Narrowboat company marks milestone

The boat's original owner, John James, was given it as a present by his father to enable him to raise some extra money to put him through art school.

Guide Sara Macdiarmid, 54, of Clifton Villas, Little Venice, has worked aboard the boat for ten years and is excited about what the future holds, as the areas the trips pass through have changed considerably since the boat's first voyage.

She said: "Both Little Venice and Camden were completely different to how they are now, as they used to be very industrial.

"When the business started it was catering to local people but now the majority of our passengers are tourists."

The boat's 45-minute journey from Little Venice to Camden Lock has not changed over the past 60 years, although the once popular tradition of sitting on its roof is no longer possible.

Jason, the 72ft narrowboat, is the same one used on the first journey, and was built in 1906.

However, the diesel engine installed in the early 1960s has replaced the horse which would once have pulled the boat.

Other companies now provide a similar service but the original business is still going strong, carrying thousands of people each year.

Sara said: "Jason's Trip really put it in people's minds that the canals could be used for pleasure.

"There did not used to be anyone travelling along the canals and now there is a whole community on the water."

This week will be the last that the boat is in service before it is sent for maintenance and docked until the first Saturday of April.