University of the Third Age

David Penny, director of the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust, described how dedicated volunteers had made progress in both counties. With a series of slides, he showed the difficulties and challenges of removing huge amounts of rubbish, undergrowth and silt, sometimes several feet deep, and the transformation of several stretches to their former glory.

The trust owns an impressive collection of heavy plant, including dumpers, bulldozers and excavators. This saves considerable expense of hiring equipment and enables work to proceed as quickly as possible.

Apart from short lengths at Oxenhall and Over which are owned by the trust, the line of the canal is in the hands of a large number of private landowners.

Mr Penny said that the trust had an excellent record of co-operation with developers whose applications might affect the line of the canal to the mutual benefit of all parties.

In a few places, deviations from the historic route will be necessary but about 30 miles of the canal can be restored along the original line. This includes 22 locks and three major tunnels.

The most ambitious restoration that Mr Penny showed was the Wharf and Basin at Over, where the canal joined the Severn. He explained that, through negotiations, the former lock cottage was replaced by a new building at the expense of the adjoining estate developer. This is now being fitted out as an Interpretative Centre, tea-rooms, shop and trust headquarters. When fully restored, the canal will be one of the most attractive on the whole waterways system of 2,500 miles.

The next monthly meeting on November 6, at St John's Methodist Church Hall, St Owen Street, Hereford from 10am to 12 noon, will have an illustrated talk on travels in Alaska by Olive James. All over 50 and the retired are welcome.