A bright idea from Funeral Arranger Anita Smithers led to the launch of a sell-out Father’s Day canal cruise which raised funds for the Wey and Arun Canal Trust.
Anita, who works at James and Thomas’ Merrow branch in Guildford, volunteers at the canal with her husband.
As a member of the Trust’s Special Events Committee, it was Anita who pointed out that they ran Mothering Sunday cruises but there was nothing for the dads.
Three years on, and with catering support from the canalside pub, the annual Father’s Day Bacon Butty cruises are hugely popular with almost 100 people taking part in the two trips on 18 June.
The 90-minute trips, which took in two locks, took place on board the Wiggonholt, one of the Trust’s three canal boats.
Anita said: “There was a great atmosphere. It was extremely hot, but despite the temperature reaching over 30 degrees all our guests said how much they’d enjoyed their trip.”
