Keith Hadden Memorial Cruise Stymied by Failed Structures and Lack of Dredging
In September 2024, club members planned to visit Brandon, Santon Downham, the village of Reach, Ely, and Denver Sluice. All part of the Great Ouse system.
In the event they could only go as far as Brandon Lock, some distance from Brandon, which is inoperable due to silt from flood alleviation work earlier this year, and lack of dredging. This also meant their planned excursion to Santon Downham had to be cancelled. They managed to navigate the two mile, reed filled cut to Reach, receiving a warm welcome from the community and pub there.
Ivan Cane, cruise organiser, said “The cruise showed that it’s not just the Canal and River Trust that are facing problems. The navigation authorities in the east of the country are too, and there is a very real risk that those quiet, historic and picturesque extremities of the system will become inaccessible by boat.”