The Association recently presented a cheque for £500 to Paige Hyde (founder of the group to save the Wye Princess river boat), and Ralph English ( Chairman of the Community Charity set up to renovate and maintain The Wye Princess.) The money was donated from the H&DAA Charity fund. Money is accrued in this fund each year as the result of match anglers fishing the annual Joe Burrows Charity match which takes place in September with monies raised going to local charities.
The presentation was made by the H&DAA liason officer Paul (Percy) Bristow on behalf of the Association and took place at the Golden Wake Tap Room. The money will go towards kitting out the boat when it is hopefully launched later this year. She is a boat that had sailed down the Wye, starting her life in Symonds Yat as Kingfisher, before coming to the Wye in Hereford and becoming part of Cathedral Cruises. She was renamed after the end of the Cathedral Cruises as the Wye Princess and remained in a dilapidated state on the Wye beside the Saracens Head pub before Paige set up a group a few years ago to restore the boat and use it primarily to take disadvantaged children and adults on trips up and down the river.
Paul Bristow presenting the cheque to Paige Hyde
Below is how this project came about :
This is the inspiring story of Paige, a young girl with a dream, and The Wye Princess, a once-rusty hulk of a boat. It’s about how one teenager’s determination and the unending support of friends and volunteers are turning that dream into reality.
The Story Begins
The Wye Princess was built in the 1960s by Jet Taylor and initially operated under the name Kingfisher by Kingfisher Cruises at Symonds Yat. She faced numerous challenges, including floating downriver over rapids after breaking free from her moorings. Eventually, she was sold to Dennis of Cathedral Cruises in Hereford. Over time, the business ceased, and the Princess was left alone and uncared for in the River Wye.
Paige’s Connection
Enter Paige, a thirteen-year-old from Herefordshire, who found solace in the Princess during a difficult time in early 2022. Inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean, Paige felt a deep connection to the struggling boat, seeing it as a reflection of her own battles. She vowed to save the Princess and help others in need through this vessel.
The Journey of Restoration
With a social media post, Paige rallied a team of volunteers, and the restoration began. Despite challenges, including a flooding river in October 2023, the Princess stood strong. Now, Paige and her team are holding fundraising events to complete the restoration and set up a charity aimed at providing pleasure cruises on the Wye for disadvantaged individuals in Herefordshire.
The Wye Princess Charity
The charity supports Paige’s mission to offer river cruises to those facing hardship. With a dedicated team of volunteers and three trustees, including Paige’s grandfather, the charity is poised to make a difference in the community. Paige is preparing to step into a leadership role herself when she is older.
Get Involved
If you want to learn more about The Wye Princess, support the charity, or get involved, please contact us at info@wyeprincess.co.uk. Together, we can create unforgettable experiences for those who need them most.
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