This last Autumn/Winter has been action packed for C/SRS Wakeful. Alongside long-loved traditions, they branched into new events, picked up plenty of new skills, and had a few adventures along the way. Here’s a round-up of what the Crew has been getting up to over the past few months!
Kicking Off the Year: The Pizza Quiz!
As always, the crew welcomed in the new year the Wakeful way – with their annual pizza quiz. Points are awards and allocated towards the base, sauce, cheese, and a variety of toppings. Meaning you can build you pizza depending on the number of points won. It’s a lovely, fun-packed way to kick the year off, and has always been very popular.
Wassailing at Dapdune Wharf
This year, the crew helped out at a new event for the National Trust’s Dapdune Wharf…their first Wassail event! It was a huge amount of fun. The crew helped make willow harts, shaker sticks with bells and ribbons, and temporary tattoos. The Pilgrim Morris Dancers and Wakeful Crew Skipper Julie led the procession to the orchard, where a rhyme to the apple tree was shouted. To end the evening, the crew enjoyed some mulled apple juice, popcorn, and marshmallows over a campfire.
Boat Work and Decorating the Changing Room
Back at the boathouse, the crew set about ‘rehoming’ many huge spiders and with a variety of colours the girls set about decorating their changing room. The crew also varnished the oars and boats ready for the Summer boating season. Loads of new skills were learnt, and fun was definitely had by all!
Moving Pilot to the Dry Dock
This year, Wakeful’s narrowboat Pilot needed to have a full survey. This meant her having an appointment in the dry dock in Pyrford. A team was gathered to take her down on what turned out to be a gloriously sunny day. Seeing her in the dry dock was interesting, but showed up a lot of work that will need some costly attention.
First Aid Skills
Wakeful Officers updated their first aid skills in readiness for up-and-coming Duke of Edinburgh training. A great weekend was had by Officers down at Chichester, as they practiced outdoor first said skills using some realistic body pieces for the scenarios.
Basingstoke Canal Festival
Finally, the crew were invited to help at the Basingstoke Canal Festival where a new electric visitor’s boat was launched. The crew ran some children’s activities and drew the crowds in with their big bubbles!
Its been a busy and varied winter for C/SRS Wakeful, full of tradition, new experiences, hard work, and plenty of fun along the way. Here’s to a great boating season ahead!
Fancy Joining Us?
If reading about our winter activities has left you wondering what it’s like to be part of the crew, why not come and find out for yourself? Whether you’d like to learn new skills, get afloat, or join in with the fun, we’d love to hear from you.
To find out more about joining Wakeful, please contact Julie Johnson at chairman@searangers.org.uk
