Boating in Brum

Families take to the water on the historic boat 'Scorpio'

Families took to the water on the British Waterways historic boat ‘Scorpio’ in Birmingham on May 22nd & 23rd. Many families were given the unique opportunity to step aboard this working boat and view inside the tiny cabin, where boating families lived in the 1940’s. The boat was moored outside the Sea Life Centre in the centre of Birmingham gaining lots of interest from passing families. Learning about what a ‘ticket drawer’ is and answering the question ‘where did they go to the loo?’ where just a few of the fascinating facts answered about these boats and the people who worked them. Children took the challenge of ‘building a canal’ and learnt what cargoes were carried by boat around the Midlands. ‘Scorpio’ and other working boats like her are run by British Waterways volunteers and are steered around the country introducing families to the wonders of traditional boating heritage. For the next Working Boat Family Day, check out the WOW events list or email us wow@britishwaterways.co.uk For more information about the Working Boats Project log onto: www.heritageworkingboats.org.uk