Fundraising will help the Rose to continue to provide a much loved service for the community

The Rose of Hungerford is a traditional canal boat which provides a much loved and valued service for the community. The boat welcomes passengers from near and far who come to enjoy a warm welcome as well as the opportunity to savour the beauty of the Kennet and Avon Canal. There is often an opportunity for passengers to help the crew work a lock (although this is not compulsory!).

The Rose is run entirely by fully trained volunteers who not only crew her on trips, but also work tirelessly behind the scenes, keeping her going.

The Rose can take up to 50 passengers on trips from Hungerford Wharf. Regular public trips, private charters, cream tea cruises and Father Christmas trips are just a few of the wide selection of events that they offer. Thanks to an electric wheelchair lift, disabled passengers can come on board with ease.

Sarah Warburton, Publicity Manager for the Rose said:

“The Rose of Hungerford applied to fundraise through The West Berkshire Lottery as we saw an opportunity not only to benefit us, but also so many other charities in our area. The Rose of Hungerford is a popular part of life in West Berkshire and if we can encourage more people to buy tickets, we would all benefit. In particular we are proud of the contribution we make to the town of Hungerford by encouraging visitors to come to the area.

The Rose is owned by The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, and as we are volunteers, all monies raised go to the Trust to fund the preservation and operation of many historic buildings along the canal. These include the Crofton Pumping Station, Devizes Wharf and Canal Museum, Aldermaston Wharf and the Stone Building at Newbury.

The Rose carries about 6,000 passengers a year and contributes about £40,000 to the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust.”

To support The Rose of Hungerford and any of the other local good causes who have signed up to raise funds through the West Berkshire Lottery, buy your tickets online or call 01635 579111. 50% of the ticket price goes to your chosen charity, with another 10% going back to fund community projects.