South Staffordshire Narrowboat Co Ltd
Operating the Ernest Thomas II Narrowboat
Providing day trips for the elderly, disabled & youth groups
Bookings: 01902 658286
© South Staffordshire Narrowboat Co Ltd 2019 Registered Charity No 1000868
Supported by voluntary contributions
Member of the National Community Boats Association
History
The late Ernest Thomas, one time Chairman of Walsall Football Club, operated a fleet of working narrowboats throughout the Midlands, carrying coal and other bulk items. In the late 40s Mr Thomas was approached by the then Chairman of Fordhouses Boys’ Club, Mr W J Bradburn, a well known local businessman, with a view to his donating a narrowboat specifically for the use of boys’ clubs in the Wolverhampton/Walsall area. Using items and equipment supplied by local businessmen, Mr Thomas converted an old narrowboat, which he then donated to the local boys’ clubs. For the next 18 years the boat, named “Ernest Thomas”, operated successfully in the area, but became uneconomic to operate after a change in Board of Trade regulations and was sold into private hands. It has since been fully restored, given its original name of “Vulcan” and can still be seen operating in the area.
In 1983 an idea was put forward to construct a narrowboat specifically designed for
use by the handicapped, disabled and generally disadvantaged. In 1984 a committee
of local professional and business people was set up with the primary role of raising
the necessary funding, estimated at about £12,000 for an engine and materials. Sufficient
to say that the £12,000 was raised from national and local charities, and from the
Home Office, which was particularly generous. A labour force of local unemployed
persons was recruited by the Staffordshire County Council Community Programmes Agency,
and work commenced at the old Kinver Marina site in April 1985.
Following considerable
delays (due primarily to the poor summer) the narrowboat was eventually completed
and went into limited service in September 1986. Permission was obtained from the
widow of Mr Thomas to name the new boat......ERNEST THOMAS II
Under construction at Old Birchills Wharf, Walsall
The boat is pulled back to the wharf after the launching
The launch of Ernest Thomas at Old Birchills Wharf, 7th May 1953
Ernest Thomas standing in the hatch at the launching ceremony
On the Shropshire Union Canal near to Autherley Junction
Ernest Thomas just north of Tettenhall Road Bridge on the Staffs & Worcs Canal
Ernest Thomas about to pass beneath Hordern Road Bridge, circa 1956
