A NEW TOURISM and business-boosting mooring in Pershore is set to make a splash after a launch on the banks of the River Avon.
Avon Navigation Trust’s (ANT) five boat provision at The Angel Hotel is the latest winning partnership project to provide more facilities for boaters.
The event also celebrated the life of a long-standing volunteer, attracted a record attendance at ANT’s annual volunteers’ dinner and toasted The Angel returning back to local ownership for the first time in nearly a century.
Wychavon District Council Chairman Coun Frances Smith cut the ribbon and she and Pershore Mayor Coun Bob Gillmor christened the new mooring with a bottle of Pershore Brewery ale at a VIP event that was also blessed by glorious spring sunshine and the Maritime Volunteer Service, who provided a guard of honour.
ANT Chairman Jack Hegarty, Chief Executive Clive Matthews and Angel Founder and Chief Executive Darren Eden also welcomed honoured guest Jenny Rogers, whose late partner Ambrose Emerson is celebrated on a plaque overlooking the river and the Pershore lock he volunteered at for decades.
“Jenny also kindly supplied the wine at the wonderful Angel Volunteers’ dinner where there was even more to celebrate when Darren announced that they had purchased the Angel’s freehold, protecting its future in the town at the centre of the community,” said Mr Hegarty.
“It was a great night and we’re delighted with the new moorings,” added Darren.
“The revival of Britain’s waterways is extraordinary and we at The Angel are happy that we can play a small part in it. Boaters from far and wide are always welcome.”
The Angel financed the materials and lease the land to ANT, which designed and built the mooring free of charge.
It’s the latest partnership project, following on from a mooring at the Fleet Inn at Twyning in 2015.
“We are working on a new provision for this year. We are very happy to handle these projects in between our day to day work because it means more provision for our boaters,” said Mr Matthews.
“Our challenge is that we don’t own riverside land and so we are continually working behind the scenes and on the look out for mooring provision opportunities with businesses and private individuals,” he added.
