Ripon’s Leading Ladies: Vicky serves up a summer of fun at Ripon’s Canal Basin

Ripon’s remarkable and resilient community of independent businesses includes many owned by enterprising and entrepreneurial women, who can be described as the city’s Leading Ladies 👑.

In this new regular series, the Rejoicing in Ripon Blog ✨ will feature a selection of those whose leadership and vision is contributing to the growing success and confidence in the city, as it continues to recover from the ravages of the 2020 covid pandemic, which impacted heavily, particularly on the hospitality and leisure sector.

Vicky serves up a summer of fun at Ripon’s Canal Basin 🌞🚤

Today we feature Vicky Willis, whose father, Richard, set up Ripon Scenic Cruises at the canal basin more than 20 years ago.

She is now in charge of the company and is maintaining the tradition of providing passengers who board the Pride of Ripon with an insight into the industrial heritage of the waterway as it wends its way past picturesque willow‑shaded banks 🌿 from the basin to the delightful lock keeper’s cottage on Boroughbridge Road.

The canal’s short reign as a route for goods 📜

Originally designed by engineer William Jessop to provide a connection to the River Ure, the canal, which opened in September 1773, reigned supreme as a means of moving freight, prior to the arrival in 1844 of the Leeds and Thirsk Railway 🚂, which made the waterborne way of shipment virtually redundant overnight.

Vicky told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon Blog: “The canal’s commercial use was short-lived and following decades of dereliction its future was put in doubt when, in 1956, the British Transport Commission obtained Royal Assent for its abandonment.”

The canal’s future secured 💪💧

“Fortunately, however, there were sufficient influential people, not least the members of Ripon Motorboat Club, who fought to save the canal and initial restoration works began in the 1960s.

“In 1982 my dad became chair of the Ripon Canal Society and as a child I remember being involved in helping to raise money to pay for regeneration works aimed at turning this former commercial waterway into a leisure and tourist asset, which could be enjoyed by local residents and be of benefit for the city’s economy.”

The canal reopened for navigation as far as Littlethorpe Road Bridge in 1986 and was officially reopened right into the centre of Ripon in September 1996, with the assistance of the society and local authorities.

Still a hidden gem 💎

Vicky pointed out: “Almost 30 years after the full reopening, it’s still a surprise to many visitors who find us by chance and tell us that they had no idea that Ripon has a canal.”

Among them are Ray and Liz Caygill, who live in Darlington and have had a caravan at a site on the outskirts of the city since 2022.

On their maiden canal cruise with seven‑year‑old grandson George, Liz said: “We love Ripon and have been coming here for a number of years and it was only by a stroke of luck that we noticed a sign directing us to the canal.”

After a leisurely trip — part of which saw George at the Pride of Ripon wheel steering the vessel under instruction from regular captain Alan Taverner 🚤 — Liz said: “It was absolutely wonderful and at a very affordable fare for the three of us.”

She added: “Now that we have found the canal, we will tell friends and family about it and the lovely service provided by Ripon Scenic Cruises.”

Vicky said: “The Caygill’s are a prime example of the customers that we attract and we greatly appreciate that they are going to tell their family and friends about the hidden gem that they discovered in Ripon.”

Holiday initiatives for children and families 👧🧒🎉

She added: “I know that the success of the business over the coming months will be reliant upon some key factors. Such as increasing awareness of who we are, where we are and what we do, while developing and growing our offer for families.”

“Throughout the school holidays we will be open seven days a week and specific family/children offers will include our popular Super Soaker Cruises 💦 every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10am and again at 10.30am at a cost of £5 per person with a prize for everyone!

Alternatively, the whole boat, which carries up to 10 passengers, can be hired for £40 🚤.”

In addition, Vicky is introducing a special holiday‑time offer aimed at nurseries and childminders on Fridays throughout the summer.

Between 10.30am and 11.30am, the child fare will be £1, while under‑5s will go free. (Pre‑booking required.)

There will be free activity sheets and colouring 🎨 on the regular half‑hour cruises during the holiday, and children who, like George, have a go driving the boat will receive an “I drove the boat” sticker ⭐.

Joining the cruises will be Rosie and Jim, the Canal Boat Ragdolls of TV fame 🧸, and for sustenance children will be able to have a drink and gingerbread biscuit for £1.

Vicky added: “We’ve been blessed with good weather ☀️ and have had a great start to the summer season and we encourage regular and new customers to come and join in the fun.”

Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst said:

“The canal has so much to offer for tourists and local residents alike, in terms of recreation and enjoyment in a tranquil sylvan setting 🌳, and it’s great to see the family‑focused initiatives that Vicky and her team at the Canal Basin have introduced for summer 2026.

For those who come to visit the city’s many historic attractions, the story of the canal that is told on the guided cruises aboard the Pride of Ripon gives an important insight into Ripon’s industrial heritage.”

For further information go to Ripon Scenic Cruises