Sea Scouts revive river ferry service

Sea Scouts used a motor boat to ferry people across the River Trent as part of Muskham Riverside Festival, which raised more than £500 on Saturday.

The service from North Muskham to Holme and back was reminiscent of the one that was a regular feature between the two villages for more than 400 years.

Members of the 6th Newark Sea Scouts restored the service, which had continued regularly until 1935 before being stopped completely in the 1960s because of lack of demand.

The boat is kept in the grounds of the Muskham Ferry, where the landlord, Mr Frank Neath, filled it with soil and flowers to stop it being cast adrift by revellers.

Many festival visitors had picnics on the river bank once they had crossed.

The event was organised by North Muskham Parish Council in place of the summer fair normally held in the grounds of the village hall.

The hall committee chairman, parish councillor Mr John Geeson, said the fair could not go ahead because of the work building a new hall but it was felt something should be organised in its place.

The festival centred in and around the Muskham Ferry and St Wilfrid’s Church, where there was a flower festival. Floral displays were also on show at St Giles’ Church, Holme.

The day’s events included two river rescues by a team from Newark Fire Station, a beer festival with locally-brewed drinks, craft and game stalls, a hog roast, and a local history display.

The chairman of the parish council, Mr Ian Harrison, had a stint in the stocks, as did parish councillor Mr Gary Hobbs, and several youngsters.

A video of a fun run held in the village last weekend was shown in the Muskham Ferry.

Villager Mr Trevor Frecknall launched his book, Coronation Village, about residents in North Muskham in the 1950s and said he was overwhelmed with the response, selling 100 copies between noon and 5pm.

The proceeds from the festival will go towards the new village hall.