Inland Boating Conference and Dinner

Always popular and well attended, the British Marine Inland Boating AGM, Conference and Dinner this year is being held on Friday 24 November at the National Waterways Museum in the Historic Gloucester Docks. What can attendees expect from this year’s event?

The Gloucester Waterways Museum, recently renovated, refreshed and rebranded, thanks to over £1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, provides the perfect location for the association’s annual get together.

Following the AGM, which will see Ann Davies (Napton Narrowboats) step down as Chairperson, and Russell Chase (Farncombe Boat House) take over (subject to the membership’s approval), there is a packed conference agenda of presentations and Q&A opportunities. Staff from British Marine will be providing updates on the organisation’s activities and the key technical and regulatory matters affecting operators on the inland waterways. In addition, there will be an opportunity to learn more about the new General Data Protection Regulations, set to come into force next year.

A key draw of the conference will be a number of presentations from Canal & River Trust staff. These will include updates on licensing and the future challenges facing the Trust; the Trust’s work with boaters, the industry and the UK Government to deliver a sector deal which will benefit all their waterways and users; and a look at the Trust’s water resources strategy. There will be plenty of opportunities for members to ask questions and get feedback on all of these topics.

Come the evening, attendees will be able to enjoy some fine dining and relaxed chit-chat with fellow members and soak up a bit more of the atmosphere of the historic surroundings.

This year’s event will be sponsored by Black Prince Holidays Ltd, NMU, Waterways Holidays Ltd and Wyndham Vacation Retails Ltd.