RUNNERS AND ROWERS

RUNNERS AND ROWERS:

Heaton Park Boats

with Alfred Michael

In my PASS IT ON column, Following Festivals, I have previewed a couple of huge live musical events in Heaton Park, that have already taken place in 2024. Taking advantage of the global panoramic view we enjoy up here behind the clouds, we can locate easily all the beauty spots on earth and as I look down from on high, ´I see trees of green, red roses too, and I watch them bloom for me and you, and I think to myself what a wonderful world´ my former home still is.

Of course, up here, we don´t only have a wonderful spatial awareness but also we are privileged with great temporal awareness, enabling us to look down on any site at any day of history.

I remember, of course, that my daughter, Elizabeth, now known as Dee, and her husband, Sidetracks & Detours & PASS IT ON owner and editor, Norman Warwick, lived very close to Heaton Park. In fact when focussing on them from time to time I would hear Norman regaling her, as is his way, with tales of running cross country events for Lancashire schoolboys in the nineteen sixties. He would speak of how huge the lake seemed as he struggled through four laps around it, but usually in a fairly advanced position, but invariably slipping further and further down the field as his legs went wobbly on the final steep gradient that leads to the finishing line. 

So I have looked back on some of those races and seen that often in the medal positions was Paul Roberts. Norman´s rival from his Heys Road Secondary Modern School For Boys.

What I really noticed, though, when I ´wound those tapes back´ was that the large lake was overgrown, most of the boats looked as if they had been rowed through The Perfect Storm, the lakeside café was closed and decrepit and sad.

My view today, though, is of a clean, clear lake that glistens in the sun and fleets of boats, some of which, crewed by fit, young sporty people, spear across the water leaving a neat wake behind them. Others, usually peopled by young lovers, simply turn in circles as if simply messing about on the water. The café, too, is refurbished and open and doing a roaring trade.

Nestled in the heart of the park, Heaton Park Boats offer an unforgettable adventure for families, friends and couples alike.

Overlooked by the Lakeside Café, Heaton Park Boats is your go-to destination for a day of fun, relaxation and exploration on the lake

Heaton Park Electric Boats. a unique offering, of electric boats, are a hit for all ages. They are perfect for those who prefer a relaxed, effortless experience. Sit back, relax and soak up the sun as you explore all that Heaton Park Lake has to offer.

Heaton Park Pedal Boats are a firm favourite and the fleet of Swan-themed pedal boats and regular pedal boats are perfect for a group of friends and families. With the capacity to sit up to five people, these boats provide a fun and interactive way to explore the lake, making for the perfect pedal-powered pastime.

Heaton Park Lake is a perfect location: Conveniently located next to the Lakeside Café, you can tuck into a delicious meal or savour the taste of a hot or cold Barista-crafted drink. There are plenty of transport links to the park itself, including the nearby Metrolink.

This variety of boats that cater to all ages and preferences, creates a family-friendly setting making it an ideal activity for families, couples and friends!

With their unique offerings of a diverse fleet at your helm, including the unique electric boats, Heaton Park Boats provide experiences that aren’t commonly found elsewhere.

And I notice that even today, if you were out on the lake, you would be able to watch an ever-lengthening line of school runners negotiating that same cross country course. of streams, mud and leafy glades and a final climb up the North Face to the finishing line near Heaton Park Hall,…. and that might be Norman Warwick being lapped and now in last position !