5 days ago
Canal-loving Poirot actor to open Braunston's historic boat rally
Poirot actor Sir David Suchet and Lady Suchet will recreate the roles of working boat people when they open a historic boat David will steer a 90-year-old motorised craft while Lady Suchet will be in charge of an unpowered butty at The Braunston Historic Narrowboat Show in Coghlan, who owns Braunston Marina, said: "We have already received an encouraging number of bookings, 70 so far - and they just keep coming."This could well be a vintage year, especially with the number of butties, which could reach a record."
The 2025 event is the 21st time it has taken place at Braunston Marina near highlight is the procession of boats into the marina, thought to be the biggest display of historic craft anywhere on the inland Sir David Suchet and Lady Sheila Suchet have opened the event before, but never together.
The actor best known for playing Agatha Christie's famous detective will steer a boat called Nuneaton in the procession, while dressed in traditional boatman's clothing Lady Suchet will follow in the footsteps of boatmen's wives by piloting the butty Brighton, which will be towed by Nuneaton.
Nuneaton was built in 1936 and carried loads between London and the also constructed in 1936, was used for several years as a party boat but also carried gravel for a while and gained a reputation for Suchets will also stop at the marina's entrance bridge to rename it as Peter's Bridge, in tribute to the late Peter Andrews gave £160,000 in his will towards the repair of the Horseley Ironworks structure.
Mr Coghlan added: "These leviathans of our canal-carrying past are the making of the rally which will probably be the biggest gathering of them anywhere on the waterways."Other attractions include an actor portraying a boatwoman showing people around her traditional cabin and explaining how people used to live and work in such confined spaces.A candlelit choral concert in Wolfhampcote church will end the rally.
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