Goole’s Bicentenary Flotilla Participants

Goole's Bicentenary Flotilla

Participating Craft

2026 Flotilla

The Knottingley to Goole Canal, the docks and embryonic town of Goole was opened for business in grand style on 20 July 1826. The owners, Aire and Calder Navigation Company, wanted to ensure that their investment was recognised, both locally and nationally, as a major step forward which would have major benefits for industry and commerce in Yorkshire.

Newspaper reports from that time describe a flotilla of 50 vessels making their way down the new canal from Ferrybridge. They were accompanied by “bands of music”, and flew flags of all nations. They were met at Goole that afternoon by throngs of cheering spectators despite the rainy weather that day.

To celebrate Goole’s 200th birthday YWHS wanted to emulate what happened two hundred years earlier by running a flotilla of vessels from the canal into and around Goole Docks. Tide times dictated that the flotilla could be safely run on the afternoon of Saturday 18 July 2026. After over two years of planning, twenty five vessels of varying shapes and sizes assembled into a convoy in the part of the canal known as the Dog and Duck. Accompanied by music, with horns sounding and flags flying, they set off into Goole Docks, watched by up to 1,000 spectators at public locations around the docks. History was being made!

When historians look back at what occurred in Goole that day we want them to be able to easily recognise the vessels and participants which took part in the Flotilla plus the organisations which contributed to the event in any shape or form. While it was YWHS who took the lead in organising the Flotilla, it was the sum of contributions from many sources, especially the boaters, which allowed it to become such a success.

Participants in the Flotilla

Twenty five vessels were able to join the Flotilla on the day. Sadly others were forced to miss the event through a range of  circumstances which boaters will recognise, from engine problems to a silted up lock. 

1. Little Kirkby, skippered by Commodore Karl Acaster, was lead vessel. She is a working tug and also undertakes dredging at locations around the region. Photograph by Malcom Best.
2. Hyde Aweigh, skippered by Dean Hyde, Chairman of the Boating Association, was the ideal vessel to host the Flotilla guests. The Chairman of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Linda Johnson and her consort Graham Johnson, the Lord Mayor of Kingston upon Hull and Admiral of the Humber, Councillor Maria Coward and her consort Jon Laugley were joined by Deputy Lieutenant for the East Riding of Yorkshire, Colonel David Fuller. A very enjoyable time was had by all. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
3. Heather Rose H is a 39m long working barge. She was skippered on the day by owner Kevin Hornshaw. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
4. Sectan is a Sheffield sized barge which has been converted and is now the home of skipper Darren Hobson. She was originally owned by Richard Hodgson and Sons Ltd, tanners of Beverley. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
5. Pauline, a west country sized keel skippered by owner John Hayden, was easily the oldest vessel in the Flotilla. She had been built of iron by a Goole shipbuilder for the Aire and Calder Navigation Company in 1869. She had acted as a flyboat, carrying cargoes for customers who needed "express" delivery. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
6 Cloch is a former pilot cutter. She had been lying in the Knottingley - Goole Canal while her owner carried out some work on her. Her fine lines had caught the attention of YWHS volunteer Malcolm Broadhead, who recognised her from his days at sea. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
7. Alpha is a working crane boat which used to be owned by British Waterways. She was regularly seen around Goole Docks and is skippered by James Dean who had made the trip from Hull to take part in the Flotilla. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
8. Itchy Feet, skippered by Peter Appleyard, is a Branson designed Dutch barge, built in Dudley. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
9. Reiger is a Dutch barge, skippered by Andrew Brett. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
10. Cygnus is a 60ft modern replica of an Edwardian gentleman's motor vessel, built in Thorne, Her owner Joe Bourke was at the helm. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
11. Gypsy Rose is a Katherine style Dutch barge built in 2012 by her skipper, John Ascough. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
12. Bellianer is an ex-ship's lifeboat which had been converted to a cruiser. Her lines give away her origin. She was skippered on the Flotilla by owner Malcolm Bell. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
13. Consort is an original Freeman 27 Classic cruiser and was skippered at the Flotilla by Peter and Julia Thompson. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
14. Cool Jazz is a Freeman 27 cruiser with a single screw, skippered by Michael Craddy. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
15. Creevelea is a Freeman 33 Sports cruiser skippered by Nigel Shaw. She was one of the three prize winners in the Best Dressed Boat competition. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
16. Woodfree is a Freeman 33 cruiser skippered by Iain Harvey-Ashenhurst. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
17. Bandalero Tug 27 is a young boat, built in Sheffield by Jonathan Wilson in 2023 she was brought to Goole for fitting out. She was skippered on the day by Philip Walsh. Maybe the pirate hats made the difference helping her crew win the Best Dressed Boat competition. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
18. New Adventures is a 39ft narrowboat, with skipper Mark Marshall under the pram cover. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
19. Robin is a 57ft Jonathan Wilson, Sheffield built cruiser stern narrow boat. Skippered here by Jason Foster. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
20. Tadpole is a 30ft narrowboat, built by Shropshire boat builders in 1993. She is moored at Goole Marina. Tom Tinkler is at the helm. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
21. Little Shuva is another tug, skippered by Graham Acaster. She took station at the back of the flotilla. Who would have thought a tug could perform doughnuts! Photograph by Malcolm Best.
22. The Humberside Police launch under coxswain Emma Beck, had two roles to play. This was our safety boat which would quickly respond to any emergency on water or land but also carried Goole's Mayor Councillor Kevin Flynn and his consort, granddaughter Rosie Anne Flynn. They had a journey "never to be forgotten!"
23. Humberside Police jet skis. Two constables were given free rein to show onlookers how their craft could perform. Photograph by Malcolm Best.
24. Humber Sounder is one of ABP's survey vessels. Her role was to provide standby support to the Flotilla. Photograph by Peter Appleyard.

Source of the images

The photographs in this collection will each show the name of the photographer. They were all taken on the evening before or on the day of the Flotilla. Our Beth Martin of Beth Martin’s Photography was commissioned to take shots of the flotilla from a number of different locations, which she did very successfully with the aid of a bicycle.

Our long time volunteer Malcolm Best was part of our team stationed at NW Trading on the opposite side of the canal from the coal hoist. 

We will be adding further photographs as they become available.

If you can add to any of those descriptions please contact us using the form at the bottom of this page.

Hover your cursor over the photograph and you will see a short title. Click on the photograph and you should see a larger version with more information.

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