Reopening the Trust

During the latter part of 2019, a brand new Tooley’s Boatyard Trust had built up some momentum to drive it into the future. Securing a 150 year lease from Cherwell District Council and various funding awards meant that 2020 would become the breakout year for the Trust. In mid-February 2020 the group of regular volunteers gathered to help plan for a new season. Coming to a grinding halt in March, the rest is history.

Since then Tooley’s Boatyard Limited has been mainly ticking along despite the various lock downs and restrictions. When permitted, some work has continued in the dry dock on customers’ boats, however the Trust has been largely on hold.

Now with the end of restrictions in sight, the volunteers will again meet on Saturday 29th May to plan for the new (shorter) season. We are potentially looking at restarting the Working Museum on Saturdays at the end of June, provided restrictions allow us to do so.

At this time we hope to see the return of our regular volunteers. If, however, you feel you would like to join them as

• Tea Room assistant
• Tour Guide trainee
• Trip boat crew (We need you to have held a helmsman certificate for a year for this role)
• Experienced Forge worker

then please contact Sarah via 01295 272917 .

Detailed plans are dependant on restrictions being eased according the government’s “Roadmap Stage 4” on 21st June. We hope to fully open Saturday 26th June so that visitors can enjoy Boatyard Tours and Boat Trips on Dancing Duck.