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Sonning was built by Salter Brothers in 1902. She is
85ft long and a sister of
Reading,
built the previous year. She was converted to diesel power in
1947 and sold in 1982 for use on the River Trent at Newark in
Nottinghamshire. Initially operated by Green's Passenger
Launches, she was running with the May Queen (1922, 80
pass) in 1985. By 1987
Sonning was partnered with the Princess Katherine
(ex-Kingfisher 1930, 56 pass which had worked on the
Rochdale Canal for Robinson's Hire Cruisers). In 1991 the
company was marketed as Newark Line. Princess Katherine
was sold by 1993 but River Prince (1936, 66 pass) had
joined in 1995, having previously run with Lock & Castle Line at
Newark for E&O Purver. River Prince had been disposed
of by 2005, later running at Bristol as River Princess.
In 2011 Sonning is owned by Ken & Chris Butler operating as
Newark Line River Cruises. Sonning runs 90minute public
cruises on Wednesday Market Days, weekends and Bank Holidays at
1pm and 3pm. Additional weekday cruises run in the school
holidays. She sails from near the Newark Town Lock, adjacent to
Newark Castle. Phone
01636 706479 to check services
before travelling any distance. Sonning also runs
evening jazz cruises (to be booked in advance) and is available
for private hire when not running scheduled cruises.
To travel on Sonning
Website:-
www.newarkline.co.uk
Phone:-
01636 706479
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