A Hunton Bridge narrowboat charity was visited by HRH Princess Royal today.

Princess Anne visited South West Herts Narrowboat Project in Old Bridge Road to see the work of the volunteers who have maintained the narrowboats.

South West Herts Narrowboat Project is a charity run by volunteers and aims to provide narrowboats to youth and community groups.

The daughter of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip was greeted by members and trustees of the project.

Watford Observer:

She was then introduced to representatives from Starline Marine, who were responsible for the building and refurbishment of the boats on display at Grand Union Canal and Gareth Humphreys, the partner responsible at Morrisons Solicitors for part of the funds that refurbished the first boat and the building of the second.  

Peter Lincoln, chairman of the trustees at South West Herts Narrowboat Project said: "It was really good. She was such a down to earth person. It does make life so much easier"

He added: "The amount of knowledge she has about boats is really good."

Watford Observer:

Princess Royal was then escorted by Mr Lincoln, onto Pickles Folly, which was refitted in 2012 to allow disabled users to access the boat, before meeting six children from Bushey Meads School, Coldharbour Lane, Bushey.

Lee Keogh, aged 12, from Bushey Meads School presented Her Royal Highness with a posy and is the first wheelchair user to travel on one of the narrowboats. All the children invited have been on a narrowboat before and Princess Anne asked them about their experiences while onboard.

Hilary Morawska, acting head teacher at Bushey Meads School said: "We were delighted to be invited."

The schoolchildren had written a letter about their experiences on a narrowboat to Princess Anne after she could not attend the same location last October when she was due to open a rebuilt wharf and name the new narrowboat.

Watford Observer:

Gareth Humphreys, Partner at Morrisons Solicitors praised Princess Anne for taking time to talk to everyone involved with the project.

He said: "This has been a very delightful day. It’s delighting that she spent so much time talking to the volunteers and children who are associated with it."