A LADIES night in Kidderminster raised £51 for canal boat Bramble, which can soon be viewed by school children.

Local businesses stepped in for the event at Brantano in Weavers Wharf last Thursday.

The money will see the 1934 working boat sailing closer to the £7,000 needed to restore her as a piece of living history.

Duty manager at Brantano, Amanda Jones, said: “I would like to thank everyone who participated for their time and effort and for the extremely generous donations that went to make up our ladies evening. It was greatly appreciated. We hope that they will join us again for our next fundraising event at Easter.”

Pauline Annis, chairman of Stourport Forward, which owns Bramble said she was “extremely grateful” to all who took part.

The group, based at Stourport Canal Basins, is getting ready for primary school children to visit Swift, a British Waterways historic working canal boat.

She will be at the basins from April 16 until May 6 and arrangements can be made for children to view Bramble from the outside in her current condition, to make a comparison.

The schools project, in partnership with Bewdley Museum and British Waterways includes a build a canal session, guided walk, short story in the boat’s hold and a visit to the living quarters. Once restored Bramble will be able to host school visits.

Mrs Annis added: “It is a great opportunity for local primary school children to learn about Stourport, which initially evolved as a working canal port and to gain an insight into what life must have been like for the families who lived and worked on the canals transporting goods in times past.

“We hope that more local schools will visit and learn about Stourport Canal Basins and we would be thrilled to see local schools join in the Shuttle’s Bramble Appeal. Local people will also be able to view Bramble as part of our Heritage Weekend on May 5 and 6.”

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.