Shropshire Union Canal Society gets its award

THE recognition of the importance of volunteers to the waterways  by British Waterways is by awards to partner groups.

Within the North Wales & Borders Waterway Area the recognition award has been awarded to the Shropshire Union Canal Society, to acknowledge the continued hard work enhancing the Shropshire Union and Llangollen Canals together with restoration work on the Montgomery Canal.

In the picture: Shropshire Union Canal Society left to right starting with the back row: Arthur Osbourne, Roy Claydon, Mike Friend and Linda Andrews, Ian Hendley, Jan Friend, Paul Mills, Dave Bevis, Anne Lindop, Terry O'Brien and Wendy Capelle from British Waterways.

Gratitude

North Wales & Borders Waterway Manager Wendy Capelle  (pictured with Terry O'Brian) explained:

"It's an appropriate time to place on record our gratitude to the dedication of the group and for their continued hard work with the work parties in the Montgomery Canal, their fund raising and events for the restoration funds and their work along the Shropshire Union and Llangollen Canals.

"With the waterways in England and Wales set to become a charitable trust in 2012, volunteers and community groups will play an increasing role in looking after their local canal or river."

Successful partnerships

We are told this award forms part of a national recognition initiative which acknowledges the achievements of just a few of these successful partnerships and is one of the ways BW celebrates its volunteers.

Robin Evans, Chief Executive at British Waterways, remarks:

"There are a great number of passionate and enthusiastic people volunteering for waterways and they make a massive contribution.  We really value all volunteers and particularly the many societies, associations and clubs who are our partners in so many important and useful projects.

"When the new waterways charity is formed in April 2012 their help and our relationship with them will be more important than ever.  I am delighted to recognise the achievements of these groups and would like to say thank you to them and to all the volunteers who in the past twelve months have helped us achieve so much, making our canals and rivers ever more vibrant, attractive and safer."

Since 1968

The Shropshire Union Canal Society was formed to protect and enhance the canals of the historic Shropshire Union system in England and Wales, and since 1968 it has been actively engaged in the restoration of the Montgomery Canal.

To fulfil the above aims the Society holds regular work parties on the Montgomery Canal and the rest of the Shropshire Union system, and maintains an extensive fundraising programme.