Summer has officially arrived.
With it the prospect of long summer cruising hours and the planning of our main holidays.
The canals offer a respite from our busy frantic lives.
Just cruising at between 2 and 4 miles per hour enables us all to enjoy the beauty of nature.
We can stop and listen to the bird song.
Just notice flora and fauna that eludes us during our normal lives.
The ebb and flow of the day can be appreciated.
The canals give us back our connection with the natural world and helps to calm our minds and sooth our souls.
Enjoy!

What a fantastic start to the summer.

Ownashare joined the three other management companies in running a joint Boat Share Show at Braunston over the weekend of the 12th and 13th of April.

The event was well attended and Ownashare owners and staff greatly enjoyed welcoming prospective owners aboard 4 of our syndicate owned boats during the weekend.

It is always a great pleasure to meet up with our syndicate owners and enjoy some fun and laughter, even during the out of show hours.

April has arrived and the land is fast awakening and the boaters are now out enjoying the spring.

Now is the time to dust off the boating clothes and the walking boots and make a bee line for the nearest towpath.

Even if you are unable to take a boat out the peace and tranquility is still available on the towpath at no charge.

I do hope you have enjoyed the lovely boating program "Grand canal journeys" with Timothy West and Prunella Scales.

This wonderful program was so true to the canal spirit and was a great antidote to the usual TV documentaries.

Ownashare is proud to announce the opening of our share shop at Fradley Junction DE13 7DN
Ownashare annual consultation meeting with syndicate representatives will take place on Saturday the 5th of July and will include the elections of a new Non Executive Director to the board as the current post holders tenure comes to an end.

Spring sees an extension to our operations, as we are delighted to introduce our new local manager Roger Michael who will be looking after Nantwich Canal Centre, Swanley Bridge Marina and Aqueduct Marina all (Cheshire) bases. Roger is Chair of n/b Shearwater, and brings many years of experience to this role. We are also very pleased to welcome back Bob Woodgate, Chair of Symphony, as a local manager – Bob will be caring for our new Yorkshire base at Sowerby Bridge.

After the rain the sun and blossoms have arrived.

The scenery on the canal banks is a wonder to behold.
With all of the rain over the winter what a breath of fresh air colour at last.

The birds are nesting the and buds are bursting providing us with a rapidly changing landscape.
This is a wonderful time to go boating and I look forward to meeting many of you on the system as we move Ownashares new boat Heartsease to Braunston for the Boat Share Show.

Summer Newsletter”

We are pleased to announce our next new boat “Heartsease,” which is being fitted out at Drayton boat services, Fazeley, Staffs. This 58ft semi-trad 4/5 bert boat is of mid-galley “reverse” layout – saloon at the stern – and 12th shares will cost £6,950.00. The finance has been provided wholly by private investors. The boat will be moored initially at Bromley Wharf.

“Ownashare Cruising Ltd have recently invited their customers to elect a new Customer Representative who, as part of the role, will take a seat on the Company Board.

The process was necessary as the previous Representative, Tony Philpott, stepped down in August having served since 2011, and his replacement is named as David Chinn.

"Feed the birds tuppence a bag"
It is at this time of year the birds enjoy fat balls, nuts and seeds and although it costs a great deal more than tuppence (two old pennies) it is well worth the expense and effort.

If afloat or on dry land you can be well rewarded for your thoughtfulness with wonderful close up sightings of birds.

If you are uncertain what food to provide try look at http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/feeding/

The nights are fast drawing in and cruising hours are restricted. We have been busy preparing our managed boats for their annual preventative maintainance. Several syndicates have already moved marinas ready for their 2014 cruising season and are looking forward to new cruising areas.
Just a gentle re byminder about leaves around the propeller during autumn.