One of the first major sponsored event to take place to raise funds for the Repair & Regeneration Fund really had to be a unique event and one absolutely in keeping with the area and the community. So it was decided that the Vicar, The Rev. Martin Hancock, and a few parishoners would turn the clock back the 140 years or so to when the church roof was first built and recreate a mode of transport that was vital to the local community at the time.

Canal boats were the main method of transporting bulk cargos such as coal, ore and steel and were drawn by horses and generally manned by a family who would live and work on the canal network. The canal system had probably been one of the major means of transport for the stone that was brought in to build the church originally. Our aim is to recreate a little piece of this history during our fundraising efforts.

With grateful thanks to the Coombeswood Canal Trust, we will be pulling their boat (pictured above) from their Headquarters at Hawne Basin, Halesowen the 2.5 miles to the Black Country Boating Festival at Windmill End in Nertherton on Saturday 13th September 2008. Humans will replace the horse that would have been used back in the old days and sheer man-power will take us all the way to Windmill End. Once there we will load the boat with coal and haul it back to the Hawne Basin for use by the Trust during the winter period, thus recreating the way of life of the period when the church was built. To add further interest to the event we will have to 'leg it' through the 509 metre Gorsty Hill Tunnel (pictured right).

The challenge starts from Hawne Basin at 10am and we expect to arrive at the Black Country Boating Festival around 12.30pm - 1pm and then, hopefully, leave again around 2.45pm. It is hoped that as many supporters will come along and watch us pull the boat both from Hawne Basin, where refreshments will be available, and to and from the Black Country Boat Festival at Windmill End. Afterwards we are able to gather back at the Hawne Basin headquarters of the Coombeswood Canal Trust to enjoy a well earned drink and a pork sandwich. We are very grateful to the Trust for allowing us to use their facilities in this way.

On Saturday 16th August 2008 Martin Hancock and Peter Wright carried out a practice pull of the boat to see what they are up against come the big day in September. Both reported that it was a very hard task to get the boat moving and that the event will provide a very strenuous challenge to pull the boat the distance required on the day. But with the thought of raising much needed church donations for the Regeneration Appeal both Martin and Peter are confident that the challenge will be met and conquered.

We hope that this event not only raises many thousands of pounds but also puts the Regeneration Appeal in the public eye of the local community because the money required to complete the necessary work is huge. The full support of the local community, and that from wider afield, even overseas, is essential to the success of the Appeal and events such as this boat pull have the added advantage of publicity as well as the ability to raise money to make the work happen.

If you wish to make a church donation to this event then please forward your cheque, or cash (in person only) to the Rev. Martin Hancock at the address located on the Friends Page. Every pound received will be very gratefully received and wisely spent on this Regeneration Appeal project.

The great effort was all worthwhile...

After a period of very wet weather we were blessed with fine weather, sunshine and a slight breeze for the strenuous effort of pulling the boat. We began the pull shortly after 10:10am and were sent on our way by a large gathering of supporters at the Hawne Basin in Coombeswood. Many of those people who came for the start then walked with us as we pulled the boat along at a very good rate. Gorsty Hill tunnel proved to be no obstacle as the legging team soon got to grips with the technique and got the boat through without any trouble at all and then we continued the pull through to Windmill End where we joined the Black Country Boating Festival for a few hours rest. At around 3:20pm we pulled away from the festival and hauled the boat all the way back to Hawne Basin where we enjoyed some pork sandwiches and a well earned cup of tea!

It is hoped that the event will have swelled the church donations Regeneration Appeal by around £1700, with the final figures being made available as soon as they are known. Donations can still be made to this event through the church so please be as generous as you can in these difficult economic times.

We would like to extend a special word of thanks to the Coombeswood Canal Trust, who supplied us with their boat and a crew who expertly advised and looked after us all day, ensuring our safety, as well as allowing us use of their club room afterwards.