On Sunday 23 August, The Pirate Castle is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee, having been open since 1966, when it was first established as a kids’ rowing club. The anniversary celebrations will take place at Gilbey Wharf, Oval Road in Camden NW1, from 11am – 6pm.
Visitors will be able to enjoy free kayaking or canoeing and canal boat trips. For the children there’ll also be pirate-themed arts and crafts and face painting, plus a few surprises.
The Pirate Castle team’s mission is to “promote learning, life chances and healthy living through a raft of paddlesport, canal boating, training and volunteer initiatives.”
Everyone can benefit from paddle sports
With a real emphasis on inclusivity, all year round, The Pirate Castle has specialist projects for young people from ages 8+, communities most in need and elders.
Thanks to its specialist equipment, the fully accessible Pirate Prince is the only canal boat in central London that can be operated by wheelchair users and those with mobility restrictions.
The Pirate Prince boat
There’s also the Black Pearl boat with easy boarding access for people to explore London’s Regent’s Canal. Some like to go out on their Bell Boat, designed by Olympic Canoe Coach David Train. It’s ideal for easy-going journeys and perfect for groups with physical and learning difficulties.
During school holidays, after school, and weekends during term-time, youngsters can take part in instructor-led kayaking and canoeing. The Pirate Castle also provides affordable services for visiting schools, youth and community groups.
The Pirate Castle team also offer private paddle sport sessions and parties for youth and adult groups for up to 32 people – perfect for exploring the waterway with friends, family or colleagues! It doesn’t matter whether beginners or more experienced paddlers because of the friendly supportive instructors.
The canal-side castle offers indoor spaces – the Main Hall and Club Room – which as with the boats and paddle sports, can be hired privately. The castle was originally designed by architect Sir Richard Seifert, famous for designing Tower 42 and Centre Point. All money raised from facilities and venue hire helps fund the charity’s community projects and keeps the Castle in top condition.
The Pirate Castle photographed in 1977 after Sir Richard Seifert built the iconic castle
The crew steering activities
It’s a small and dedicated staff team who oversee all the events and keep the charity and boat fleet in shipshape. Andrew Carpenter, Kal Webb, Beate Hohmann and Arta Ymeraj all love life afloat, have tons of experience in their individual roles and are united in upholding equal opportunities for people of all backgrounds and ages.
Then there are the Paddle UK instructors and coaches and trained volunteers. The latter can further develop their on-the-water and leadership skills with instructor qualification schemes taking place at The Pirate Castle.
“The Pirate Castle wouldn’t be celebrating this incredible milestone without having our incredible community by our side,” says Development Manager Kal Webb. “The generations of local people who’ve come through our doors, staff, volunteers old and new, and the numerous Trusts, Foundations, individuals and corporate sponsors whose generosity has helped keep us afloat, are testament to the power of community spirit. Here’s to the next 60 years!”
www.thepiratecastle.org
