A FORMER narrowboat owner has got tied up in our Bramble Appeal by donating rope from her own fondly-remembered vessel.

Jo Atkiss, 78, of Stanklyn Lane, Kidderminster, used to own an old-fashioned narrow boat named Jakara - after her initials, her dog Kyra’s and those of her late husband Raymond Atkiss, who died of cancer in 2008.

The couple enjoyed many trips on the waterways with friends but sold Jakara 15 years ago.

Mrs Atkiss recently found a heavy quality bow rope and mallet in her shed that belonged to her boat and then read about The Shuttle’s Bramble Appeal.

“We had some wonderful times on Jakara,” said Mrs Atkiss. “I had to work all the lock gates because my husband wouldn’t let me steer the boat through the lock – he thought I would bump the sides and scrape the paint off. It certainly kept me slim and fit.

“I thought it would be nice to give the rope to the Bramble Appeal to help other people to enjoy the canals as I did with my husband and friends for many years.”

Pauline Annis, chairman of Stourport Forward, which owns the 1934 working boat moored at Stourport Canal basins, explained the rope is a traditional hessian rope, the type which Bramble would have had during her early years.

“The bow rope will be used to moor Bramble and when entering a lock to hold the boat steady,” said Mrs Annis.

“We are very grateful to Jo for her kind donation. Every item, large or small, helps us to move one step further to relaunching Bramble at Stourport Canal Basins.”

The rope is pulling Bramble a little closer to being restored to her former glory to be used an educational tool for school children and visitors.