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Canal-loving Poirot actor to open boat rally

Martin Heath
BBC News, Northamptonshire
Tim Coghlan Sir David Suchet with dark hair and beard wearing a dark-coloured cap and rdark-coloured jacket is at the stern of a narrowboat moving the tilled with one hand and waving with the other. There is a man in a light brown cap and a woman with white hair behind him. There is a painted water can on the roof of the boat alongside a chimney. The boat has colourful paintwork and the words REG AT DAVENTRY in white lettering on the side. The boat has just passed through an iron bridge painted in black and white.Tim Coghlan
Sir David Suchet opened the rally in 2018

Poirot actor Sir David Suchet and Lady Suchet will recreate the roles of working boat people when they open a historic boat rally.

Sir David will steer a 90-year-old motorised craft while Lady Suchet will be in charge of an unpowered butty at The Braunston Historic Narrowboat Show in Northamptonshire.

Tim Coghlan, who owns Braunston Marina, said: "We have already received an encouraging number of bookings, 70 so far - and they just keep coming.

"This could well be a vintage year, especially with the number of butties, which could reach a record."

The 2025 event is the 21st time it has taken place at Braunston Marina near Daventry.

The highlight is the procession of boats into the marina at 10:00 BST, thought to be the biggest display of historic craft anywhere on the inland waterways.

Both Sir David Suchet and Lady Sheila Suchet have opened the event before, but never together.

Tim Coghlan Lady Sheila is wearing a black cap, a red life jacket and a white top. She is holding a microphone while riding at the back of a boat which has just gone under a bridge with white railings. There are several people on the bridge, on which a sign saying BRAUNSTON HISTORIC BOAT SHOW is hanging.Tim Coghlan
Lady Sheila Suchet opened the rally in 2024

The actor best known for playing Agatha Christie's famous detective will steer a boat called Nuneaton in the procession, while dressed in traditional boatman's clothing

Lady Suchet will follow in the footsteps of boatmen's wives by piloting the butty Brighton, which will be towed by Nuneaton.

David Hawgood/Geograph A narrowboat painted in red with NUNEATON in white lettering on the front is lying alongside a much shorter craft similarly painted with the word BRIGHTON on the side. The boats have covered canopies at the front. There are people standing on the bank which is mostly grass with some stone steps up to a white waterside cottage.David Hawgood/Geograph
The boat Nuneaton and the butty Brighton will appear in the parade

Nuneaton was built in 1936 and carried loads between London and the Midlands.

Brighton, also constructed in 1936, was used for several years as a party boat but also carried gravel for a while and gained a reputation for sinking.

The Suchets will also stop at the marina's entrance bridge to rename it as Peter's Bridge, in tribute to the late Peter Andrews.

Mr Andrews gave £160,000 in his will towards the repair of the Horseley Ironworks structure.

Martin Heath/BBC Canal scene, showing several narrowboats. The boat nearest the camera is painted in red and green and has the word KIMBERLEY in white lettering on the side. There is a canopy at the front of the boat. There are three people at the back. There are two people wearing hi-vis vests in the foreground. There are many other people and boats in the background.Martin Heath/BBC
More than 70 boats are expected at the rally

Mr Coghlan added: "These leviathans of our canal-carrying past are the making of the rally which will probably be the biggest gathering of them anywhere on the waterways."

Other attractions include an actor portraying a boatwoman showing people around her traditional cabin and explaining how people used to live and work in such confined spaces.

A candlelit choral concert in Wolfhampcote church will end the rally.

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