Thousands of children enjoy the club each year

THE legacy of the “saviour” of Islington Boat Club will live on, trustees said at an official reopening.

The journalist Crystal Hale founded the club in the 1960s after winning a battle with British Waterways Board.

The club gives access to the canals for thousands of children each year.

Describing her as “saviour” of the City Road Basin and the club, the new chair of trustees Eric Sorensen said: “The boat club is a very important part of the life of our community, especially our young people. Its reopening is entirely due to strong practical and financial support from Islington Council for which we are hugely grateful.”

He also added thanks to Cllr Martin Klute for his “untiring efforts to assemble local support for this reopening and his help in securing financial support from the council.”

Cllr Klute said he was “delighted” to see youngsters out on the water again, but added: “There is much to do to extend outreach to local kids and schools, build up a paying customer base to help fund the club, and get more local people involved in the running of the club.”

The club had been threatened with closure and all had appeared lost last year until funds were secured through the planning system.

• The Angel Canal Festival, seen as summer’s “last hurrah”, will take place on September 3. Free boat rides at the club are offered.