Bon voyage!

Sailing into retirement . . . Alwyn Ogborn with the barge he built

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Living the dream on self-built barge

LIFE on the waterways beckons for Mossley couple Alwyn and Joan Ogborn who sold up lock, stock and barrel and are now living on a 55ft Dutch barge.

The couple have lived on the barge — named Itchy Feet — in the yard of Alwyn’s former business since last December.

Alwyn began building his dreamboat almost five years ago, at the yard of his business, Battery Cat Ltd, in Waggon Road, bottom Mossley.

He had to fit construction of the barge in between work as an electrical engineer until he retired 18 months ago and could concentrate on his project full-time.

But his estimates were way out.

“We are so far behind it’s untrue,” he said. “The launch which should have happened in the summer of 2008 has only just taken place. I started canalling in 1956 and I’ve had a narrowboat for 25 years, but doing it full-time is something I have always fancied,” added Alwyn.

When a huge crane arrived at Alwyn’s workyard to hoist the monster vessel on to a wagon ahead of the launch, it was clear to the brave couple that this was no longer a dream.

Mr Ogborn explained how setting sail on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal was out of the question because the boat is simply too big. Instead, it was lowered into the Bridgewater Canal at Monton, Eccles.

The couple plan to spend two years cruising around Britain’s canals before taking to the high seas in a six-hour crossing of the English Channel to explore the waterways of France.

Keen to embark on their adventure, Alwyn said the prospect was terrific, but admitted to feeling slightly apprehensive.

Alwyn described their life ahead as “continuous cruising” and said they had the full support of their family — the nine children they have between them, as well as more than 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Many of them gathered to see the vessel leave Mossley. It took almost two hours to load, ahead of a one-hour journey and another couple of hours to swing it into the water.

The couple intend to keep in touch with their friends and family by e-mail and Alwyn said he hopes to be able to continue editing Huddersfield Canal Society’s magazine, Pennine Link.

Alwyn, who has also sold his car, said: “In future I’m sticking to the waterways and trains. It’s going to be wonderful.”