Current News and Events

Third Wheelyboat for Eyebrook Trout Fishery

Eyebrook's latest addition to its fleet of Wheelyboats, a Coulam 16 Wheelyboat, was launched on Tuesday, 18th May. It joins a Mk I and Mk II already in operation at the popular Leicestershire trout fishery, the venue with the most-used Wheelyboats in the UK. The Coulam 16 Wheelyboat is a purpose-built fishing boat designed and built in partnership with JM Coulam Boatbuilders. It provides disabled anglers with a roll-on, roll-off wheelchair accessible boat that looks and performs exactly the same as a standard fishing boat. Grateful thanks to the following for their generous help funding the new boat: Corus UK Ltd, Wavell Wakefield & Middlesex Sports Foundation, Florence Turner Trust, Leicestershire & Rutland Masonic Association, Maud Elkington Charitable Trust, Aylesford Family Trust, Ormonde Foundation, David Laing Foundation, Ammco Trust. For bookings telephone 01536 770264 or on the web at www.eyebrook.com.

Jim Coulam (boatbuilder), Andy Miller (Eyebrook's manager), Andy Beadsley, David Carter (Leicestershire & Rutland Masonic Association).

Fly Fishing & Fly Tying magazine

The May issue of leading game angling monthly, FF&FT, included an article by Peter Lapsley on three charities working in the fly fishing arena, including The Wheelyboat Trust. A pdf of the article can be downloaded by clicking here.

Mk III Wheelyboat launched on the River Fowey at Golant

Dick Strawbridge, local celebrity and campaigner for all things sustainable, launched the Mk III Wheelyboat at Golant on Friday, 9th April.

At 5.3m long the Mk III is a versatile craft with a carrying capacity of eight people including wheelchairs. This one has been fitted with a drive-from-wheelchair console enabling people with the most severe disabilities to experience the thrill of driving the boat themselves. The Mk III Wheelyboat has been designed for multi-purpose use enabling disabled people to fish, go pleasure boating and nature watching, etc as easily and independently as their able bodied counterparts. There is plenty of space on board for tackle and other equipment.

The Wheelyboat at Golant will be managed and operated by Trust supporters, Ann and Alan Barker, who live in the village. They will provide local and visiting disabled people with guided boating on the river for bird and nature watching, pleasure trips and angling. There is more than 5 miles of navigable river estuary between Fowey and Lostwithiel for trips like these. Up until now, no public access to these activities has existed on the Fowey estuary for disabled people, especially wheelchair users.

This project is a new departure for the Trust - it is the first ever Wheelyboat on estuarial waters. (The Mk III complies fully with regulations governing the supply of boats for this purpose and the boat itself is fully licensed as a trip boat by the harbour master). The estuary at Golant and the various creeks that branch off the main channel are relatively sheltered, but it is salt water nonetheless, and will give the Wheelyboat's users a real flavour of the sea. However, the most exciting feature of this project is the access it will provide to disabled people to a secluded and accessible floating bird hide owned by Ann and Alan in Penpoll Creek.

The South West is the busiest region in the UK for Wheelyboat provision and availability. There are now fourteen Wheelyboats between Dorset and Cornwall. Together they create a ‘critical mass’ of the facility in the region, the publicising and promotion of which is expertly handled by our very enthusiastic and dedicated South West Regional Volunteer, Rex Harpham.

The new Wheelyboat has been supplied by The Wheelyboat Trust and funded by Ann & Alan Barker, Lord Barnby's Foundation, Percy Bilton Charity, Environment Agency, Leonard Laity Stoate Charitable Trust, Marjorie & Geoffrey Jones Charitable Trust, St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust, Cornwell Charitable Trust, Norman Family Charitable Trust. We are extremely grateful to all the funders for their support.

To book the Wheelyboat, telephone Ann or Alan on 0845 5195261.

Dick Strawbridge and Alan Barker.

Mk III Wheelyboat launched on Stithians Lake

Stithians Lake near Redruth, Cornwall, is the newest Mk III Wheelyboat venue. The launch ceremony took place in wet and windy conditions on Tuesday, March 22nd. Wheelyboat user and Environment Agency's Regional Fisheries, Environment and Recreation Advisory Committee member, Gillian Matthews, formally declared the Wheelyboat launched. Also in attendance was Peter Bartlett, Patron of South West Lakes Trust and Chris Klee, chairman of the EA's RFERAC committee.

The Wheelyboat was funded by the EA and The Hedley Foundation and in the speeches preceding the launch both organisations were warmly praised for their support. The Wheelyboat will be available for disabled people to use for angling (Stithians is a trout fishery), nature watching and pleasure boating. It will be operated by South West Lakes Trust, the lake's owners, and is the 14th Wheelyboat operating in the region. It will accommodate a maximum of eight adults including four wheelchairs quite comfortably.

To book the Wheelyboat please contact the Stithians Watersports Centre on 01209 860301. For more information about the lake visit www.swlakestrust.org.uk/leisure-activities/watersports/stithians-lake.

Stithians Wheelyboat Launch. Gillian Matthews, Committee member of RFERAC, pops the champagne with l-r Chris Klee, Chairman of RFERAC, Martin Wheeler, Environment Agency and Peter Bartlett, Patron of the South West Lakes Trust.

Bristol Sailability Wheelyboat Project

Bristol Sailability and The Wheelyboat Trust have joined forces to identify and equip a suitable 12 seater wheelchair accessible power boat for Bristol Sailability to operate in Bristol Docks and further afield on the River Avon and its estuary. In addition, the project's successful outcome will have identified and evaluated a larger, more versatile wheelchair accessible craft than the Trust currently has available in its portfolio of Wheelyboat models. Thus, the project will equip the Trust with a brand new Wheelyboat model to add to its range. Being the largest Wheelyboat to date, it will enable the Trust to initiate similar projects countrywide and provide more opportunities for disabled people to participate in waterborne activities alongside and on equal terms with their able-bodied counterparts.

Bristol Sailability aims to include disabled people throughout every level of activity and instruction available at their site, a goal their current fleet of boats is unable to attain. For example, as well as being wheelchair accessible, the new boat is specially designed to be ‘wheelchair operable’ so disabled people can helm the boat themselves. This opens up a whole new area of experience, even for those with the most severe disabilities.

One of the Wheelyboat Trust's latest projects (on the River Fowey estuary where a Mk III Wheelyboat operates as a trip boat taking disabled people bird watching, sightseeing and angling) has helped demonstrate the need for the Trust to add a larger craft to its portfolio that can be:

Used as a trip boat, pleasure boat or small ferry
Helmed by a crew yet still allowing plenty of space for disabled passengers
Safe and stable with better weather protection for passengers even on more exposed waters such as estuaries and inshore waters
More beneficial than current Wheelyboat models for groups and organisations such as outward bound centres where larger groups of people need accommodating

The use to which Bristol Sailability will be putting their Wheelyboat is also a good template for the type of project the Trust is expecting to help in the future with the availability of the new model.

An ‘off-the-shelf’ model built in the UK and sold primarily as a work boat has been identified and tested. It fulfils all the criteria necessary for use both by Bristol Sailability and by The Wheelyboat Trust as its brand new Wheelyboat model, the Mk IV. The boat is a 21' Sea Rover with a remote operated electric bow ramp. The package chosen includes an 80hp Suzuki outboard, console, A frame, navigation lights, side rails, wheelchair tracking installed on the deck, bimini cover and seats for non-wheelchair users.

Funds are currently being raised to supply the new boat and it is hoped it will be on the water in Bristol in July 2010.

Danny Peet catches record rainbow from a Wheelyboat

Toft Newton's fishery record was smashed by Danny Peet in February with the capture of this 17lb rainbow trout. Fishing deep and slow in cold conditions, the trout took a white lure before being photographed and returned. Toft Newton is a small reservoir in rural Lincolnshire and fishes consistently well throughout the year. It has one of the original Wheelyboat models, the Mk I, and offers disabled anglers a warm welcome and good fishing.
For further info go to www.toftnewton.com.

Father and Son Aim for African Summit to Improve Disabled Access to the River Tay - News Release 12th October 2009

A former Royal Navy officer and his son embark for Central Africa later this month to raise funds for an ambitious project that will revolutionise access for disabled anglers and others to the Tay, one of Scotland's greatest rivers and its tributaries. Jim and David McDonald aim to raise at least £5,000 by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the continent's highest peak at 19,360 ft. The monies raised will boost the River Tay Wheelyboat Appeal, being launched to provide specialist boats for the disabled to enjoy fishing and other activities such as nature watching on the river.

Jim McDonald, who lives at Scone and now works as a part-time ghillie on the Rivers Tay and Earn, explained: “During almost four decades in the Navy, salmon angling trips during periods of leave were always something to look forward to. However, as a serviceman one was always intensely aware of colleagues and friends suffering permanent injuries and thus becoming disabled. There is absolutely no reason why they and indeed so many other disabled people from all walks of life should not also be able to enjoy the great pleasure of spending time fishing or indulging in other pastimes on the Tay. Wheelyboats, with their unique design, make such access possible”.

Lieutenant McDonald added: “Over the past few weeks my son and I have been training intensively for the tough challenge ahead by tackling many of Perthshire's peaks including Ben Lawers, Ben Vorlich, Ben Chonzie and Ben Vrackie”.

Lorna Bromley-Martin, Development Manager for the Tay Foundation which is running the Wheelyboat Appeal, commented: “Jim and David's initiative looks set to kickstart this particularly worthwhile project, which will transform access for the less able-bodied to the River Tay and its tributaries. We wish them all good fortune with their adventure and hope that as many individuals and organisations as possible will give them the financial support that they deserve”.

The Appeal has a target of at least £50,000 - not only to purchase Coulam 16 Wheelyboats for disabled people but also to endow a fund for the ongoing servicing and running costs of the project and the provision of specially designated supervisory staff.

Jim and David McDonald depart on October 24. Further details of the Kilimanjaro climb, for which six days have been allocated, are available at www.tayfoundation.org. Online donations may be made on the Tay Foundation Page of “Justgiving.com” - www.justgiving.com/rivertayfoundation.

September 2009

Refurbished Mk I delivered to Blackdyke Trout Fishery, Lakenheath.