Welcome
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elcome to the latest issue of Waterways. I hope you’ll be inspired by the range of articles and updates that reflect activities across the Association and the wider waterways. It’s been a summer of 'staycations' and I hope that you’ve managed to get out onto our wonderful canal and river network over the past few months, whether on the water or taking advantage of all that surrounds it. I’ve certainly discovered that the UK waterways provide an incredibly varied, enjoyable and inspirational way to spend my scarce free time. Day trips and longer periods away from home in recent months have seen me boating and walking on the River Thames, and the Regent’s, Grand Western, Mon & Brec, south Oxford and Trent & Mersey canals, to name a few. All brought new perspectives on what the waterways offer and demonstrated the continued role of IWA in securing the future of the network as our volunteers work with restoration trusts, environmental bodies, planners, navigation authorities, Government and heritage organisations. This issue gives you a flavour of all of that and even brings some of the beauty of our waterways right to the fore as we reveal the winners of our photography competition (see page 32). I combined wonderful trips to the Welsh borders in June and August with my great passion for immersing myself in the history of IWA and the waterways in general by reading as many books as I can get my
Winter 2021 005 Welcome AH SS.indd 5
hands on. I took a day off from walking the Mon & Brec to visit Hay-on-Wye and strip the bookshelves of anything and everything to do with the inland waterways! We have been celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of IWA over the past year and looking forward to what the next 75 years might bring. As I read many of the books that have been written over the past century, I often remark on the fact that so many of the calls to action contained in their pages could equally apply to the circumstances in which we find ourselves today. For me, this only serves to reinforce the message that while we have achieved so much over three-quarters of a century, the ambitious cause to which we are all dedicated is just as vital as it has ever been. As you will read in the campaigns update on pages 12 and 13, we have had the opportunity to discuss with Government the continued commercial use of the waterways for freight and highlight the opportunities for further development in this area. IWA has a great tradition of engaging strongly with Government, going back to our very earliest days. Trustees have committed to further expanding our work with Government both nationally and locally, and I think nothing inspires this action more than a quote that I came across recently: Upon our inland waterways converge, as in few other places, the arguments of low-cost and human amenity. No government representing on a broad basis the people of England can possibly allow them to go to waste; can possibly do other than restore and free them: for an efficient
Paul and his wife Amanda at the IWA Festival of Water aboard solar-powered punt Poppy. Phil Hornsey
system could, directly or indirectly, lower the real cost of almost every commodity, and bring much happiness to the larger part than half of population which lives near some section of it. These words, from an IWA presentation to the Minister of Transport in 1947, strike a chord today as we live through the country’s greatest health crisis, and a transport crisis more severe than we’ve faced for a generation. The joy of our waterways is not limited to the summer and so I encourage you to make the most of our canals and rivers as we approach the winter months. I hope that by getting out and about on them you’ll be inspired by their beauty, the heritage they represent, and the potential for the future. If that gives you just a little nudge to get a bit more involved in the work of IWA, I will be delighted. As I have often said, there is room for everyone in IWA to use their skills, resources and explore their passion for the waterways. Finally, you may have missed our raffle, which we were unable to run this year. Instead, I hope you will consider donating to our Save Waterways Heritage Campaign – you will find an insert with more information about the fund in this issue of Waterways and at waterways.org.uk/heritage. Thank you for everything you do for the Association as a member, volunteer or supporter.
Paul Rodgers, IWA National Chair IWA Waterways |
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