I arrived at Hanbury Wharf on a damp and drizzly day and the majestic Pamela May caught my eye immediately. She's a beauty.

Stationed at her own private mooring, the boat is brightly painted and surrounded by gorgeous scenery.

Skipper Peter Gross, of Ten Ashes Lane, Cofton Hackett originally informed me about the little known charity and was my companion for the journey.

While we waited for passengers and crew to arrive Peter talked about the founder -- the late Bernard Clements.

Bernard and his brothers ran a long-established exhibition and display material company in Bromsgrove.

He was known for generous and quietly conducted charity work and the Pamela May, named after his late wife, was probably his most ambitious project.

Bernard wanted to enhance the quality of life for those whose horizons are limited by ill health, disability or age, and designed and supervised the construction of the vessel, costing around £40,000.

He lived to take the helm at her maiden voyage in 1994 and she has since clocked up more than 600 trips, and carried more than 5,000 people including crew for 24 charities, hospices and residential homes.

Volunteers and four elderly Primrose patients arrived, and once inside the boat I was impressed to see comfortable swivel seats, large observation windows and a hydraulic platform for wheelchairs.

Passengers were seated and senior skipper and trustee Ben Lee started the engine at 10am.

The journey along the Worcester and Birmingham Canal takes two hours.

There are no set charges for outings but users are invited to make a donation.

Carers normally accompany parties.

The two volunteers on this trip began tea making in the galley and I popped up on the deck to chat with Ben, of Bradley Green.

He became involved with the project after retiring from his business in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and oversees general running of the boat, including the visitors' diary and volunteer rota.

He said: "It's very time-consuming and finances are a worry.

"However, we provide a great service and it's rewarding to see people smiling when they leave."

Volunteer Nita Pullen, of Fox Lane, Bromsgrove, agreed.

"I became involved through a friend and this is my third season," she said.

"I just get so much pleasure to see the joy the boat brings to people."

Armed with tea and biscuits, I went to see how the passengers were enjoying their trip.

Eighty-year-old Hilda Solloway, of Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, attends Primrose Hospice twice a week and had been looking forward to the morning.

The widow has battled against tuberculosis and cancer and can't leave her home unaided.

"A day on the Pamela May brightens up my life and saves me from staring at four walls all day," she said.

Fellow passenger Jim Smith said he loves outings in Hanbury and this journey was his third.

The atmosphere on the boat was very jovial.

Conversation ranged from wildlife on the canal to who would win the FA Cup.

When we returned to the jetty it was clear everyone had enjoyed an exhilarating morning -- including myself.

I could not believe that such a fantastic facility had remained almost a secret for so long.

Cash from the appeal will be an important lifeline, but they also want more people to take advantage of the Pamela May because, amazingly, there are still diary spaces for groups to climb aboard.

I strongly recommend they do.

l NEXT week we chart the history of the Pamela May.