Shelterboat sails again

With Rotarian Paul Weatherill at the helm, Shelterboat has now completed its second epic voyage to raise awareness of, and funds for, the Shelterbox Charity. This time Paul sailed the vessel along the length of the river Avon, a three-day trip from Stratford-Upon-Avon to Tewkesbury.

The Shelterboat is a somewhat precarious home-made dinghy, built around a Shelterbox whereby the sailor has to sit in the box to sail the boat. For this journey, we were supported by a number of Rotary clubs along the river, namely Stratford-Upon-Avon, Alcester & Bidford, Evesham, Evesham Vale, Pershore, and Tewkesbury Rotary Clubs. Our friends at these clubs gave Paul a lot of support on his journey, as well as arranging receptions and information displays along the route. The Evesham rowing regatta was even halted for a short while to enable Shelterboat to make its stately way along the event course.

Shelterboat, with Paul safely, if rather uncomfortably on board, was launched at Stratford-Upon-Avon Boat Club by the town's mayor, Gill Cleeve early on Saturday 29th April 2023. Paul was accompanied by a support crew in a dinghy, a mechanic in the form of fellow Watton Rotarian Paul Chubbock, who followed by car. Rotary members were on hand to operate the 16 locks which had to be navigated along the 43 mile route. The weather was mostly kind to Paul as he sailed the length of the river, and the journey went to schedule throughout, until it was completed on Monday 2nd May at the American Gardens outside Tewkesbury Town Hall.

The journey was undertaken to raise awareness and funds for the Shelterbox charity. This international charity was formed in the UK by Rotarians to provide emergency shelter and the means to survive for families who find themselves in disaster zones around the world, whether that is through natural disasters or human conflict.

A Shelterbox is basically a large plastic box, containing among other things, a tent which will accommodate a family of ten, cooking utensils and stove, blankets and a water purifier. These are delivered directly to where they are needed with the help of the worldwide network of Rotary Clubs.

 You can make a donation in support of Paul's Shelterboat 2 voyage by following this link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/shelterboat2