2002 Slough Canal Festival Saturday & Sunday, 7th & 8th September Bloom Park, Slough 12 noon to 5pm FREE ADMISSION!

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Welcome THIS year, the Slough Canal Festival celebrates the 120th anniversary of the Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal. Spanning two days, this years festival promises to be a festival to be remembered for both canal enthusiasts and local residents alike. At the festival, the history of the canal can be discovered as we celebrate the 'launch' of the first website to be dedicated to the history and heritage of this unique waterway. And on this page we take a brief look at just one aspect of the canal's history, the now familiar annual canal festival.

At the time of last updating this web page, over XX narrow boats had reserved their mooring at the festival. Other events and exhibitors include:- On both days... boat trips refreshments play marquee balloon modelling face painting canal arts and crafts displays from British Waterways and the IWA refreshments games and competitions

Also, on Sunday... pony rides Punch and Judy shows Morris dancers canal songs and stories falconry, eagle and vulture displays canoeists hair braiding steam engines beer marquee the Dulux dog

Festival History Left: Slough Canal Group stand at the then named 'Boat Rally', Bowyers Field, Slough Setember 7 1974. Photograph by kind permission of M.A. Timms. The canal running through and terminating in Slough is very much as it was 40 years ago, but without a dark cloud hanging over it. In 1968, Slough Council were looking into the idea of buying the last one-and-a-quarter miles of the canal with the intention of filling it in to use it as part of a ring road from London Road to the Trading Estate. There followed what the Slough Observer were later to describe as "a period of activity which can scarcely have been equalled since the days when the canal was first built!" A group of committed local people banded together to form what became known as the Slough Canal Group to oppose the proposals and to publicise the case for developing the canal.

As a result, the Council commissioned a survey, which on publication in October 1971, concluded that the cost of £56,000 too high and recommended that this idea be dropped. The canal was saved, and shortly after, the Slough Canal Group decided to hold an annual Canal Festival, to both celebrate the victory and to raise awareness of the canal, it's roots and routes. In 1974, the festival was opened by British Waterways Board Chairman, Sir Frank Price. Arriving in the appropriately named narrow boat 'Slough', Sir Frank reminded the assembled crowd of the five year battle to save the canal. In the 70's, the festival was held on and alongside Bowyer Playing fields near the terminus of the canal in Stoke Road.

Above: BWB Chairman Sir Frank Price arrives at the then named 'Boat Rally', Bowyers Field, Slough Setember 7 1974 aboard N.B. Slough. Photograph by kind permission of M.A. Timms. Left: Slough's Mayor and Mayoress (John and Jane Merrils) perform 'the ceremonial tieing-up' of a narrow boat at The Wharf, Stoke Road, Slough June 5 1983. A year late, the ceremony was carried out to mark the previous years centenary of the Slough Arm. Photograph: The Slough Observer. The canal's centenary in 1982 was marked by a commemorative three day festival. This year's festival sees the 'launch' of the canal's own dedicated website and the possible re-formation of a Slough Canal Group.