Canal event breaks record

Date:  20 May 2009

Thousands defied the weather forecasters at the weekend to attend the Rickmansworth Festival.

Festival Director, from the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust, Dave Montague said:

"Once again we saw record numbers visit the Rickmansworth Festival over the weekend. The Saturday was our busiest day ever and only the unpredictable weather on the Sunday kept the numbers slightly down on the day before.

"Overall the event was a tremendous success and my heartfelt thanks go out to the dedicated team of volunteers from the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust who worked all year and for such long hours over the weekend to make this possible. The popularity of the Festival demonstrates the strength of our partnership with Three Rivers District Council without whose support the event would not be feasible."

Several hundred people took advantage of the special train service running on the Metropolitan Line drawn by the vintage electric locomotive, Sarah Siddens, with connecting Routemaster bus service, to visit the popular Rickmansworth Festival on Sunday May 17th.

The event was opened by District Council Chairman Richard Laval with Council Leader Ann Shaw and MP David Gauke. Cllr Laval said:

"Waterways Trust volunteers make this fantastic event possible. I was encouraged to see so many community groups in the environment marquee as well, including basket weavers, Mill End Community Wildlife Area, RSPB and Friends of the Earth. Thanks must also go to Council staff who work closely with the RWT."

Cllr Laval added:

"This year we made improvements to the Aquadrome so it is now entirely wheelchair accessible and I'm sure this makes events like this even more inviting."