The Northern Canals Association is appealing for a new chairperson to take over the helm.
THE group was set up in 1991 with the aim of enabling restoration societies to visit other’s sites, where the host would discuss their possibilities, plans and problems.
Over the years, its meetings have ranged far and wide in location, from Llanymynech to Louth, from Pocklington to Bradley, and from St Helens to Bugsworth. Since the loss of the Southern Canals Association prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the NCA has covered the whole country, with its present 181 members hailing from Norfolk, Somersetshire, Lancashire and Wiltshire to name a few areas, representing 68 local organisations.
There have been three chairs over the years who have helped to bring groups together for the association’s annual meetings: Keith Gibson, Christine Hayes and Ivan Cane. Mr Cane has recently announced that he wishes to hand over the baton.
He said: “Sadly, I’m going to have to miss chairing our forthcoming March meeting with the Chesterfield Canal Trust due to a medical procedure, so the need for a new person to take over the reins becomes even more pressing.
“I’m looking for a new chair to jointly run the October meeting with the Avon Navigation Trust, and then hand over the 2027 meetings with the Sankey and Wilts & Berks to them.
“It’s a fabulous task. It has enabled me to meet with restoration people around the country and discuss possibilities for meetings on their home waterways, then follow up with seeing their aspirations come to fruition.
“At the last Chesterfield gathering, we were looking at their plans for work under the Staveley Town Deal. This time around, we will be visiting the completion of that scheme and looking at the plans for a new canal around Killamarsh.”
The NCA’s spring meeting takes place on Sunday, March 22, hosted by Chesterfield Canal Trust at Killamarsh Parish Suite, Stanley Street, Killamarsh S21 1EL. For more information about the association, visit http://northerncanals.org, and to find out more about the role of chair by emailing [email protected]
