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River Avon open to the Sea!
A Golden Anniversary
In July 2012 we will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the River Avon to the sea. This event also celebrates the first attempt in the world at voluntary river restoration.
In 1950 the Avon was sold to a Mr Barwell who was a member of the Inland Waterways Association.
The Midland branch of the I.W.A. formed a sub committee with Mr Barwell as the Chairman. They undertook to restore the semi derelict section of the river from Evesham, via Pershore to Tewkesbury joining the River Severn, Great Britain’s longest river.
The sub committee went on to form the Lower Avon Navigation Trust (LANT) and as well as raising the finance and rebuilding the numerous locks and weirs, they completed the task in June 1962 making it possible to navigate from Evesham down to the docks at Gloucester and beyond to Sharpness. For an update on LANT and UANT amalgamation click here
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The Evesham River Festival has been held on the Avon in one form or another for well over 30 years and without Mr Barwell and his dedicated band we would certainly not have such a splendid facility as we do today in the middle of our town.
We are hoping that 2012 will be a special year when we will to celebrate this ‘Golden’ event with the Mikron Theatre, fly pasts, food village, crafts stalls, music, boat demonstrations and competitions. There will be a traditional beer tent and pig roast and, of course the famous illuminated boat parade and the best firework display in the county!!
See a taste of this year’s entertainment here