This rally enabled boats to attend from all parts of the inland waterways. The society had negotiated with Trent Water Authority, the then owners of Lock 1 together with the pound alongside Nottingham Forest Football Club, to allow them to clear the lock chamber and make the lock operable. Once completed, arrangements were then made for a rally using the lock for access from the River Trent. The pound between the lock and railway bridge was used as the rally site which was easily accessible from the towpath.The first boat through the lock was Elizabeth, a converted 70ft narrow boat, reputed to be the last boat to leave the Grantham before the final closure in the 1930's. Many boats locked through and the pound was full of moored craft. The rally was a huge success.
Our thanks to Mrs. Val Roberts who was at the rally in her boat ’Woolaton’ , (pictured above), and who sent us the adjacent press cutting taken from the Nottingham Evening Post on 15th October 1973
The photograph, (right) which accompanied the above text read:Mr McCarthy arriving with members of the society at the river bank near Forest Football ground. With him (from left), Mr Chris Tizzard, (rally organiser), Mr Garland Grylls (chairman) and Sir Dennis and Lady Le Marchant.