Mike Stanley on The Venturer “There are a number of reasons which have all added up, things have got harder financially and over the years it became really hard work. “Our charges are low and when we put them up a few years ago quite a few of the homes who use us said they could no longer afford it.” The boat was initially owned by BBC Radio Oxford – and was used then for disabled people – but was taken over by the Oxfordshire Narrowboat Charitable Trust. Care homes such as Old Station House in Abingdon and St John’s in Oxford enjoyed trips along the river in The Venturer, as well as the Marston Over 50s.