Ripon Motor Boat Club: Meet the boating community keen to share their ‘Little island of paradise’

The club are extremely proud of their community and ‘buoyed’ by their shared enthusiasm for life afloat at the marina in Littlethorpe.

The beautiful rural Yorkshire setting just outside Ripon offers a warm welcome and maintains affordable family boating to members with its unique member-run, co-operative approach.

Established in 1931, the club is the oldest organisation in the North East of England and until 2002 was the most northerly point of the connected British canal system.

Community Reporter Natasha Audsley took a trip to meet Sylvia Coe, the Club Secretary whose 26 years on the water has not sunk her love for boat life.

She said: “It was before the internet when I arrived, I had no idea what I was coming to and I thought, wow! This place is paradise.

“It’s like a home from home, I’m not as agile now but I still take her out.

“My dad was always away at sea.

“He was an engineer on a coal ship before Margaret Thatcher closed the pits.

“I loved the sea from that point.

“I took a narrow boat down to London as I always wanted to do the same journey that my dad did.

“My husband was in the Royal Navy but it was me that wanted the boat.

“That was a long time ago now.

“We have a self-sustaining ethos that also strengthens the sense of community we have.”

A lady on her deckchair also shared her thoughts with the Natasha, she said: “I don't come from boats, my partner was ex-Merchant Navy, he had boats for 30 years.

“I wasn’t very keen, so I used to talk to people to get a few phrases to sound like I was.

“I love watching the men.

“They flock to the engines when there's a problem.”

Two years ago the lock was blocked but has since been repaired.

She added:”It’s such a beautiful part of North Yorkshire.

“Someone asked me why is everybody nice in Ripon? So I told her it was the green grass.

“We call this our little island of paradise.

“It has its own soap opera, people are from all over.”

The club is a non-profit organisation, all profits are used to maintain and improve facilities.

Its continued success depends on members participating in duties and maintenance activities that are arranged each year.

After a tour of the marina’s stunning waterways we sat down with ladies whose lifelong membership mirrored their shared love for the pace of life the boating community provides.

One such lady was one of only two women (including Sylvia Coe) who owned and captained their own boats.

She said: ”I used to go away for four months every year single handed and I was 87 years old last time I did it.

“I am 91 now.

“We go all over and enjoy what the area has to offer.

“There’s a huge social aspect and for some of us that have lost our partners, it’s what gives us life.”

To apply and visit the club follow this link: https://www.rmbc.org.uk/