When Liz Sheehan closed the doors on her teaching career
she turned to a totally different passion in her life - boats.
The 58-year-oid sold her home in Chesterton and bought into a new
life on the river - in a houseboat at Fen Ditton.
Not content with just living her dream of having a home on the Cam.
the former woodwork teacher decided to literally float a new business
venture.
With the help of her three children Ericf 31. Jill. 29 and 16-year-old
Joe. she set up Camboats. to provide river trips along picturesque
stretches of the Cam and Great Ouse.
Her key business partner is 19-year-old Rosie, a 50ft open-sided canal
boat which was built by the Huddersfield Canal Restoration Society.
Thanks to the efforts of Liz's family and local craftsmen Rosie has
been transformed into 'a fun boat - not rustic but not too posh either1.
"People are able to see just how much life there is on the river,
with kingfishers, nesting moorhens, swans with cygnets and more, all
in such a short stretch." said Liz.
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"We want to make the river accessible and are
finding out what
people want and seeing if we can meet their needs."
Rosie operates from near The Fort St George Pub at Midsummer Common
in Cambridge. She carries passengers along the river, picking up
from various points, including The Plough at Fen Ditton, and travelling
as far up river as Ely.
She can carry up to 32 passengers which means she can host birthday
parties as well as school groups. Liz is also hoping that shoppers
who want to avoid heavy traffic in the heart of Cambridge, will
use Rosie to commute into the city.
Although there is competition on the waterways with other services
already well-established, Liz believes there is room on the river
for her new business.
During the summer she aims to have Rosie operating seven days a
week and has permission to navigate as far as the Bridge of Sighs
from October.
She has other big plans for the future and eventually hopes to find
a partner for Rosie.
"I would like to get another boat if all goes well this year,
and hope to install a scissor lift next year to make access easier
for whealchairs," she said.
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"We are also going to get an old ship's wheel
for the front of the boat for children to play on as they always
ask if they can have a go at steering the boat!
"We are just waiting for better weather and then when people
see us on the river we can hopefully attract even more passengers."
Liz is extremely grateful to her family for their support. Her three
children have all worked tirelessly to help their mum's dream come
true: Joe even designed the company logo.
"They have worked really hard to make Camboats happen."
said Liz.
"Jill mans the phone and helps organise the groups. Joe is
too young to be employed officially but wants to train to be on
the crew and Eric helps out where he can when he's not at work.
I could not have done this without their support."
• Camboats public cruises start at 11am on Saturdays and Sundays
from the Fort St George Pub at Midsummer Common.
Tickets for a one-hour trip cost £3 for adults, £1 children.
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