A YEAR of events to celebrate the engineer instrumental in deciding Stourport should have a canal link to the River Severn will kick off at Easter.

The launch of Brindley 300 will be held in Stourport on Easter Sunday, March 27 to commemorate the birth of pioneering James Brindley.

Mr Brindley, who was born in 1716, was hired Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Company in 1766 to create a ‘navigable cut’ from the River Severn between Bewdley and Titton Brook to cross the River Trent near Heywood Mill.

He also decided on the layout of the main basins, wharfs and locks.

On Easter Sunday, Brindley 300 – being organised by the Stourport Forward organisation - will be kick-started with an open day in the basins which will feature guided walks focusing on the engineer’s impact on Stourport.

Other events on the day will include a ‘meet and greet’ with Barney the Boat Horse at the Tontine Stable, spinning at the Old Ticket Office, Easter hens at The Bramble working boat and children’s activities based on horse boating.

The year of events will build towards an event to celebrate the special date at the Heritage Open Days on September 10 and 11 – a week after Stourport Carnival.

Stourport Forward are looking to engage a live interpreter as James Brindley to tell the story of the town and are currently looking for sponsorship to do this.

They also plan to involve community groups and businesses to decorate wooden boats throughout the year to be displayed in shop windows in their 300 Brindley Boats Project.

Anyone interesting in finding out more about the Brindley 300 or wish to get involved can visit www.Stourporttown.co.uk or email info@stourporttown.co.uk