Local donation will kick-start fundraising to reburbish much loved Montgomery Canal narrowboat.
Volunteers who run the George Watson Buck narrowboat based on the Montgomery Canal in Llanymynech have received a welcome donation of £500 from Llandrinio based Severn Community Connections.
The donation will kick start fundraising efforts for 2026 by the volunteers who are looking to refurbish their canal boat next winter.
Severn Community Connections run the popular The Cabin on Lewis’s car park in Llandrinio, which sells a variety of donated goods, with profits going to local charities and community groups ranging from sports groups, schools, nurseries and preschools, churches, groups putting on live music and collaborative arts events to name but a few.
The main ethos is to help keep communities and people connected, whether it’s through being creative together, playing sport, or simply providing opportunities to meet up and chat.
Said Veronica White of the group: “We saw that the George Watson Buck volunteers are raising funds to keep the boat in good order for local people and visitors to the area and we were keen to support them.
“We use all profits from sales in the Cabin to support local good causes and we’d love anyone local to pop in and see what we do.”
Based at the Llanymynech Canal Wharf in the Heritage Area in Llanymynech, the boat trips are popular with visitors and locals alike to learn more about the heritage and wildlife of the Montgomery Canal. The wharf is run by volunteers from the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust charity.
Said Graham, Chair of the committee that runs the wharf: “We are so grateful to the committee at Severn Community Connections for supporting us. Our boat is wheelchair accessible, and we cater for visitors of all ages as well as groups of up to 12 people.”
We do a lot of regular maintenance and other works ourselves to keep the GWB ship shape but our plans include work that we will need to outsource to boat yards or individual trades people. We hope to install new windows, wooden cladding in the main cabin and reinstate a toilet and handbasin.”
Added Graham: “We are aiming to refurbish our boat in the next 12 months or so and we are looking for any local businesses or individuals who like Severn Community Connections would be in a position to help raise funds. In 2026 the boat will be about 30 years old and we are really keen to keep her ship shape for future generations.”
If you are interested in volunteering at The Cabin, please email veronica@llandrinio.com.