STOURPORT contractor Thomas Vale has donated materials worth more than £1,000 to help rebuild historic canal boat Bramble.

Plywood, paint, fire extinguishers, brass door knobs, bolts, hooks, hinges and batteries will all help The Shuttle’s mission to get the 1934 working boat looking ship shape.

The Bramble Appeal hopes to raise £7,000 to restore the vessel to its former glory so children and visitors to Stourport Canal Basins can learn from the heritage treasure.

Colin Callaghan, of Thomas Vale, said: “As a local business, we find it extremely important to invest in the communities in which we work. The Bramble Appeal is a perfect opportunity for us to give back.

“Once restored, Bramble will be used as an educational resource for generations of children to gain an insight into the Georgian market town and life as it was on the waterways.”

In September, Thomas Vale will start work on the £7 million James Brindley Wharf project spearheaded by Kidderminster developers Clive Fletcher.

Mr Callaghan added: “Thomas Vale is really looking forward to being part of the development which will expose many hidden treasures of Stourport.

“Bramble is yet another great piece of history being restored to increase tourism to Stourport. It will be lovely to see Bramble moored in the basins alongside the new development.”

Stourport Forward, in partnership with Stourport Civic Society, bought Bramble from British Waterways for a mere £1 and envisages her becoming a piece of living history.

Pauline Annis, chairman of Stourport Forward, said: “This is a fantastic donation because it will provide many of the materials that will be required for the project, including some of the essential materials to restore the living quarters, an area which is currently an empty shell.

“Our volunteers hope to start this work once the prop shaft has been installed. We are so grateful to Thomas Vale for such an extremely generous donation – it will give our appeal another fantastic boost and help us move another big step to restoring and preserving Bramble for generations to come.”

Ways to jump aboard our Bramble Appeal: If you or your school or group can organise a fund-raising event, contact The Shuttle and we will help publicise it by featuring it in our weekly coverage of the appeal.

If you wish to send a donation, make cheques payable to Stourport Forward Limited and send them to Jennifer Meierhans, at The Shuttle, 6 Towers Buildings, Blackwell Street, Kidderminster DY10 2DY. Please include your contact details as Stourport Forward would like to respond with letters of thanks to all those supporting the appeal.

If you can help with materials for Bramble’s refurbishment, contact Jennifer Meierhans on 01562 633346.For more details of the appeal, contact Shuttle editor Clive Joyce on 01384 358282.