This is the story of a young girl and a boat. It\u2019s the story of an inspirational teenager and her dream of helping others. It\u2019s how she found peace through a rusting hulk of a small boat and through hard work, determination and the unending support of friends and helpers, her dream is becoming a reality. The Wye Princess was built in the 1960s in Gloucestershire by a man who I think was called Jet Taylor. She was first running up in Symonds Yat through a business called Kingfisher Cruises. But Wye Princess hasn\u2019t always been her name. She was originally called Kingfisher. She\u2019s had her share of mishaps. One day while she was at Symonds Yat she ended up floating down the river over rapids after breaking free from her moorings. After losing the boat, the owners decided it was best to buy bigger boats to keep their business operating. Around two years later the Princess mysteriously reappeared and the owners decided to sell it to a man called Dennis who was running a business in Hereford called Cathedral Cruises with a boat he already owned, The Wye Queen. Over time the business stopped operating but the Princess remained in the river Wye, and alone and uncared for. This is where Paige came in. Paige is thirteen years old and lives in Herefordshire. This is her story in her own words \u2026\u2026..so far.<\/p>
\u201cIn early 2022 I became fascinated and inspired by the film Pirates of the Caribbean and every time I saw the boat in the water I would joke that the Princess was my boat. But that joke later turned into a real interest. I was feeling really down at the time and felt a real connection to the Princess. She was struggling too; I could see her fighting against the strong current of the Wye. She was a battler, though, and I knew I could help her and through her, others who were struggling or needed help. This boat was alone, as I felt I was, but every time I went to see the Princess I felt safe, free, it was like a second home looking and talking to her. I promised the Princess I would save her as she had saved me, and become the wonderful boat I knew she could be, helping others as she had helped me.<\/p>
The journey began; I put something on social media, people offered help and today we have a wonderful team of volunteers working to restore the Princess to her former glory. A worrying time came in October 2023 when the river began to flood and I thought the boat would be pulled under water; only weeks after the team had managed to get her floating once more. But she surprised us and stood up against the flood. I was so relieved.<\/p>
We\u2019re not done yet though. We\u2019re holding fund raising events to help pay for the restoration, we\u2019ve set up a charity and are looking for organisations who might benefit from the Princess once she\u2019s in full working order. It\u2019s a fantastic project and I\u2019m so lucky to have the support of wonderful friends, supporters and family.\u201d<\/p>
The Wye Princess Charity<\/strong><\/p> The charity has been set up to help guide Paige in mission to help those who might benefit from a pleasure cruise on the Wye. The aim is to help people in our Herefordshire community who, for whatever reason, are disadvantaged or suffering hardship and would benefit from a trip on a beautiful river in a truly wonderful little vessel. The charity has a number of member volunteers and three trustees, one of whom is Paige\u2019s grandfather, looking after her interests until she\u2019s old enough to step into the role herself.<\/p>"},"textColor":{"id":119575825,"value":"#{feature.text.color}"}}}],"properties":{"direction":{"id":119575707,"value":"column"},"icon":{"id":119575708,"value":null},"title":{"id":119575709,"value":null},"textColor":{"id":119575710,"value":"#{feature.text.color}"},"backgroundColor":{"id":119575711,"value":"#{feature.background.color}"},"buttonText":{"id":119575712,"value":null},"copy":{"id":119575713,"value":" This is the story of a young girl and a boat. It\u2019s the story of an inspirational teenager and her dream of helping others. It\u2019s how she found peace through a rusting hulk of a small boat and through hard work, determination and the unending support of friends and helpers, her dream is becoming a reality. The Wye Princess was built in the 1960s in Gloucestershire by a man who I think was called Jet Taylor. She was first running up in Symonds Yat through a business called Kingfisher Cruises. But Wye Princess hasn\u2019t always been her name. She was originally called Kingfisher. She\u2019s had her share of mishaps. One day while she was at Symonds Yat she ended up floating down the river over rapids after breaking free from her moorings. After losing the boat, the owners decided it was best to buy bigger boats to keep their business operating. Around two years later the Princess mysteriously reappeared and the owners decided to sell it to a man called Dennis who was running a business in Hereford called Cathedral Cruises with a boat he already owned, The Wye Queen. Over time the business stopped operating but the Princess remained in the river Wye, and alone and uncared for. This is where Paige came in. Paige is thirteen years old and lives in Herefordshire. This is her story in her own words \u2026\u2026..so far.<\/p> \u201cIn early 2022 I became fascinated and inspired by the film Pirates of the Caribbean and every time I saw the boat in the water I would joke that the Princess was my boat. But that joke later turned into a real interest. I was feeling really down at the time and felt a real connection to the Princess. She was struggling too; I could see her fighting against the strong current of the Wye. She was a battler, though, and I knew I could help her and through her, others who were struggling or needed help. This boat was alone, as I felt I was, but every time I went to see the Princess I felt safe, free, it was like a second home looking and talking to her. I promised the Princess I would save her as she had saved me, and become the wonderful boat I knew she could be, helping others as she had helped me.<\/p> The journey began; I put something on social media, people offered help and today we have a wonderful team of volunteers working to restore the Princess to her former glory. A worrying time came in October 2023 when the river began to flood and I thought the boat would be pulled under water; only weeks after the team had managed to get her floating once more. But she surprised us and stood up against the flood. I was so relieved.<\/p> We\u2019re not done yet though. We\u2019re holding fund raising events to help pay for the restoration, we\u2019ve set up a charity and are looking for organisations who might benefit from the Princess once she\u2019s in full working order. It\u2019s a fantastic project and I\u2019m so lucky to have the support of wonderful friends, supporters and family.\u201d<\/p> The Wye Princess Charity<\/strong><\/p> The charity has been set up to help guide Paige in mission to help those who might benefit from a pleasure cruise on the Wye. The aim is to help people in our Herefordshire community who, for whatever reason, are disadvantaged or suffering hardship and would benefit from a trip on a beautiful river in a truly wonderful little vessel. The charity has a number of member volunteers and three trustees, one of whom is Paige\u2019s grandfather, looking after her interests until she\u2019s old enough to step into the role herself.<\/p>"},"template":{"id":119575714,"value":"feature"},"padding":{"id":119575715,"value":"6"},"fullWidth":{"id":119575716,"value":"0"},"fullBackgroundColor":{"id":119575717,"value":"#{feature.fullBackground.color}"},"published":{"id":119575718,"value":"1"},"conditions":{"id":119575719,"value":"[]"}}},{"id":4795079,"type":"row","published":1,"size":{"x":12,"y":0},"order":2,"items":[{"id":4795080,"type":"pod","published":1,"size":{"x":12,"y":0},"order":0,"items":[],"properties":{"title":{"id":119575839,"value":null},"copy":{"id":119575840,"value":null},"image":{"id":119575842,"value":"{\"src\":\"https:\\\/\\\/images.podos.io\\\/itqhl8e3wmwfrhq8x1klowxturlyi40zhj7u6mtgf5veflnn.jpeg.jpg?w=auto&h=auto&fy=0.63305042436345\",\"alt\":\"\"}"},"href":{"id":119575854,"value":null},"borderRadius":{"id":119575855,"value":"#{image.border.radius}"},"overlay":{"id":119575857,"value":"1"},"overlayOpacity":{"id":119575858,"value":"0"},"overlayColors":{"id":119575859,"value":null},"overlayDirection":{"id":119575860,"value":"90"},"padding":{"id":119575863,"value":"6"},"fullWidth":{"id":119575864,"value":"0"},"fullBackgroundColor":{"id":119575865,"value":"#fff0"},"published":{"id":119575866,"value":"1"},"conditions":{"id":119575867,"value":"[]"},"ratio":{"id":119575868,"value":"short"},"titleSize":{"id":119575869,"value":"1"},"media":{"id":119579456,"value":"image"},"video":{"id":119579457,"value":"#{video.default}"},"autoplayInBackground":{"id":119579458,"value":"1"},"template":{"id":119579459,"value":"pod"}}},{"id":4795198,"type":"textBlock","published":1,"size":{"x":12,"y":0},"order":1,"items":[],"properties":{"padding":{"id":119579460,"value":"2"},"html":{"id":119579461,"value":" We have partnered with Teemill to provide good quality sustainable clothing for the supporters of our charity. all the proceeds go directly to help get the Wye Princess back on the River Wye and provide trips for the disadvantaged in the community. Please support us.<\/p>"},"textColor":{"id":119579462,"value":"#{feature.text.color}"}}}],"properties":{"icon":{"id":119575827,"value":null},"title":{"id":119575828,"value":"Our Values"},"backgroundColor":{"id":119575830,"value":"#{feature.background.color}"},"padding":{"id":119575834,"value":"6"},"fullWidth":{"id":119575835,"value":"0"},"fullBackgroundColor":{"id":119575836,"value":"#{feature.fullBackground.color}"},"published":{"id":119575837,"value":"1"},"conditions":{"id":119575838,"value":"[]"},"direction":{"id":119579451,"value":"column"},"textColor":{"id":119579452,"value":"#{feature.text.color}"},"buttonText":{"id":119579453,"value":null},"copy":{"id":119579454,"value":" We have partnered with Teemill to provide good quality sustainable clothing for the supporters of our charity. all the proceeds go directly to help get the Wye Princess back on the River Wye and provide trips for the disadvantaged in the community. Please support us.<\/p>"},"template":{"id":119579455,"value":"feature"}}},{"id":4795082,"type":"banner","published":1,"size":{"x":12,"y":0},"order":3,"items":[],"properties":{"type":{"id":119575873,"value":"slim"},"title":{"id":119575874,"value":"About our Charity"},"copy":{"id":119575875,"value":"Read about what we are trying to achieve"},"titleColor":{"id":119575876,"value":"#{banner.title.color}"},"titleBackground":{"id":119575877,"value":"#{banner.title.background.color}"},"copyColor":{"id":119575878,"value":"#{banner.copy.color}"},"copyBackground":{"id":119575879,"value":"#{banner.copy.background.color}"},"contentWidth":{"id":119575880,"value":"95%"},"textShadow":{"id":119575881,"value":"#{banner.text.shadow}"},"borderRadius":{"id":119575882,"value":"0px"},"buttonBorderRadius":{"id":119575883,"value":"#{button.border.radius}"},"buttonBackgroundColor":{"id":119575884,"value":"#{button.primary.color}"},"buttonStyle":{"id":119575885,"value":"secondary"},"buttonSize":{"id":119575886,"value":"standard"},"overlayOpacity":{"id":119575887,"value":"0.15"},"overlayColourStart":{"id":119575888,"value":"#000000"},"overlayColourEnd":{"id":119575889,"value":"#000000"},"overlayDirection":{"id":119575890,"value":"90"},"image":{"id":119575891,"value":"{\"src\":\"https:\\\/\\\/images.podos.io\\\/ezs6bkeqcrnc15lwbpqwqdwyajowkfecbuttqbv28ma8gmig.jpeg.jpg?w=auto&h=auto&fy=0.40360963785957\",\"alt\":\"\"}"},"video":{"id":119575892,"value":null},"videoThumbnail":{"id":119575893,"value":null},"media":{"id":119575894,"value":"image"},"align":{"id":119575895,"value":"center"},"verticalAlignment":{"id":119575896,"value":"center"},"font":{"id":119575897,"value":"#{heading1.font}"},"actions":{"id":119575898,"value":"[{\"text\":\"Read Our Blog\",\"href\":\"\\\/blog\\\/making-the-river-wye-accessible-to-everyone\\\/\"}]"},"padding":{"id":119575900,"value":"6"},"fullWidth":{"id":119575901,"value":"1"},"fullBackgroundColor":{"id":119575902,"value":"#{banner.fullBackground.color}"},"published":{"id":119575903,"value":"1"},"conditions":{"id":119575904,"value":"[]"},"template":{"id":119582698,"value":"banner"}}},{"id":4795083,"type":"newsletterSubscribe","published":1,"size":{"x":12,"y":0},"order":4,"items":[],"properties":{"padding":{"id":119575905,"value":"6"},"spacing":{"id":119575906,"value":"64px"},"font":{"id":119575907,"value":"#{newsletter.title.font}"},"title":{"id":119575908,"value":"Don't miss out."},"copy":{"id":119575909,"value":"Don't miss out on the latest product launches and updates. Sign up to our newsletter"},"stacked":{"id":119575910,"value":"0"},"backgroundColor":{"id":119575911,"value":"#0000"},"textColor":{"id":119575912,"value":"#{newsletter.text.color}"},"primaryActions":{"id":119575913,"value":"0"},"formBorderRadius":{"id":119575914,"value":"#{form.border.radius}"},"buttonBorderRadius":{"id":119575915,"value":"#{button.border.radius}"},"borderRadius":{"id":119575916,"value":"#{newsletter.border.radius}"},"mailingList":{"id":119575917,"value":69393},"template":{"id":119575918,"value":"newsletterSubscribe"},"fullWidth":{"id":119575919,"value":"0"},"fullBackgroundColor":{"id":119575920,"value":"#{newsletter.fullBackground.color}"},"published":{"id":119575921,"value":"1"},"conditions":{"id":119575922,"value":"[]"}}}],"properties":{"title":{"id":119575662,"value":"About"},"isStorePage":{"id":119575663,"value":"1"},"ogImage":{"id":119575664,"value":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/5mxyvb2giiwuuaugxtub5glbrsnfvlwksiuw8nnfigk1zdhi.jpeg.jpg?w=1200&h=auto"}},"labels":[],"published":1,"sitemap":1,"divisionId":417489,"edited":true}A Boat, A Girl and a Charity<\/h2>
Sustainable clothing to support our Charity<\/h2>
Sustainable clothing to support our Charity<\/h2>