Sep 25, 2018
Ray Butler is a folk singer, he is also a canal and narrowboat enthusiast. Invisible Folk Club host Jon Bickley and producer Steve Yarwood traveled to the Grand Union Canal at Harefield (Borough of London) excited at the prospect of a first field recording. Or to be completely accurate it was a waterborne recording!
Ray welcomed us aboard Pisces and we sat in the small cabin at
the rear of the boat listening his unaccompanied songs about the
lives and times of hard working boatmen. Between songs Ray took us
through a fascinating history of British canals. As well as the
singing and conversation we also captured the ambient sounds of a
stretch of canal still used by working boats.
The narrowboat Pisces was built in Northwich (Cheshire) by WJ
Yarwood & Sons in 1935. In 1942 she was requisitioned by the
Ministry of War Transport as a fire boat based in the Surrey
Commercial Docks. Since the mid 60s she has been owned by the
London Borough of Hillingdon as a youth outreach facility and
latterly the Hillingdon Narrowboats Association for leisure
activities.
For more info visit the Hillingdon Narrowboats Association website
http://www.hna.org.uk/. While
you're there check the details of the Grand Charity Concert on
October 13th 2018 to mark 50 years community service by Pisces.
For general canal information https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/