It's no plain sailing - but teaching duo's boat dream is afloat
IT HAS cost thousands of pounds and taken years of planning.
But the dream of a community boat for Swansea has at last become a reality.
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Dream coem true: The Black Prince
Former teachers John Davies and Charles White hatched a plan in 2004 to run a boat service which could act as a learning experience for children and adults along the waterways of Swansea.
Now, six years and several generous donations later, the duo are looking to start sailing in early spring 2011.
The boat, currently known as the Black Prince, has cost a total of £80,000.
The Welsh Assembly Government covered half the cost with the rest being "begged and borrowed" from local companies large and small.
When services start next year the boat will run from the National Waterfront Museum at Swansea Marina along the River Tawe to Morfa Bridge and back.
But the journey to get the five-year-old boat from its home in Leeds to the Kings Dock in Swansea was a mammoth task.
The vessel was driven at a cost of £7,000 on a road trip which took eight hours.
It was then lowered into the water at Swansea by Davies Cranes, of Carmarthen, at a cost of £2,500. The boat is 59 ft long and 12 ft wide with a capacity to take up to 50 people on board.
Mr White said: "When we set the project up our first thoughts were aiming the service at school children and community groups, as well as adults and senior citizens.
"We were both teachers of youngsters with special needs and we had an affinity with issues of learning difficulties.
"We thought it would be a new experience for school children and an opportunity for the public at large to experience Swansea in a new light and in a new way.
"The river is now little used if at all.
"We thought this would be a way of putting the river back into use.
"We also realised we needed to look at some commercial ventures in order to keep the project sustainable."
The steel hull boat has previously been used for wedding receptions, christenings and corporate training sessions.
Mr White said: "We are very grateful to local companies who have been forthcoming with their donations.
"If there is a company out there who would like to have their name put on the boat there is an opportunity for sponsorship."
rupert.hall@swwmedia.co.uk
4 Comments
by Dorothy, Somewhere over the Rainbow
Monday, December 20 2010, 2:42PM
“Disgusting that WAG have given £40,000 of taxpayers money to this project. Should rename boat 'The White Elephant.' It certainly would be 'an opportunity to experience Swansea in a new light and in a new way.' Yuck!
Agree with Realist..nothing of interest to see if you take this trip. Swansea City Council has seen to it that all the interesting heritage of the Morfa copperworks area has disappeared and been replaced with characterless Barratt ipads and out of town shopping area. How are youngsters going to benefit fron this?”
by Huw, ammanford
Monday, December 20 2010, 12:25PM
“This is obviously their hobby. Why am I a tax payer being forced to ''fund'' their hobby?
I have some hobbies of my own and part with thousands of £'s a year in pursuit of them with no help from the WAG or any other avenues of taxation.”
by john, Swansea
Monday, December 20 2010, 12:10PM
“Hope they make sure everybody keeps their hands out of the water especially the further you travel up the tawe it is full of sewerage and for those who are not sure what that is it is other peoples bowel juice and if you open your eyes you will see the evidence all along the banks of the river!!”
by Realist, Swansea
Monday, December 20 2010, 10:41AM
“Complete waste of money. There used to be private company doing this and they hardly ever had a customer. Did the trip myself and it was extremely boring because sites of historical interest have been removed. Nothing to see except Barratt housing.”