' was built by Peter Keay and Son of
Walsall and launched in September 1968 as a purpose-built boat
to carry groups of young people. After completion a Trust was
set up and a Management Committee appointed for operational
purposes.
Peter Keay & Son,
Pratts Bridge boatyard, Walsall
Following the success of the operation, in 1971 Walsall
M.B.C. asked the Truman Committee to run a second narrowboat
named the 'Usk' alongside the 'Truman'.
The original 'H.F.
Truman' in action on the Staffs & Worcs Canal
The 'Usk' was replaced in 1992 by a new steel boat named the
'A.J.Felgate'. For over 30 years the young people of Walsall
and its environs benefited from living and travelling on the
boats. This pioneering project has inspired many similar
ventures across the United Kingdom.
Len Wilson, one of
the earliest skippers,
seen here at the tiller of the 'Usk' travelling the
Wyrly and Essington Canal
After 30 years of service to the Youth and Community of
Walsall the original 'Truman' needed replacing. A fund-raising
sub-committee was set up with a target of raising sufficient
funds to commission a modern steel narrowboat. Local companies
were approached and a successful bid for £50,000 was made to
the National Lottery Charities Board under their youth issues
programme. In March 1997 the Trust took delivery of a new boat
and after consultations with user groups fitting out was
undertaken in Wolverhampton. At an inauguration and naming
ceremony on 14th September 1997 the new boat took over the
'H.F. Truman' name and the old boat was sold locally under a
new name.
The new "Truman" is lifted into
the water at Great Haywood
Inside view of the new "Truman"
The 'A.J.Felgate' takes the new
Truman in tow on her way to be fitted out.
The new 'Truman' began operations in 1998 to accompany the
'A.J. Felgate' which continues in service. The usual week-end
trip is from Calf Heath to Norbury Junction on the Shropshire
Union Canal or towards Great Haywood or Kinver on the Staffs
and Worcs Canal, and return to Calf Heath.
Longer trips are undertaken: for example, a two week trip to
Llangollen using both boats together.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To provide narrowboats for young people to be actively
involved in educational and recreational pursuits on the
canals and waterways of England and Wales.
To encourage social inclusion by providing a unique
opportunity for young people to live and work together in a
supportive atmosphere.
To enable users to acquire important social skills and
learn the value of teamwork.
To provide a first hand opportunity for young people to
experience an important part of their cultural heritage.
To provide a very real vehicle for facilitating
environmental education.
To promote a greater awareness and understanding of the
place of inland waterways in our environment and history,
and to encourage and foster respectful use of local canals
as a recreational amenity for everyone.
THE WALSALL ENTERPRISE TRUST
This Trust was established by Councillor Philip Wood, Mayor
of Walsall 1981 - 1982. The aim of the Mayor's chosen charity
was to buy and operate a narrowboat for disabled people of
Walsall.
Fund-raising efforts realised a substantial sum and Walsall
Council provided extra funding to buy a purpose built, second
hand narrowboat from the Peter Le-Marchant Trust in
Loughborough.
The boat was brought to Walsall, refurbished and renamed the
“Walsall Enterprise” by HRH The Duke of Gloucester on 9th
December 1981.
On 1st April 2005 the management of the boat passed to the H
F Truman Narrowboat Committee, based at Calf Heath Marina on
the Hatherton Branch of the Staffs & Worcester Canal.
In 2006 both Trusts were amalgamated under the name "Truman
Enterprise Narrowboat Trust".
TRUMAN ENTERPRISE NARROWBOAT TRUST IS A REGISTERED
CHARITY NO. 1037914
member of the
National Community Boats Association
