7th August 2020
Today is the 50th Birthday of the Waterway Recovery Group.
WRG is part of the Inland Waterways Association. It has helped with the restoration projects for dozens of waterways throughout Britain.
All the work is done by volunteers, known as WRGies. There are eleven volunteer Directors, one of whom is our own Development Manager, George Rogers.
The WRGies usually descend en masse for Canal Camps, which may last a long weekend, a week or sometimes longer. There are usually about twenty people on these camps, but some events, e.g. the annual Bonfire Bash is more of a reunion and can have about a hundred volunteers.
The WRGies have visited us on numerous occasions, sometimes for two or three camps a year. Below are a few shots of some of these camps and other notable occasions.
This was a camp at Renishaw in 2007. Photo by Mike Chase
In August of 2009, there was another WRG camp at Renishaw.
Later that month the WRGies presented us with a cheque at the IWA National Festival at Redhill. Presenting the cheque is David McCarthy MBE, otherwise known as Mr Mac, a WRG legend.
In February 2010, there was a weekend camp clearing out Wheeldon Mill Lock.
This was a camp at Staveley in July 2010, working on the Mill Green Link.
In February 2011, some WRGies came to clear out Hollingwood Lock whilst Hollingwood Hub was being built. Here they are manhandling a pump.
In July 2011, a camp built the forebay of Staveley Town Lock.
In September, there was another camp starting on the paddle chambers. Photo by Martin Ludgate
In April 2012, there was a weekend camp working on the abutments of Constitution Hill Bridge.
They were back in August that year.
This time it was for a full week.
At a camp in August 2013, the WRGies were helping with the construction of Staveley Town Lock.
They also helped with a concrete pour for the foundations of the offbank wall.
They returned in September and started to build the wall.
At the August 2013 camp, one job was to help with a concrete pour building the lock walls.
The concrete had to be raked level.
There was a further pour for the foundations of more of the offbank wall.
In November, we hosted the Bonfire Bash.
This is how the event got it’s name. There’s lots of scrub bashing because it’s outside the nesting season
Bridges are always good for shelter during a tea break.
The group stayed at Killamarsh Leisure Centre.
Catering is a really important part of the camps.
In March 2015, we hosted a weekend camp to finish off the cutting down at Spinkhill.
No caption needed!
At the August 2015 camp at Staveley, the Trust was presented with a cheque by WRG. Trying to get a photo of the event was like herding cats!
The work was stopped when the remains of the original 1776 Eckington Road Bridge was found. We later had an archaeological dig here.
We hosted the IWA National Trailboat Festival in 2016 and the WRGies ran their famous Learn to Drive a Digger experience.
This was the group photo at the end.
We hosted the 2016 Bonfire Bash. This was at the eastern portal of the Norwood Tunnel
Tea was still important.
In 2018, WRG North West presented us with a cheque at our Festival.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Thank you very much indeed for all the wonderful work that you have done on our canal.