Sales Team
by Cynthia Greenall

The season has come to an end rather earlier than usual but with the best weather we've had all year. It has been disappointing because potentially successful events have been dogged by rain or lack of visitors. The rural craft fair at Willow Park in Newton-le-Willows suffered from heavy rain and hail which waterlogged the site and eventually defeated the enthusiasm of the visitors but we had a successful time albeit only a couple of hours. The Boat Jumble too finished early and IWA Chester Branch Celebration Rally at Ellesmere Port was not well supported by visitors on the day that we were there.

In July we first took the stall to the Burscough Festival, the first for 30 years, and held by the Leeds/Liverpool Canal. This too was a wet day but the locals were not deterred and we had quite a good afternoon. The St Helens Show was on for 3 days at the end of the month. We have not attended this event for several years, but were pleased to be offered a charity stall this time. Thankfully we had a good site and a busy and lucrative time. Visitors did not seem to find much to do or see but we had lots of interest in the canal and stock disappeared at a pleasing rate. One visitor cycled home and returned with an old map rolled up under his arm. It was an 1892 map of Newton Common, partly hand drawn on canvas and he has donated it to the Society.

So much stock has come in over the past few months that with bulging shed and caravan, I was beginning to worry most of it would never get sold. Thankfully, sales at the National Festival at Beale Park and then the Rural Craft Fair at Rainford were both good and the remaining stock now fits in a much smaller space. Thank you to everyone who has donated, we've had some most interesting things. Some so unusual that we can't imagine what they are for. Priced up and on display they've provided us with a good talking point and a few laughs.

The journey down to Pangbourne on the Thames was long, and even longer coming home after we were delayed by two accidents, but we enjoyed the week as usual. We had the caravan on the campsite, Dave brought his tent and we hired the usual marquee on the showground. It was rather unusual this year though because we had to share it – with frogs! The pitch was well sited near to the entrance and arena and grateful thanks are due to whoever decided not to book the Paws for Thought dog show this year! Saturday and Sunday were very busy on site, but Monday was less so as people started to think about going home or back to work. It was good to meet up with friends we only see at this event and Colin and Dave were able to do some useful networking with the other canal societies. The illuminated boat show on Sunday night was the best I have ever seen, how do they do it! One non-sales item we took down to the festival was the silver rose bowl for the Galley of the Year Award won last year by members Pat and Norman Bate on Ellie May.

Our final outing was to join the bodgers, basket makers and blacksmiths at the second of the rural craft fairs. Flanked by the swing boats and racing ferrets (honest) on the hottest September day we did a roaring trade and all manner of things that have been gathering dust for a long time, finally went. This was also the only show of the year when we didn't come back with boxes of anyone else's valuable merchandise!

This year quite a lot of electrical goods have come in but with tighter controls by Trading Standards, we are unfortunately unable to sell them. A shop run by British Heart Foundation is due to open very soon locally selling renovated furniture and electrical appliances so I have passed the items on. I hope this is acceptable to anyone who has donated them to SCARS.

Thanks must go to Dave Smallshaw who has joined us at most events this year and to Ann who helped me at St Helens on what felt like the hottest Friday ever.

Above: The SCARS' stall groaning under the weight of goods donated by members and supporters.

Below: The new SCARS' mug, commissioned to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the opening of the Navigation. This is the third mug which we have brought out. It features the "Eustace Carey", the Society's logo. This large Mersey flat was launched sideways into the canal at Sankey Bridges in 1905. Its remains lie on the banks of the Mersey at Spike Island, Widnes. The mug will be on sale at all the events we attend in 2007, and at our monthly Members' evenings, price just £2.50p.

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