Another celebrity to promote volunteers

THE Canal & River Trust has engaged television personality Penny Smith in its endeavour to promote more volunteer lock keepers.

Though we are told 380 volunteers took up the role last year, many have dropped out, hence the need to replace them, so Penny Smith has joined Brian Blessed in attempting to encourage more people to come forward.

Atherstone Flight

The Trust need people to give a couple of days a week, at such as Atherstone Flight on the Coventry Canal where volunteers have replaced the permanent lock keeper.

Training is given together with a uniform, with the period of work including the main boating season from March to October.

Huge fan

Of the campaign to attract more volunteers, Penny Smith remarks:

"I am a huge fan of Britain's canals—they're fascinating and calming in equal measure. My third book Summer Holiday is a love story where two people find love while volunteering to clean the towpaths. But my local canal is more than just a source of inspiration for my books; it's a very special place for moments of contemplation or to simply watch the world go by. I am very happy to support the Canal & River Trust in all their work preserving our heritage."

However, there is some concern about paying celebrities to promote the canals, with such as John Howard remarking:

"I really hope that CaRT aren't spending our well earned licence fees (or perhaps the recent flood appeal donations!) on paying celebrities for their endorsement of the CaRT policy of making lock keepers redundant and replacing them with volunteers? Maybe one of your narrowboatworld sleuths might be able to find out."