The Reading Branch dates from the start of the campaign in 1955 to save the Kennet & Avon Canal from formal abandonment. We focus our efforts on the stretch between Reading and Aldermaston.
The canal sweeps through Reading’s city centre past County Lock and into the area that was once Reading’s brewery but now is a busy shopping and cinema district. You’re just a stone’s throw away from 900 year-old Reading Abbey Ruins. Further upstream, once a busy industrial canal wharf, Aldermaston is now a peaceful backwater. It’s great place to start exploring the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal.
We’re always on the look out for volunteers to join the branch with a number of different opportunities available. Everything from helping crew our boat to organising meeting. Please get in touch if you can help via the form below.
Monthly meetings
We are joined by a different speaker each month to find out more about a canal related subject. Meetings take place on the third Tuesday from Sept to May and are now held at The Cunning Man, Burghfield Road, Burghfield. RG30 3RB. We open the doors 7.30p.m. and start the meeting at 7.45p.m. There is a virtual option for anyone further afield. Please contact chair.reading@katrust.org.uk if you wish to join us remotely.
This month’s Meeting – November 18th
will feature Kev Maslin Canal Photographer – Chasing the Boats
Kev Maslin is a Black Country lad, currently based in Tipton at the heart of the West Midlands canal network. He has a real passion for photographing inland waterways, which is just as well, as it’s nigh on impossible for him to travel anywhere without crossing a canal, either with or without water.
He recalls, with some fondness, his early encounters with the Dudley No.1 Canal at Delph Locks: “Me and my mates used to go along mob-handed, each armed with just a jam jar and a little fishing net. On one unfortunate occasion one of the lads fell in, but was rescued and
taken on board a passing ‘barge’ by its kindly owner to dry off. This curtailed our angling exploits for a while and the Stickleback population of Brierley Hill was able to breathe easily once again”
Several years later he was reintroduced to the delights of the cut by a work colleague, who suggested that the colourful boats thereon would make excellent subjects for his burgeoning photography interests. Absolutely hooked, he spent the next 20 years or so as a keen waterway photojournalist, supplying pictures and feature articles to the specialist magazines and book publishers and library material to British Waterways, while maintaining a lively involvement in the voluntary sector as a member of the Inland Waterways Association and as editor of the BCN Society’s house magazine, Boundary Post.
Fast forward to the present day and Kev is as keen as ever. Still pounding the towpaths, he now specialises in photographing historic boats, and this is reflected in his regular social media contributions and the associated merchandise he produces, such as the ever-popular Historic Narrow Boats calendar, which is now in its sixth year.
Matilda Too
Our branch operates a trip boat, Matilda Too. You can take a trip around Reading and see the town from a different perspective.
There is even an option to hire to celebrate a special occasion.
Tea rooms Aldermaston
The Tea rooms Aldermaston, located in the Wharf does a great job of keeping walkers and visitors supplied with great coffee and delicious lunches. The garden offers an ideal venue to enjoy the canalside setting, and car parking is nearby. The “Snug” can be booked small groups to hold meetings.
Reading Waterfest
Next year Reading Waterfest will be on 27th of June. If you would like to bring your boat to the event please complete the registration form . Please contact chair.reading@katrust.org.uk if you would like to know more.
Its a great day out for all the family to enjoy good food, music and all the canal has to offer. Don’t forget to buy a duck in the race that rounds off the day!
