Ripon Motor Boat Club marked its 90th birthday at the weekend with celebrations involving members, friends and the local community.
Established eight years before the outbreak of World War II, it is one of the largest inland waterway private boat clubs in the UK.
Based at Canal Lane, Littlethorpe, it has 143 berths and continues to grow through new development and the hands-on involvement of members.
Since its foundation in 1931, the club’s aim has been to provide affordable family boating.
Ripon Motor Boat Club secretary Anne Foster (left) and vice-commodore Karen Riddiough at the open weekend
Among those who have helped with the development are Mike and Elsie Grainger, whose boat Mojo is moored at the club’s marina.
Mr Grainger told the Stray Ferret:
“We have had many hours of enjoyment at this club. It is very family-focused and friendly and everybody has joined in to bring about improvements to the facilities.”
The Grainger family has enjoyed many epic journeys from Ripon via the canal and river network on holidays and boating trips.
The moorings have expanded as the club’s popularity has grown.
Mr Grainger said:
“Over the years that we have been members, we have set off from here on journeys that have collectively taken us thousands of miles, including one trip down the Thames and under Tower Bridge.”
Karen Riddiough, the club’s vice-commodore, said:
“Our focus is on actively promoting the joys of boating, with a member-run, co-operative approach.”
This approach has enabled money to be raised to create a clubhouse and other on-going improvements.
Started with a barge called Enid
With events throughout the year, a shared investment by all club members in the maintenance of the marina and a continual commitment to its development, the club has come a long way from the days when its clubhouse was an old barge called Enid.
The club was established in 1931, when two boats – the Onaway and Vagabond – set off on their travels from the River Derwent.
Following an eventful journey that involved navigating a collapsed lock gate, they found themselves mooring in Ripon Canal.
While in the area, they met the Nicholson family, who have remained supporters of the club, playing a key role in its development by allowing the purchase of plots of land to facilitate the club’s improvements and expansion.
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Starting off with linear moorings alongside the canal, the current marina was dug out over the course of the 1970s and 80s, and replaced again by members in 2000.
A new purpose-built clubhouse replaced its floating predecessor and in 2013, members took on another extensive project, extending the south end of the marina, giving space for around 140 plus berths for boats of up to 33ft.
WATCH: Elusive otter filmed on Ripon riverbank
Amid tales from the river bank of otters spotted at play in Ripon, the Stray Ferret wanted to see one for itself.
But day after day of dawn and dusk patrols up and down the Skell and neighbouring canal, proved fruitless.
Social media posts told of sightings at Alma Weir, near the Water Rat gastro pub, where diners had witnessed the elusive creatures searching out their own fish of the day.
Riverside regular Pippa Hicks told of a family group that passed by – but unfortunately the keen nature photographer didn’t have her smart phone handy to capture the moment. It was gone in a flash, with a splash.
Dog walkers, runners, people on morning and evening exercise – all had their otter spotter experiences to share.
Then came a chance morning meeting with John Heselton – a man used to rising early himself, as a former postman in Ripon.
Now retired, after 20 years of door to door service in the city, he takes 18-month-old border collie Ruby for daily walks by the river.
The question to him: ‘I don’t suppose you’ve seen any otters along here?’
Not only had he seen one, several in fact, but he had photos and videos taken just days ago.
Nature-lover and otter spotter John Heselton with his border collie Ruby
Mr Heselton is an animal lover, beekeeper and a photographer. He was also a font of knowledge.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“My wife Maggie and I have lived in Ripon for 40 years and we had never seen one for ourselves until very recently.
“Then, because I am known locally for my nature photography, a young lady knocked on my door one afternoon and told me there was an otter swimming around in the nearby Skell.
“I was quickly off with smartphone at the ready.”
Mr Heselton, added:
“The sight was magnificent and I felt totally elated. There he was, a dog otter diving and re-emerging from the water and even tucking into a fish!”
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The Stray Ferret will keep looking in the hope of providing its own eye-witness account.
In the meantime, following the serendipitous meeting with Mr Heselton, we can, at least, share his riverside record.