Anyone who follows me on social media can’t fail to have noticed my recent obsession with Campbell Wharf here in Milton Keynes, which has just become our new home as of mid February!
We’re delighted to be living in the newest block in the Crest development, with an amazing view of the Grand Union Canal and Campbell Wharf Marina, as well as being right on the doorstep of both Campbell Park and Willen Lake. It really is the perfect location for a photographer to be based, especially now I’ve launched my new Campbell Park Photography Workshops . . .
Part of the process of embracing ‘canalside living’ has been to think more about how we might get out on the water ourselves. And having started to research the options, I was excited to find out about Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust’s new project to launch a Milton Keynes ‘Community Boat’ in late spring/early summer 2021 - which will operate out of Campbell Wharf. She is called Electra, and will be a brand-new 12-guest, 54-foot electric narrowboat, offering public cruises and private charters on the Grand Union Canal, all fully accessible of course.
It didn’t take too much research to discover the story behind the project, and you can find out more for yourself here. Most notably, the purpose of the initiative is not only to provide a brilliant new facility for Milton Keynes’ residents, but also to generate funds for Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust - which is the charity behind the planned creation of a nationally recognised Waterway Park linking Bedford and Milton Keynes, one end of which will be right next to Campbell Wharf Marina.
This being the case, the Electra team is made up entirely of volunteers, and so it was an easy decision to offer my services as resident photographer - to help the team raise awareness of the initiative, and to promote the new cruises and charters once they are available this summer.
It’s a fabulous project to be working on, and one that is very close to my heart, as a new resident of Campbell Wharf, and a longstanding advocate of everything Milton Keynes. I’m looking forward to sharing the images as I take them – starting with Electra being craned into the water sometime in late April, which should be quite a sight to see.
I'm also delighted to be working alongside two brilliant industry colleagues - Amanda Wright from Yellow Yoyo who created the original branding for Electra, and Bhavini Lakhani from B81 Designs, who will be looking after all of the graphic design work from here on. Now we just need someone to oversee the marketing activity for Electra as a whole, and also one or more people to help out on the social media side, and we will be sorted!
If you’d like to know more on those roles, please email the Volunteer Chair of the ‘MK Community Boat Electra’ Management Team - jane.wolfson@bmkwaterway.org. Thank you.