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It was in the spring of 1979 that a group Sefton
Councillors, Officers and other interested people decided to acquire a narrow
boat for use on the Leeds to Liverpool canal to serve for the disabled people
living in the borough of Sefton, whether they be disabled by reason of age,
infirmity, physical or mental disability or social deprivation. The Leeds to
Liverpool canal threads its way along the boundary of Sefton, opening up an
avenue to the wild and beautiful moorlands of Lancashire and Yorkshire.
The narrow boat project was in recognition of 1979 as
being the International Year of the Child. Also with the scale of the scheme, it
was agreed that this should be associated with the International Year of the
Disabled.
In the summer of 1980, with the encouragement of the
social services, a voluntary group was established with the sole purpose
of acquiring and managing a narrow boat, and a public appeal was started in
December 1980, Contributions were received from many individuals and
organisations within the Sefton borough. The width of the canal gave the
opportunity of having a boat considerably wider than the traditional narrow boat
and this is especially advantageous for the accommodation of severely physically
handicapped passengers.
In the years following, the Pride of Sefton
travelled in excess of 7,000 miles and carried in excess of 11,000 handicapped
passengers along the scenic route of the Leeds to Liverpool canal free of
charge.
The Pride of Sefton is docked at Haskayne
next to the Teapot Cottage
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