This was the first work party of the year and we were blessed with a beautiful bright and sunny day. The river is still running pretty fast (1knt) and was well flooded into the upper slip outside the clubhouse.

Some sixteen members turned up to undertake a variety of pre-season jobs including dismantling the ‘winter quarters’, creosoting the outside of the store rooms, painting the inside hull of “Aquarius SC”, Laying paving slabs in the trailer park, assembling the club membership packs ready to be mailed out, cleaning patio furniture and cleaning windows.

Jean Maracchi lost her Aquarius Email contacts list during a Windows 10 update. Richard Cannon was restricted in what he could do, due to a recent cataract, operation but he did manage to find and restore Jean’s important contacts list.

While all this was going on Nigel and Alice Lea took Aquarius SC down river for its annual MOT (boat safety certificate).

Meanwhile Deborah Lea and Diana Carpenter scrubbed the galley from top to bottom and still found time to supply tea, coffee, crumpets and doughnuts to sustaining the troops. By late afternoon everybody had had enough and were called in for a late lunch of Lasagne followed by devil’s food cake. Many thanks to Deborah for that; it was delicious

Paving the trailer park

Creosoting the Bosun store

May I add a big thank you to everybody who took the trouble to come down and help get the club ready for the start of season. You all know who you were and I can assure it was greatly appreciated.

Mike Baker (VC – Programme)

More photos by Frank and Richard

AQSC Work Party – 13 March 2016